Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches Southwest svt-needs to return to hospital for visit

the svt is having issues- 1)-- while down shifting it is making some sad grinding noises- like a bearing is going out or something- 2)-- getting some resistance on going in-to gear- specificly 2nd and 3rd. -- mabey a syncro going out?? -- 3)-- a.m. start up is sounding very dry-- for a good 4-5 secounds-- makes ya cringe-- coarse it seems like forever--- this last weekend it sat from fri nite till monday p.m. and it sounded really bad. like its not lubing the engine on top as soon as it was? don't know if there is anything to do for that though--
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thank god for extended warrantys
and a $50 deductable-

Does sound like syncros for the shifting. This is going to sound really stupid but...have you checked your oil? I would hate it if you blew off the oil filter or something and the only thing keeping you alive is residue.

Hey guys... its been awhile. I have been working my a@@ off on my thesis for the last 2 months! I can relate to your starter problem DARKERIMAGE. Just about every morning, my SVT has been making a horrific noise at initial start-up. Brought the car in to Berge Ford, and they "guessed" the starter was not operating correctly in this colder weather. They recommended to turn the key over and pause for a second or 2 just short of start up, and start up. I haven't heard the noise since. Don't know if that will work for you, but thought it was worth a shot. Good to be back on the boards!!!

Maybe someone swapped your starter w/ one of the old Mopar kind that make that horrific tapering whine after you engage them...

Hope it isn't detrimental, whatever it is.

word to that

I have the 98 model as well and I will give you a heavy possibility. The clutch plate is warped. I had the same issue 2 years back. After Earnhardts (Idiots) re did my shift linkage 5 times, I took it to a real mechanic @Pioneer Ford. They said that my clutch was bad (defective) and replaced it. My issue is solved for real! Sad but true.

kaiser - the oil is all good- I did check that- but that is what it sounds like -- just like it is dry and its taking too long to get oil up in the valves??.. I have even thought mabey I need to run a thicker oil? mabey it would coat it better-? I dont know --
giediprime- I will try the starter stall method and see if that helps.
pojay- I dont know if it is the clutch plate or not - a good posability there too at -about 30,000 miles I had a slight shake to the clutch pedal when you were going down the road- ( if you were to rest your foot against the pedal-you would feel a shimmy to it ) anyway Earnhardts replaced my throw out bearing- and clutch too- and that fixed that- the throw out bearing war going out and that is what i was feeling there- mabey i am just hearing it now-
hey thanks for all the advice--- now just need to find time too take it in--
davis- yes that would explain the abandond Mopar starter box- laying on the sidewalk last week-

I'm with this one!
Our cars are VERY sensitive to variations in clutch component tolerances. I had mine replaced and the flywheel turned (under warranty at 25K miles) because it wasn't fully disengaging. If I had the clutch in, the car in 1st gear, and revved the engine up high, I could actually get the car to start pulling. Turning the flywheel and changing the clutch fixed that problem. Turning the flywheel gave a little more room between the disc and flywheel when the clutch was disengaged.
If the trans gears are still spining even when the clutch is disengaged then you may get grinding or it may be hard to put into gear.
The synchros may already be worn a bit, but fixing the clutch may solve the issue.

One other thing. I used to have a lot of valve noise on cold startup until I switched to a different oil weight. I use 20w-50 for summer and either 10w-40 or 20w-50 in winter depending on the temperature.
It either eliminates it or minimizes it.

warmonger

thank you - warmonger- ps why warmonger?? the name?

Warmonger- YOu did a much better job explaining the problem. That was exactly what happened to my clutch. It must be a 98 thing.