KnightWarrior

My 700 R4 makes a clicking noise that increases as engine speed rises. It does it at idle, in park as well as in gear, out on the road. My check engine light has come on and remains on during operation. I checked the trouble codes and it says it is a non-functioning speed sensor. Would this be clicking too?

TKOPerformance

Your car doesn't have a speed sensor int he trans (VSS). It's built into the speedometer. If your speedometer reads correctly then the problem is in the built in VSS in the cluster. If that's the case I don't think it's related to your clicking sound.

Tracking down sounds in a car is always fun. Are you sure the sound is coming from the trans?

MoroteZ28

hey i got the same damn problem when i accelerate theres these HARD clicking noise by the shifter n its really annoyin it sounds like somthin is like gunna break or some **** wat can this be??

TKOPerformance

If the sound's coming through the shifter, and it's metallic sounding (hard, like something being unloaded violently that was under pressure) it's probably coming from the rear end. Most likely the ring and pinion or the spider gears are getting ready to break, if they haven't cracked and partially disintegrated already. The sound comes through the shifter area, and sounds like a trans problem, but what's actually happening is that the rear is transmitting the sound through the torque arm and you hear it around the shifter because there is less sound deadening in that area than under the rear seat, where the sound is originating.

I had the same problem, but didn't catch it until I blew the rear, which I thought was a trans problem, so I actually pulled the trans first, went through it, couldn't find anything wrong, so I finally said "maybe I should pull the cover off the rear and have a look". Four pinion teeth were waiting in the oil to greet me.

If the rear breaks there is always the possibility that it can lock up on you, which could have disasterous consequences, so I'd highly recommend taking a look in there ASAP.

KnightWarrior

Thanks for the input, but pretty damn sure it's not my rear gears. Just changed the oil back there as I always do ever 40,000 miles. they look great!! Wouldn't be the differential making noise in park, revving up the engine. Clicking is definately coming from the tranny. replaced entire exhaust system, still makes the noise, replaced all the smog valves, still makes the noise, heck I even replaced the little tube that blows on the cat convertor. Guess what? STILL MAKES THE NOISE!! Phoeey! Car runs great. Just worried about smog time. Smog ***** don't like engine lights on!!

TKOPerformance

If the car is running fine just pull the light bulb when it's time to smog it. I know a guy wh ran a '99 truck through with no cats on it and it passed. He reset the computer right before he went through so the light wan't on. They didn't even look under the truck! It passed the sniffer and the SES light wasn't on, so they thought that was good enough.

Jim Berry

I'm no tranny expert but here's what happened to me.

I installed a rebuilt tranny after mine fragged. I get a Code 24 that indicates that the ECM is getting no speed input from the VSS after install. So I remove and toss (with little problem solving) the VSS and use the one on my old tranny.

Still get the code and the CE light.

So when I changed the fluid, I pulled the VSS and removed the gear from it. I grabbed my portable drill and hooked it on to the gear pin. I turned my ignition to the "on" position and had my son rev the drill. The speedo immediately jumped to life and indicated 40mph.

So I now know that the VSS is good. Upon further inspection inside the tail shaft, the gear that is on the shaft is loose and floating up and down the shaft. The gear is split (normal?) looks like a manufactured split and I found a little off-centered clip that looks like it is supposed to hold it in place.

That's the extent of my trouble-shooting so far. I'll know more next weekend.

Jim.

70BuickSleeper

This is a true story, although it sounds like its not. My car was my brother's car before mine. He had some weird noise coming out around what seemed like the tranny... kind of like a clicking, not all the time, but close to it. There was no problem driving or starting the car... NO PROBLEM.... After listening around, it was definately coming out of the front of the trans. Out comes the trans, and what do we have? The flexplate was broke out of the middle (this happens sometimes) but it was broken in sort of a star pattern, that would still catch... I dont know how it did nor how it lasted the approx 200 miles put on it, but somehow it was able to grab itself within the broken pattern and still be centered. Like i said, there were no starting issues, it cranked over fine. Ive seen flexplates brake before, but then there was always some sort of starting problem. Maybe this has happened to somebody else, but i dont know, i think its kind of rare. Good luck and I hope you fix whats broken

TKOPerformance

The drive gear on the trans output shouldn't be split, and that clip does hold the gear in place. Get a new gear. I think you may have found the problem.

That fleplate story is great. Most of the ones I've seen have just sheared the teeth off the starter ring.

Jim Berry

Ref the split gear:

I guess I will need to drop the drive shaft, remove the rear housing for the shaft and slide on the new one? Does the rear housing need a gasket?

Jim.

TKOPerformance

Yep.

Jim Berry

I took off the rear housing yesterday on the old transmission. Sure enough, there is the red gear. Looks and feels new and is in one piece with the clip. Now I see how it attaches and I will try to install it on my transmission this Sunday.


Jim.

Jim Berry

Well, finally got it done. Took a few pictures also. Sorry, I still use "film".

I dropped the driveshaft, removed the exhaust hanger and dropped the rear housing of the tranny. Pulled off the broken gear and slid the slightly used one on.

Now the speedo works and I don't get the CE light anymore.

Took about two hours to complete.


Jim.

KnightWarrior

Wow, I wondr if that's what i wrong with mine. Good news, I passed smog! The inspector told me it was ok cause the light went out. They only fail you if it stays lit. So is this the output shaft drive gear you are talking about? If so, how did your car move with it split in two?

Jim Berry

No, just the gear that sits on the rear of the shaft to turn the VSS which sends the signal to your speedo and ECM.

My original one split and was loose on the rear of the shaft.

Jim.

KnightWarrior

Hmm that might be it. The lazy bums at the tranny shop keep telling me everything's fine, i think they just don't want to do any work. Maybe those gears have a defect that sheers them in two.

Jim Berry

Finally got the film developed. The tranny is one that I got from the local PicknPull for parts.

Jim.