noisy shadow

hi. i have a 1990, 2.2 non-turbo, 3speed automatic shadow that has developed an engine noise. it's a rapid tapping/ticking that gets quieter and faster when accelerating and is louder/slower when coasting, decelerating or idleing. when maintaining speed it almost dissappers. i can't really hear it on the highway. it also seems to get quieter when the car is put in reverse. it seems to be engine speed related and is coming from the bottom of engine. it sounds like a diesel truck at times. transaxle or torque converter maybe? any insight would greatful. thanks

sounds like its coming from the valve train....

what kind of oil you got in er?

i used a screwdriver to listen and find where it is loudest and it seems to be coming from around the flywheel/torque converter housing. is there a way to check if the t.c. bolts are loose with out removing the transaxle?

sounds like its coming from the valve train....

what kind of oil you got in er?

10w30 quaker state.

ahhh, HMmmmm, over my head. put the screwdriver on the oil pan too eh? cause it could be the bearings are worn ... creating rod knock.. but this doens't sound like it.

maybe try and ask te guys at http://www.allpar.com/forums/index.php?
they specialize in dodge and know all kinds of stuff.

there's an access cover between the tranny and the oil pan, remove that to gain access to the driveplate/torque converter bolts. Make sure they're tight, anything loose could spell disaster. Get that done ASAP!

thanks for all your input. i pulled the cover off and the t.c. bolts all seemed tight. now i'm thinking maybe the drive plate bolts are loose (though it appeared tight) or the plate itself is cracked. can these be accessed or inspected without pulling the tranny all the way? the noise started as a tick and now is much louder. thanks again.

If you're trying to check those driveplate bolts, the transmission will have to come out, no way around it. Did this car have a new tranny put in or a new engine put in the car?

this engine been in since '98 (reman) and i think it's the original tranny.

so when i took off the TC access panel i had to loosen the tranny a little to get it out. i put it back together and tightened everthing back up. i took it for a drive today and the noise was much much quieter. usually it would start up within 1/2 a block. i could barely hear it with all the wind noise. after driving around the city for awhile (30-40km) it started getting louder. i would change pitch when the tranny would shift down coming to a stop. it's still not as loud as it was yesterday.

does the tranny have to come all the way out or can it be moved aside enough? looks pretty tight.

thank you.

tranny's gotta come out all the way, if you're going to pull out the tranny, I'd suggest while you have it out, replace your rear main seal and also, if it's in your budget rebuild the tranny, especially if it has high miles