My 1994 850T auto has developed a vibration/rattling sound when I start the car when it's cold. It seems to go away when the rpms are over 3000. It's way worse when I shift into drive or reverse with the brake applied. It seems to also get better as the car warms up. Any ideas what this could be? Also one or both of the cv axles is/are clicking when I turn. Not sure if that could be related. The only fwd cars I have driven in the past were 5spd so I am not sure if the axles could have something to do with it.


Cheers

 

Ruggles, this is like a riddle. Check your mounts to see if any of them are torn or calasped.

 

It is a riddle but I don't think mounts would quiet down when the car warms up or when the rpms are higher when it's cold do you? I think it's something else. Will check them though

 

On the drivers side wheel well, there is a bump stop for the transmission where the trans could kiss the frame. There should be a rubber stopper there. See if your trans is sitting on this when in gear. It will directly transfer the vibration to the frame. Also, go pick up an engine stethiscope(sp) from Harbor Freight. With the engine in gear and the rattle rattling you should be able to track it down.

 

Another common source for that problem is the engine mount down by the crank pulley... if that fails, the oil pan will contact the subframe, and it does change with gear and temperature, due to direction of torque (between neutral, drive, and reverse) and thermal expansion. look under the passenger side wheel well, and see if that mount is torn- might help to have someone in the car shifting from drive to reverse and back. If it's bad, and soaked with oil, fix the oil leak or the new mount will fail in short order. Common cause of an oil leak there is that the 3 bolts on the pan on that side need to be sealed with thread sealer, but weren't from the factory. The fix is to remove the bolts one at a time, coat them with thread sealer, and reinstall them to the correct torque. do this then for the next bolt, then the last one. There's a technical service bulletin on this problem.