[Goinggreyfast]

So there has been a whining sound coming from transmission or diff for a while. It is more pronounced when coasting down a hill. Does not do it at neutral only when moving. Does not seem to make a difference swithcing to neutral while driving. Starting today two things started happening. First the sound described is much more pronounced. Secondly and more worrysome there are occasional clanking sounds and sound like you get when engage a starter after the engine is already running. I checked transmission fluid. Think I checked it too hot though because it came pouring our (lost about 1/2 quart). Any idea what this might be and what if anything I could do to troubleshoot? It does not slip between the gears or anything its just makes the whine and the occasional awful clanking knock grind sound. Does not sound good thats for sure. Scared to drive it until I figure this out.

 

[Dane!]

you didn't check it while it was too hot, that's just how the rovers set up. first things first, pump more oil into it don't run a quart and a half low. My truck hums in 4th gear going slow and hums when decrease in speed. The rovers transfer case whines when hot, its normal, mine does it too, a lot of them do, you can swap the transfer case oil with heavy duty lucas oil, it'll quiet it down, Id do that first, normally a transmission doesn't make a noise when failing. Also, is the clacking noise intermittent? have you had the front drive shaft replaced or serviced? that could be your clunking noise, check the shaft before you drive it again, it could snap and put a hole in your trans.

 

[Goinggreyfast]

you didn't check it while it was too hot, that's just how the rovers set up. first things first, pump more oil into it don't run a quart and a half low. My truck hums in 4th gear going slow and hums when decrease in speed. The rovers transfer case whines when hot, its normal, mine does it too, a lot of them do, you can swap the transfer case oil with heavy duty lucas oil, it'll quiet it down, Id do that first, normally a transmission doesn't make a noise when failing. Also, is the clacking noise intermittent? have you had the front drive shaft replaced or serviced? that could be your clunking noise, check the shaft before you drive it again, it could snap and put a hole in your trans.

I did have the drive shaft modified to make it serviceable about a year ago so hopefully not that.

 

[Dane!]

Do you service it?

 

[Goinggreyfast]

Not yet, Figured since I just put those serviceable U joints on a year ago it would not need greasing already. That may be a bad assumption. Is there a way to isolate whether it is the drive shaft clanking? If I shake it would I feel some play in it?

 

[Dane!]

you grease them every 3,000 miles. Every oil change you should do it, the exhaust is near the shaft and heats and makes them wear a lot faster.

 

[Goinggreyfast]

Just greased all the U-joints and it did not make any difference. Its intermittent but scary when I hear it. Those U joints are right at a year old. Yea I should have greased them before now but my gut says thats not what Im hearing. Is the only way to really check it to detach it from the diff and see if the U-joint moves smoothly and freely? What else could this be. It has a distinctive whine going on that changes with speed. Its like the one I have always had when letting off the gas going down hill but like much louder.

 

[Dane!]

well, If its a high pitch whine, its the transfer case. Mine whines also, have you ever changed the fluid before? AND the clunking, mine clunks from time to time, to my understanding the rover gears are straight cut and they slip, hence the clunk, if you have never put new gear oil in it, get some lucas 85w 140 and toss it in there.

 

[Dane!]

And this is only while moving correct? not while in park?

 

[Goinggreyfast]

Only while moving. Seems unrelated to engine. The whine seems kinda like what you would here if you were down shifting to brake a big truck going down hill. Clanking or knocking is random. Seems to happen a lower speeds. Too scared to drive it. I think I am going to detach the front drive shaft and double check the U Joints. Its seem like this sound is coming from inside the tranny or t case. Not slipping or anything just a knock sound that is random at lower speeds.