T5 Noise
 

As the title says, my T5 just started making noise the other day. Noticed it all of a sudden, returning home after a 3 hour drive. It sounds like gear whine, very high pitched, and it happens in gears 1-3. It gets higher when engine RPM increases, and does not make the noise when not in gear. There is also a quick whine-ish noise while shifting from 1-2, and 2-3. The clutch is not slipping at all, and everything else is functioning normally. Any ideas as to what the noise is? My bird is my daily driver, so is this something major?

Re: T5 Noise
 

Check the fluid level / change it. Plan on bearings, though the countershaft bearing location in the case may be wallowed.

Re: T5 Noise
 

Yup, that'll be the countergear bearings...

You've let it run dry. If the leak is the front countergear bearing, down low on the pass side of the surface of the trans where it meets the bell housing, there's no repairing it. Start looking for a T-56. Meanwhile keep PLENTY of gear lube close at hand; check it every coupla days.

Re: T5 Noise
 

Well that's not good. As a full time college student, a T-56 is not in the cards anytime in the near future. Those things are still going for crazy money.

Sofa, when you say gear lube, is that different than transmission fluid?

Re: T5 Noise
 

Yes.

It's something in the range of 75W-90 oil (THICK), with a high-sulfur (stinks like hellfire) additive for extreme contact pressure.

Conveniently available at most any parts store.

I recommend THE BEST you can easily get, keeping in mind that it'll all leak out anyway, so you don't want to spend giga$$$$ on it; won't keep the trans from wiping out terminally, but may prolong the final event somewhat. I usually use Mobil1.

Re: T5 Noise
 

So what kind of time frame am I looking at here before total destruction?

Re: T5 Noise
 

Hard to tell; could be tomorrow, could be a year.

Keep it full of fluid to extend it as long as possible. They go QUICK when they run dry.