8 mph in 1st gear

Last weekend, my son and I replaced the clutch in our 1997 SW1 (118,000 miles). After getting everything back together, I went for a test drive. When I was in 1st gear going about 8 mph, I heard a noise from either under the hood or behind the cluster. It sounds like something was rattling, but happened just once on the drive. Now, everytime I start it, the noise reoccurs at around 8 mph, but doesn't reoccur until I shut it off and restart. My son thinks he has heard it prior to the clutch replacement, but isn't sure. It sounds like something is either loose, or something is moving. We didn't have any parts or fasteners left over after the clutch replacement and torqued everything to spec. Any ideas?

hard to say without video of it or actually being there. trying to describe the sound and see what we think it is, is like trying to pee in a toilet when you cant see anything.

good mechanics never give insight on what it could be without actually witnessing it. i too wouldnt try and lead you off. you are going to have to try and trace it down some more, because saturns can make some various noises that lead you in odd directions and could just be a noise meaning nothing.

I understand what you are saying about diagnosing a sound. I just hoped that the 8 mph would mean something. I originally though it was the new clutch, but when I was able to let the clutch out completely without the noise I eliminated that possibility. I also was able to start it in 2nd gear without stalling, but still got the noise at 8 mph. I had it up on blocks and went under the engine and couln't even hear it, so I don't think it's in the transaxle. The noise is most noticeable from inside the car. I'll keep looking and might take it to a mechanic I know and see if he can tell what it is. It doesn't sound destructive, just annoying, so I'm hoping it doesn't damage anything. Any suggestions about what else I can try to help diagnose it?

well again its kind of hard to say since people alos have their own minds about what a rattle, or screach, or rumble or whatever is.

my guess i can only say, would be either the metal frame under the dash banging against each other or like plastic thats loose. some have notice a noise from the dash panel between the windshield and frame. it can also be from the rubber trim between it, but thats more of like a squeak.

I think what your hearing is the heater core filling up with coolant. My car does that same thing. For some reason it seems to drain back when the car sits. It has probably been doing for some time, but you get hyper-sensative to every little noise after doing a big job.

I used to get a noise from the coolant, but remedied that by topping off the coolant. That's real quiet now.

Last night, someone told me to try and unplug the EGR valve and see if the noise went away. I took it for a test drive and the noise was still there, but I noticed the cluster lights dimmed with the noise. So I tried the unplugging the connectors to the ABS module. NO NOISE! I plugged in each connector seperately, but the noise didn't return. Only when I had them both plugged back in did the noise reoccur. Any idea what in the ABS module would be making the noise?

I am also having trouble with the exhaust manifold O2 sensor. When I got a check engine light, I took it to Autozone and they hooked-up a Tech II and got a bank 1 O2 sensor circuit error. I replaced the sensor last night, but the light is still on. Could I have a grounding issue that's causing both problems?

and thats another reason for me to hate abs:lol:, not sure on the problem though. havent heard of that issue with abs, so im uncertain.

now about the oxygen sensor, did was the light on before you changed it (like the last time you turned it off before replacing it?) if so pull the positive off the battery for like 30 mins, put it back on and should be good. the sensor is a 1 wire, so that wire is a reference wire only and the ground for it is grounding to the exhaust manifold.

I'll try that. I bought the Bosch universal for $18. I couldn't believe the OE version was $40 more, just to have a connector on it. It was a 5 minutes job to put the old connector onto the sensor.

Regarding the ABS module; could air in the lines cause the problem? The brakes don't seem spongy, but after I got the clutch in, the brake pedal felt spongy until I pumped it a few times. Now it seems fine.

I disconnected the negative and then the positive battery cables and left them off for about an hour. After hooking them back up, I started the car and the check engine light went off, but it reappeared in less than a minute. What should I do now?

how are the grounds on the block after you did the clutch?

That was going to be my next check. I did put anti-seize on the bolts and a dielectric grease on the studs. Would that effect it?

8 MPH - click - click - your ABS is preforming a self test, this is normal

what is the exact code?

I was hoping someone would recognize the 8 mph! It's not setting a code, but it is a loud click-click. Could a bad solenoid or air in system be making it louder than normal?

As far as the O2 sensor, I disconnected the battery, cleaned all of the grounds attached to the at the top of the clutch housing and hooked the battery back up, and the code went away.

Thanks!