[bb489]

I just noticed this after I got exhaust on the car today. Upon start-up and intermitantly at idle I have this loud squeal (almost sounds like a loose belt) at the REAR of the motor. Oil pressure is good at 50 psi. Car was on a slight downhill angle (towards the front) while I put the exhaust on. Noise seemed to get slightly better when warmed up but not much. I backed the car into the level garage and noise pretty much went away. I checked my tranny fluid and it was way low.( I guess more leaked out then I thought when I put the motor back in). I put what little fluid I had left in, about 1 1/4 bottles. Went out about 30-40 minutes later and started it up and the noise was back again. It definatley sounds like it is coming from the converter area. It is a brand new Edge converter and I took great care when I applied it to the transmission, and then bolted it up to the motor. I felt all the little "bumps" you are supposed to feel and had to move the converter up about 3/4" to the flexplate to bolt in on. So I am sure I installed it properly.

I haven't had the car on the road yet, but it goes into gear easily and moved forward and reverse with no problems. If I rev it up, the noise dissappears but then comes back on and off when at idle. Again, it did seem to go away when the car was warm and on a FLAT surface. Even after I added the extra fluid, it still barley reads on the dipstick. Before I started the motor for the first time I did fill the tranny fluid up to the "full" line on the dipsick. I do remember the squeal then too, but with open headers in was not nearly as noticable. First thing tomorrow after work I plan to fill the tranny all the way up and see if that helps, although I thought that the car just wouldn't move or shift well if fluid was low, not make a squealing noise. Any ideas? thanks

 

[fabio]

mine made that noise when cold. Added about 2 qts that helped the noise a little. I then changed the oil and filter and the problem went away complety.

 

[bb489]

So you added two quarts of ATF and the problem went away? Or did the oil change make the problem go away?

 

[bracketchev1221]

Is the converter into the pump far enough? You are supposed to measure the distance of free play between the converter and pump to make sure there is sufficient engagement or that the converter is not bottomed out in the pump.

 

[amartinson]

This is a longshot but, I had an intermittant noise coming from mine and it turned out to be the converter dust cover was hitting the flywheel. You would think it would be a constant noise, but mine would come and go.

Worth a look anyway.

 

[bb489]

I do not have a converter dust cover so that is ruled out. When i placed the converter on the transmission hub, I felt the three little bumps, and the converter was definately seated all the way, and it spun freely. When I bolted up the tranny I needed to move the converter towards the flex plate about 1/2" or a little more to bolt it to the flex plate. When I think about it, the sound is coming more from the drivers side rear of the engine/converter and not so much the passenger side. Again, when the car was warmed up, it did not make the noise when parked level. But when left to cool down and restarted on the level surface, it made the noise again. It also makes the noise in all gears including reverse, neutral, and park. Again, when the motor is reved, it seems to dissappear. Would an oil pump that was not getting enough oil make that on and off squealing sound? Also, this is the first time I've ever tried using Rotella T oil 15-45 weight. Could that be the problem? When I put my old converter in when it was new the first time, I was low on fluid then too, but it didn't make any sounds, just the car wouldn't move until I filled it up. Could it just be a low oil problem (dipstick shows full) or the Rotella T, or a clogged filter? Oil pressure is 50 and stable though. I'm confused

 

[TC]

This happened to mine when I put a different trans into the car.
Sounded like a belt squealing or something gone very bad in the pump or converter ?
Check to see if the flex plate is hitting the starter gear?
I had to turn the motor over by hand to see it, I think the converter wasn't seating into the crank due to paint or other trash.
(my bad) I removed the converter bolts and spun the converter a few times, the noise was gone.
Afterwards it came back just a little, but at that point I knew what it was so I kept driving it and the noise has gone away .
Also check your flex plate for cracks, I hear that will cause a noise?
Hope this helps?
T.C.

 

[fabio]

So you added two quarts of ATF and the problem went away? Or did the oil change make the problem go away?

I edited my original post, but the oil change solved the noise. Mine was a squeal that reminded me of a car with a blower. But I would check the things mentioned above. Then change the oil and filter. Also make sure the flexplate is not backwards(not sure if it would go on backwards but it might). The reason I ask is because if you had to move the converter a 1/2" to the flexplate then something is not right.

 

[66 Buick Special]

With the converter as far forward into the crank as it would go, how much distance was between the converter flanges and the flexplate?
You should have had 1/8-3/16" gap left to suck up with the torque converter bolts to the flexplate.

 

[bb489]

i checked the flex plate and it was on correctly. I got under the car with it running and did indeed see the flexplate awfully close to the starter gear. I shimmed the starter with some washers I had laying around and now the noise is Gone! I'll have to order a few more shims. thanks to all who helped.

 

[JC396]

400s will whine or squeal when starving for fluid. If you have clutch/bushing wear you could have partially clogged screen/filter. You may have a convertor that leaks down but the squeal should go away after a few seconds if that is the case. I can't remember if/where a torrington bearing (like a 350 trans) would be but they will sing when bad.
Have you cranked and ran the engine with the convertor unbolted to see if the sound is still there?
I'd drop the pan and service the trans installing a small container of friction modifier with refill.
jim

 

[jbird]

With the converter as far forward into the crank as it would go, how much distance was between the converter flanges and the flexplate?
You should have had 1/8-3/16" gap left to suck up with the torque converter bolts to the flexplate.

Actually, I believe with the converter seated all the way into the trans you should have about 1/8"-3/16" between the flexplate and converter. If it is all the way forward into the crank, there should be no space left to pull up.

3/4" or 1/2" is too much. The converter hub will not engage the pump gears deep enough. I doubt it really was that much, if you actually measured it. I don't believe it would engage the pump gears at all if you pulled it out 3/4". Looks can be deceiving when under the car. I doubt this has anything to do with the noise though.

 

[65belair]

I agree with Jbird . Pulling the converter torward the flexplate 1/2" would pull the converter hub out of the trans pump . If it is that much then I would guess the the flexplate IS backwards . I do GM trans and I always put washers betwwen flexplate and converter if gap is more than about 3/16" . Also when adding fluid DO NOT overfill and when you add a pint/quart run the shifter thru all gears then back to Park to check it . Is the noise absolutely tranny related ? Or if like a fan belt squeal could it possibly be a vacuum leak like around the modulator . It would squeal at idle (high vacuum) and not at rev . Just a thought .

 

[wildman926]

i checked the flex plate and it was on correctly. I got under the car with it running and did indeed see the flexplate awfully close to the starter gear. I shimmed the starter with some washers I had laying around and now the noise is Gone! I'll have to order a few more shims. thanks to all who helped.

Patrick,

Glad that you found the culprit. Tilton recommends .1 +/- .040 distance from the starter to the flexplate. The backlash is .010-.030. You can read it HERE.

 

[bb489]

Well, the squeal is back! Only this time not as loud. I notice it when I mildly rev the car IN GEAR. If I put it in park or neutral it doesn't do it. Also once the car is warmed up I don't hear it near as much. Car drives and shifts fine. It totally sounds like a slipping belt, but they are all tight?