Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Chattering sound At low RPM in each gear

I think this is common but the search is down. The chattering sound comes from the front of the car. I here it in 1st gear when I first pull away. If I shift into 2nd or 3rd and let the engine lug a little and then accelerate it is really loud. This noise was in every Tour I test drove 4 years ago when I bought this one. But after for 4 years I would like to know what it is and how to fix it. It is kind of embarrassing when I have someone with me in the car.

Thanks

Does it sound like ball bearings in a can being spun around? Mine does that too... If you chug in second gear (like on a hill) it kinda sounds like a hissing sound...

Is it slippage?

Anyone???

Good ? 96SE!

As per Haynes Manual:

Troubleshooting: section 29:
Grabbing(chattering) as clutch is engaged:
1. Oil on clutch plate
2. Worn or loose engine or transaxle mounts. These units move slightly when the clutch is released. Inspect mounts and bolts.
3. Worn splines on clutch plate hub.
4. Warped pressure plate or fly wheel.

OR

Troubleshooting: section 33:
Noisy in all gears:
1. Input shaft bearing worn.
2. Damaged main drive gear bearing.
3. Worn countershaft bearings.
4. Worn/Damaged countershaft endplay shims.
5. Insufficient lubrication

I would recommend checking your mounts, as they are fairly easy to look at, and replace. Also check your brake fluid (shares same resevoir), and see if you need new fluid or to bleed the clutch.

As one last note: I HIGHLY recommend purchaing a Haynes Manual for the contiques. (manual #36006) Can be had for around $13.00 or less at Auto Zone, Pep Boys, etc..



HTH

Ray

More than likely its just gear rollover which is common and normal. My SVT does this too. I would start to be concerned only if you experience clutch slippage or any other problems.

I concur if it's kind of a 'sshhh'-type noise. I only hear it at 1000 rpm when in 1st or 2nd gear only. It is annoying though. If letting off the clutch at above 1000 rpm, I don't hear it. Is this the same thing you describe?

My Truck had gear roll over and a new Luk clutch with a Kevlar bushing fixed most of it. On the Tour it sounds about the same but Louder! I thought it could be the belt tensioner too??? No clutch slip. I just did the Trany cocktail and will get it down of the jack stands Mon. and see if that helped.

When I first posted this the can was on jack stands for some other repairs and I was going on my memory to describe the noisy. I got it back on the road and can give a better description of the sound.

1) Does it only when accelerating between 1500 and 1800 RPM in all gears but 1st.

2) when I first take off in first(from a rolling start, I think--need to check one this one).

3)SOMEONE try this--5th gear and 35mph at a steady pace and then start to accelerate at WOT. Mine is soooo loud. As it pulls from 1500 to almost 2000 rpm I get the awful noise. If I had someone with me in the car I could get away with telling them it was lose exhaust pipe/clamp rattling around.

Car shifts fine and clutch is not slipping. The clutch sometimes grabs a little in first but nothing to bad. Still think its gear roll over?? My truck had/has gear roll
over and it does sound a little like that but the Tour is WAY loader and in a much broader RMP range.

Finally someone with the same problem! My car makes the same chattering sound during gearchange...and the first Contour I owned did the same thing. I think the worst scenario is when you're driving on a narrow road between two tall buildings. I had Ford and a tranny shop check it out and they couldn't figure it out. I also test drove a newer SVT recently and noticed the chattering in that car as well. It wasn't as noticeable but the noise was there. I'll agree with HETFIELD...as long as the gearchange is precise, then your tranny is OK. It's -20 degrees celcius here today...anybody living with this weather knows how tough it is to engage gears first thing in the morning in a Tour.

My Contour is an ATX, but I've had many cars with MTX. In every one of them the sound you are describing was the throwout bearing. I'm not sure about the Contour MTX, but most MTX have a throwout bearing. The clutch actuates a fork which pushes on the throwout bearing which in turn pushes on the fingers of the pressure plate to disengage the engine from the clutch disc. The noise is because the throwout bearing's lubrication is drying out and the rollers aren't getting sufficient lubrication so they make noise. Maybe I'm wrong here, but just trying to put in my 2 cents worth to try and help since it's a very common problem with all MTX cars I've ever owned.