Re: A90: electrical noise and weird downshift

[Andrew Duane USG/PE <duane@zk3.dec.com>]

Hairy green toads from Mars made Gregory Deschodt say:

> Morning folks, 
> 
> A couple of newbie questions about my wife's car... it's a 91 A90
> automatic.
> 
> - When cold, the engine has a "tac-tac-tac-tac-tac" sound (valves ?
> lifters?) ... 
>    any idea what I can do about this? 

Lifters. Not much to do, not really a problem. Some people claim
that synthetic oils help. Some claim they make it worse....

> - There is a permanent electric "whine" of some kind that you can hear
> from inside the car. 
>   I've tracked the noise to the rear passenger side, behind the wheel.
> There seems to be some
>   electrical device there but I have no idea what it is (I have no
> manual or anything).. Any clue ?
>   Remedy ? 

Fuel pump. If it's too noisy, it might be dying.

> - Most bizarre: when the car slows down, it automatically downshifts
> into a lower gear,
>   as it should, but in the process you can hear a quick "noise" like the
> tires are spinning or
>   are locked for 1/2 a second or something... ??

Not a clue on this one.

-- 

Andrew L. Duane (JOT-7)			duane@zk3.dec.com
Digital Equipment Corporation		(603)-884-1294
110 Spit Brook Road
M/S ZKO3-3/U14
Nashua, NH    03062-2698

Only my cat shares my opinions, and she's too psychotic to express it