V6 Frontier (D22) Transmission/Clutch whine question

[Q451990]

I drove up to Charlotte tonight to look at an '04 Frontier Crew Cab.

One thing I noticed was a transmission or clutch whine. I could hear it at idle... almost like a power steering pump, but it didn't change when moving the steering wheel. The noise would go away completely at idle if I pressed the clutch pedal down. While driving it the whine/howl was pretty obvious, especially during a downshift.

Although I've had a D21 and currently own a D22 they're both four bangers, so I'm not completely familiar with all of the noises on the V6 drivetrain. Is this somewhat normal? From my description, can you tell if it's clutch related, or actually a transmission noise?

This is all more for future reference for me... the truck had too many cosmetic issues for me to stomach unless he almost gives it away - but I'd like to know for the next time I find an o-so-rare crew cab long bed with a manual transmission.

Thanks!

Heath

[Novajoe]

did the wine get higher pitched as the rpm increased?

is the truck 4x2 or 4x4?

the "wine" is a pretty common issue with a lot of ford v6s, but I'm not that familiar with nissan v6s to know if it's a normal sound there.

[Q451990]

It did change somewhat with the engine speed. I really noticed it during the test drive during a downshift when the rpms jumped quickly.

[Novajoe]

honestly it could be a number of things. when clutches go bad they generally slip(rpms rise even though you stop going faster) and chatter(squeaking and such). I haven't heard too many bad clutches actually "wine". The only thing that would really cause this is bad fluid or the lack thereof, but considering this is an 04 and manual, I'd doubt that's the case unless you noticed a leak or something in the transmission(cracked case or a really bad seal).

if it were 4x4 it could have been the transfer case.

did you try revving it in neutral to see if it still made the sound?

[ib4200]

just as a guess without actually seeing it, could be the throw out bearing making some noise. when you pushed the clutch down your putting a load on the bearing which maybe soaked up some of the vibrations and therfore some of the noise

[Q451990]

just as a guess without actually seeing it, could be the throw out bearing making some noise. when you pushed the clutch down your putting a load on the bearing which maybe soaked up some of the vibrations and therfore some of the noise

I was thinking something along that line too, but my knowledge isn't that great when it comes to how clutches and transmissions work. Is any part of the transmission moving when the truck is runnning in neutral while sitting still? Is part of the clutch turning at idle with the clutch pedal up but not when the pedal is pushed in?

Heath

[Novajoe]

just as a guess without actually seeing it, could be the throw out bearing making some noise. when you pushed the clutch down your putting a load on the bearing which maybe soaked up some of the vibrations and therfore some of the noise

I was thinking something along that line too, but my knowledge isn't that great when it comes to how clutches and transmissions work. Is any part of the transmission moving when the truck is runnning in neutral while sitting still? Is part of the clutch turning at idle with the clutch pedal up but not when the pedal is pushed in?

Heath

no. if you're hearing the noise while the trans is in neutral and the clutch depressed then it doesn't have anything to do with the trans.

[StephenG]

My dad's G35 made an obvious whine that changed pitch with engine RPM. Turned out to be the AC compressor. Goes away when you turn the AC off though.

[Desert Rat]

My money is on the throwout bearing as well. My 4 banger truck did this after a clutch replacement once. pulled it back apart, replaced the bearing, and no more noise. Sounded exactly as you describe.

[Q451990]

I'll keep that in mind... good thing to know. I made the guy a really low offer after he asked if adjusting the price would help - but I haven't heard back from him.

Heath

[ucando]

just as a guess without actually seeing it, could be the throw out bearing making some noise. when you pushed the clutch down your putting a load on the bearing which maybe soaked up some of the vibrations and therefore some of the noise

I'd have to put my money on ib4200. This sounds like a t/o bearing. Try to determine if the noise abates BEFORE the transmission is disengaged by depressing the clutch pedal slowly while listening for the moment where the noise changes pitch and then goes away completely. If it's the bearing, you will most likely hear changes in the noise soon after contact is made with the pressure plate and before the clutch pedal is fully depressed, which would id the t/o bearing as the culprit. Nothing else capable of making a whine would be affected with clutch pedal pressure.

[NWBadGirl]

Could be transmission output bearing.

[longtooth]

After my years of training and working in the field I would say that if the noise goes away when the clutch is pushed in it would tell me that it input shaft bearing is the cause of the noise.

Meaning when the clutch is pushed in the transmission input shaft bearing stopped spinning-noise gone.

Throw out bearings will usually make a noise when you push the clutch in.

[Q451990]

Sounds expensive... hope he doesn't decide that my lowball offer is a good one.

Heath