Re: Mysterious TQC drivetrain noise

[Thomas Tornblom <Thomas.Tornblom@nexus.comm.se>]

   Hi all,

   Looking for some net wisdom here... While driving home last night in my 83 
   TQC, I started to notice a funny noise associated with the drivetrain. Upon 
   arriving home, the noise was quite obvious, as I was sitting still with the 
   clutch in. As I was leaving the car to listen for the noise from outside, I 
   let out the clutch and the frequency and amplitude of the noise changed, but 
   it was still there. I then proceeded to engage and disengage the clutch with 
   the car in neutral and  both forms of the noise were present. The noise 
   seems to be comming from the bellhousing/transmission area on the car.

[snip]

Check the starter.

The '85 100 CC avant, (2.3 l, 5 cyl), I had a few years ago broke the
large plastic gear inside the starter, leaving much debris
inside. This had the effect that the pinion gear wouldn't retract
fully after starting the engine, and the starter and flywheel gears
making occasional contact. It sounded as the clutch was going, but
when I revved the engine and saw sparks coming out of the ignition
alignment hole, I knew it must be something else.

Thomas