Noise " Sounds Like Marbles"???

[87GNBackToBlack]

I've been tring to figure out a noise which appears to be comming right at the torque converter area. Sounds like marbles, its not consistant.... It will come and go, stay, go away then come back. Its only when car is up at operating temperture. Dosn't make the noise when its cold.... Also appears to go away when u rev it up..... I just recently rebuilt the tranny, replaced fly wheel and converter (D5) stock... (It made the noise prior to rebuilding it, and it still there even after..)
anyone have any sugstions??

thanks
paul

 

[89mulletbird]

Did you threadlock the flywheel bolts? Maybe one is loose and rattling around. Happened to me....

 

[87GNBackToBlack]

Bolts are all tight....

Could it be the popet valve in the TC

 

[bnewsom]

Have you checked the flexplate for cracks? May be hard to see with everything together.
Bob

 

[87GNBackToBlack]

its a brand new flexplate.

 

[gossamer]

Just a shot in the dark. On my '86 GN, one of the ceramic bricks came loose in the cat and sounded like marbles bouncing around. Are you sure it's from the torque converter area?

 

[87GNBackToBlack]

my cat is hollowed , out... And yes i'm sure its comming from that area.

its driving me crazy....

could it be the thrust bearing?

 

[Hyboost]

Since the noise was there before the rebuild / replacement of converter and after, maybe it's not from the tranny? Could it be something like a bearing noise, or slightly bent engine oil pan or windage tray getting bumped by the crank? Maybe not hitting when cold due to expansion?? Goes away when reving because of torque, twist??? Kinda hard to diagnose a noise via post as I'm sure you know.
You might want to remove the converter bolts, push converter away from flywheel, run the engine & see if the noise is still there. I know a lot of people disapprove of this method, but I've found some weird noises that I would have sworn were coming from a tranny or converter & after disconnecting converter, noise was still there. (Ford rear main squeel!) Or at least you can be sure it is coming from tranny if the noise is gone.
Just a suggestion. Good luck..

 

[gossamer]

Good suggestion from icepicker62. Unbolt the converter, push it back and start it. At least that way, you'll know if it's from the transmission or the engine. If the thrust bearing is gone, it shouldn't make any noise. You would also see the flexplate and torque converter moving back and forth alot. Let us know what you find. Good luck :smile:

 

[87GNBackToBlack]

thanks guys...

I did have the car up on the lift, and had it running... While under there, i used a hollow pipe to listen, and the noise dosn't appear to be comming from
under the oil pan but more towards the flywheel (tourque converter Area)


I had the rear main seal done recently, my mechanic checked all the bolts on the crank, and looked pretty good....

i will try the method u mentioned , and see if its still there..

thanks
paul

 

[Hyboost]

So the engine oil pan has been off recently,,, maybe he bumped the windage tray? You'll know soon enough when you disconnect the converter. Good luck.

 

[bnewsom]

Did you find the source of the noise?
Bob

 

[aquickv6]

Converter

I have the marble noise all the time. Most noticeable in park and neutral, but I have the Precision multi disc lock up converter, and this is common.