Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting I have a rattling transmisson - Part 2 - Answer from Ford

This gear rollover is one thing then, but I must have another problem then because mine growls if you get on the gas at lower RPMs through first, second, or third gear. And as the RPMs climb, the noise fades away, replaced by engine sound rapping up. But when it does it, if you let up on the throttle to exact cruise, or decel side of the gear teeth, the sound does not exist. This noise has progressively gotten worse in time, and the sound is so strikingly similar to the gear rollover you describe, that I just assumed it was that, getting worse. I've rebuilt a few manual trannies in my career but I am an all around service technician so I don't do these every day, furthermore, I've never had an MTX 75 apart before so I'm having a hard time trying to imagine what parts might be causing this abnormal growl that I have. I would like to hopefully pinpoint the problem so I can get a rough estimate of parts replacement before I go and pull the trans out to actually start repair. But also, if I find it might be a bad shaft or some major expensive part, then I want to get a junkyard core to have for needed parts on hand, before pulling tranny. Any thoughts or recommendations on this Mr. Terry Haines? I ask you, since you can pull these things apart and rebuild them blindfolded, you know? Also, can you get good prices on rebuild kits for these? By the way, I have 105k miles on mine now. Any common issues needing attention as well?

The bearings within the MTX75 dont have a major wear problem as long as the lube is topped up etc.The growl you discribe is not ,apart from rollover at idle etc,a common noise on the MTX 75.Are you convinced its not a clutch release bearing or an engine related noise?.May even be driveshaft or hub bearing related.Not trying to second guess you here but not a common set of problems here.As to rebuild kits,nope.Ford parts for this trans are hard to come by and very expensive.For example the syncros on some gears have a two part blocker ring with a steel cone ring,this cone ring alone is $43.00, a circlip to hold a syncro hub on the main shaft is $45.00,a new shifter shaft oil seal for the early rod shift boxes is over $32, the 'latest' 2000+ shifter tower assembly is over $300.00!!!...which is why trans repairs are so expensive.Yes I do them every day but once you get in the box you may find that a lower milage trans may be a better option.As we all know the diff is a very weak area,I must have at least 15+ diff units that would make good paperweights and have suffered 'metal-worm' on the diff gears!

To those who exerience what the original poster described (including the original poster..hehe):

I have been having something which sounds like his symptom, but I highly doubt is gear rollover...

My 99 SVT makes a "cricketing", metallic chirping sound sparodically when at idle, and when in lower RPMs. It seems to only happen when the trans is engaged (clutch pedal is up or coming up).

I originally thought it to be a serp. belt/idler pulley issue, which 'almost' let me to think it was the culprit. It did go away for the most part but was still present. 15k more on the belt/pulley and it is same/worse as originally heard at 60k.

I was thinking my issue could be either a funky throwout bearing or perhaps some strange issue with the diagphram springs on the pressure plate?

Anyhow sorry if I am way off track here..!

You might be hearing the A/C clutch.

I find it a bit unnerving when I hear it too.

A while back I found a Special Service Message on this when I was researcing noises on another SVT. Basically it said that part of the PCM strategy on the SVT (at least on the 98 like mine and the one I was working on) is to shut off the A/C compressor when the Vehicle Speed Sensor senses movement when pulling away from a stop and then reengages the A/C compressor at 6 MPH.

It is supposed to be a performance enhancement. I think I would rather that it was not there.

Hmmm, I always wondered why my S-10 sounded like crap whenever I would let the clutch out at idle. I bet this was it.

Don't get me started on S-10's
Went through 3 transmissions in less than a year..
#1 Metal shavings from factory - Not repairable
#2 Cracked casing leaking fluid - Not repairable
Why they didn't see it when they put it in??
I noticed it when I got home!
#3 Never shifted correctly - sold it shifting like garbage!

95 4cyl 5spd.

I didn't feel I could "Lemon Law" them, because it wasn't the same problem every time. The second tranny was just bad to begin with... What a slow POS that truck was

Yup, first time I ever heard it was in my '86 Toyo Kyogo (Mazda) Ranger tranny. Didn't think it was a problem though. It's probably of no small coincidence that an alloy transmission housing will allow more audio radiation than a cast iron cased MTX.

Karl