lets try this again...**UPDATE** READ FIRST POST

[accentguru]

Hey guys, I am trying to address my odd problem right now without going to the mechanic because I really dont trust them...So, here goes again.

X3, 97 GT, Manual Tranny with origonal Clutch and tranny (I am assuming it is one of these 2 things). Car has 226,000Km's on it and this is whats happening. When I drive the car from the start in the morning it is not too loud at all, in fact for a 10 year old car it sounds great. Now, one I get on the highway and start driving the car for a while, when I get off, Third and Fourth especially are really loud. Sounds like metal grinding is the best way to put it. The sound ONLY happens when accelerating. When I have the car in neutral and rev the engine all is well. so I am deducting it is not the engine, belts or water pump. Sounds like it is coming from the drivers side for sure (of course the tranny is on that side). Car NEVER slips out of gear and is easy to put in gear. Drivability is perfectly fine, just loud at times! I did change the tranny oil about 6,000km's ago with 75/90w synthetic GLI-4. Does anyone have ANYTHING I can try to start to narrow this down. I am pretty good with working on my own car so I am willing to try certain things! Anyhow, I hope someone has had this before or can help me out!

thanks,

TJ (accentguru)

***OK, for the last week, every once and a while, the car will leap out of first gear. this happens every so often. Clutch cause this or tranny?

[Edited by accentguru on May 15, 2006 11:49 AM]

[omgbossis21]

How about your brakes?

[accentguru]

nope, they were changed. Like I said this only happens during acceleration. Like, even when I let off the gas it gets quieter.

[C-DUBYA]

Wjeel bearings or maybe an axle?

[Tugger5000]

I'm going to take a stab at it and say it's the gearbox. You recently switch to a higher performing fluid, which in an older car, may not perform as well because of worn parts, seals, etc.

My reason for converting my Audi to a 5-speed was because I blew 2nd gear out after converting the transmission fluid to synthetic. The car ran like a raped ape, but it was too much for the transmission... second gear went out after 3-4 weeks.

[accentguru]

should I change the gear oil back to something else? If so...what?

[187sks]

Did you put in any additives? You could try going back to non-synthetic gear oil, but I have my doubts that it would help. Have you developed any leaks?

It would be interesting to see if there were metal shavings in the oil.

The only time I've had a vehicle throw itself out of gears was when I had the shift linkage adjusted wrong so it was never really properly in gear and I had low gear oil. I have scar tissue on my right palm from when it threw itself out of gear when I was resting my palm on the shifter during acceleration.

[accentguru]

187, it never tosses it out while accelerating. This happens when I have the clutch pushed in and really happens like 3-5 times a week. I am going back to non synthetic 80/90 tomorrow as this all started when i switched to the synthetic. also no additives, straight up. Whats funny is over the past 3 or so days the grind has gotten a bit quieter. Anyhow, after tomorrow I will keep a close ear and eye on the sounds and performance. Gas mileage is great still (440-460) km's to the tank and with a 227,000km engine I think that is ok!! Anyhow, I will see what happens after tomorrow. NO LEAKS either.

[accentguru]

Ok, so I made the change and took the car on a 300KM drive..on and off the highway. Works better so far. Much quieter and much smoother shifting again. I think it is too soon to tell how much better it is as I drove just over 6000KM with the synthetic in. So I changed to a NON SYNTHETIC (heavy duty) 80-90 GLI4. We shall see....

[DPHC]

It sound's stupid but, maybe motor mounts? You could be getting more vibration in the cabin? Just a thought.