Well it's finally happening, the automatic transmission in my car is starting to fail.

I hear a scraping noise when I'm in drive or reverse with the foot on the brake, or with the foot off the brake but not on the gas and moving very slowly. As soon as I move faster than about 5 km/h the sound disappears. At first I didn't know what it was but I suspected the transmission because the sound wasn't there in P or N. So I tested my theory by putting it in drive, holding the brake with one foot, then lightly pressing the gas with the other, and sure enough the sound got really loud then. So it's definitely the torque converter, right?

By the way there are no other symptoms, there is no vibration, jerking, or anything other to indicate anything wrong other than the sound. The transmission shifts smoothly. Some people on this forum have mentioned that their rpm would fluctuate at highway speeds under constant throttle before their tranny went, but I do not have this problem. Someone testdriving my car would not notice anything wrong with it unless they knew specifically to listen to this sound, and the sound is very faint and even when in drive with the brake pressed, the sound isn't constant but comes and goes, it seems to be audible only about 25% of the time.

Rather than paying the $3000 or whatever it costs for a new transmission (it's a 2004 with over 100,000 kms so no warranty remaining) I've decided to just replace the car, especially since it will soon need new brakes and rotors ($800), new tires ($800), new timing belt and water pump ($3000), and who knows what else.

Anyways my question is, now that I hear this TC sound how much time do you think I have before the transmission actually fails? I would like to wait until around september/october before I trade it in, to give me time to save up for a downpayment. Will my trans last that long, or should I be looking to trade it in as soon as possible?

 

Certainly doesn't sound like a TC to me. Sounds more like brake components scrapping the rotors.

 

$10,000 in repairs is still cheaper than say $25,000 + some interest over five years.

 

I doubt it... If I'm in drive with the foot on the brake, and my car is NOT moving, I hear this sound. If it was the brakes I shouldn't be hearing a sound if the car is not moving, right? Also if I let go of the brake completely, I hear this sound until I reach about 5 km/h. There is no way brakes can make noise if the brake pedal is not pressed, right? Unless my caliper is bad and the brakes are not releasing when I let go of the brake, but I doubt that.

 

Shouldn't cost anywhere close to 25k (I'm gonna buy used and try not to finance), I'll give them my TL plus a few thousand bucks. My choices are another 3G TL but with a 6MT, or maybe a 2G Infiniti G35 sedan, or maybe a BMW 335 sedan, although the 335 will be more like my car plus 15k.

 

Didn't realize, or read closely enough, that in the first thread when you had it in drive/reverse you didn't have the car moving. Still don’t think it's the converter as in lock up and all other functions the trans is fine and operating properly. Got to get it in the air to pinpoint the location of the noise, then you'd be more able to diagnose as noises certainly can travel

 

Did you ever get a CEL for the tranny?

 

Just to clarify, car is not moving. No sound in park or neutral. You have to give it some gas in drive or reverse with the car not moving to make the sound?

The entire crankshaft thrusts forward under load. Have you ever swapped pulleys? Might want to check that the crank pulley is not rubbing on anything even if it's stock. There's always the chance of a thrust bearing going out in the engine.

Could be mounts, you may check everything that spins to see if the engine is torqueing excessively and something is rubbing. Could be as simple as the power steering rubbing on the plastic cover.

Have a friend put it in drive or reverse and powerbrake it with the hood up and see if the engine moves too much.

Sometimes a heatshield or something loose will sound a lot like a scraping noise. You can always replicate the sound with the hood up and listen. If you can't find anything, do it on a lift and listen from the bottom.

There is a slight chance it's the torque convertor but usually when they fail the trans fluid will be very sparkly with aluminum and brass. Usually there's a hissing or a whine when standing still and powerbraking.

 

Don't under any circumstances do a 3GTL 6spd. I am regretting this decision as I am having not only a clicking, but a creaking clutch pedal issue, but also a weird belt/whining sound when in 4th gear at 2500RPM and still continues into 5th gear to as low as 2000RPM. Loved the car when I first bought it, but for only having 31k on mine, this is just too much BS and issues to deal with. No to mention I already have a CL that doesn't drive b/c it needs a new transmission. I literally feel as though I am losing my sanity driving this car with each passing day. I have also started eying some of the new Subaru's. Seems like they really got their shit together in the last few years and guess what? My buddy has one in a 6spd and you know what happens when I push the clutch pedal in his car???? Nothing but silky smooth shifts, no creaking/clicking pedals and no bullshit as noises that popup at random. But if any of the issues I am having don't bother you I would say go for it. I am very meticulous when it comes to my cars.