grinding noise from front

[allstock]

hi,

Thought I'd ask if anyone else has this problem. Have a '96 P10 - 78K miles. When I first get the car going, I hear this grinding noise from the front end. Sounds kinda like something is tightening up. This sound happens NO MATTER what temperature the car is, if it's been started 2 minutes before, if it's in drive or reverse. The sound is relatively worse if the car moves faster, but it always goes away after 1 second. It's happened as long as the car has been around.

any ideas?

thanks,

allstock

[Yahnozha]

Does this only happen when the car is moving...more precisely,

When the car is stopped is there any noise?

Does this noise happen every time you start rollin? ie: Stop and go traffic.

Or not? ie: The car is parked and then you start rollin.

The reason for the questions is that if it happens when the car is stoped, check the engine...If it is everytime you start rollin, like in stop and go traffic, I havent the faintest Idea...If it only happens when you first drive the car from a parked status, it may be the emergency brake not releasing completely if you use that everytime you park....just a guess.

[allstock]

Yahnozha,

thanks for the reply. some more details - maybe you can help me narrow it down?

the noise only occurs when the car starts moving after it's been turned off. does not occur ever again while the car is on (i.e. at stop light, etc). yes, I do use the emergency brake but I always release it all the way before moving.

_allstock_

[T4 Primera]

Sounds like a tranny problem i.e. something is draining down in the torque converter or tranny when turned off. It then takes a moment to refill once rotating again as the fluid pressure comes back.

Is the noise occurring when you select a gear or when you actually get moving?

Give a trustworthy tranny shop a call and describe the symptom. They may have happened across the same problem before.

[allstock]

T4,

Yes, the sound occurs after I put the car into gear for the first time and actually get going. if I sit there for a bit with it in gear, it doesn't make any abnormal sounds.

still think it's the tranny/automatic torque converter? if so, I'll go give a local tranny shop a call...

thanks,

.allstock.

[T4 Primera]

Allstock,

Yep, could be a tranny fluid pressure problem.

Have a read of paragraphs 2 & 3 of this:
http://www.se-r.net/transaxle_clutch/auto_lsd_info.html

Since your car has a few miles on, it might just be a matter of having the tranny serviced.

Please post what you find for anyone who may have the same trouble in future.

[mmassimi]

I had a similiar experience in a 95 G20. If the noise changes with acceleration it may be the front wheel bearings. My were shot on the passenger side with 100k miles.

[allstock]

the noise happens mostly when I go forward the first time. It gets relatively harsher the faster I go (during the first 5 seconds of movement). It has also happened when going in reverse, but very very rarely...

is that what happened to you?

[mmassimi]

Yes, this sounds like a bearing issue. The faster you drive the louder it gets, and more you ignore it the worse it gets. I would get it checked
out.

My front passenger side bearing went at 95k, 1995 G20.

[T4 Primera]

Originally posted by allstock
T4,

Yes, the sound occurs after I put the car into gear for the first time and actually get going. if I sit there for a bit with it in gear, it doesn't make any abnormal sounds.

still think it's the tranny/automatic torque converter? if so, I'll go give a local tranny shop a call...

thanks,

.allstock.

If sitting there for a few moments in gear before moving off prevents the noise occuring when you do move, then it is unlikely to be a wheel bearing.

tim-may has just done the filter change in the tranny oil pan with good results in this thread http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t32777.html