So I have a stock '85 Manual 4 speed GT and I have been noticing for a while now that when I accelerate from a stop there is this grinding sound coming from the engine bay as I let out the clutch. It sounds like a wood chair going across a hard floor. Goes away completely after I shift into second, though occasionally it will be there a TINY bit in second too. 3rd and 4th gear performs like a champ, no slipping or noises or anything. I've done a lot of research on google for this and so far I've come up with nothing but a possible bad TOB. Seems like a ton of people (not Fiero owners) have these issues and have no clue what is causing them! I'm prepared to drop the engine/trans assembly down to replace a clutch if it's shot, but from what I can tell my clutch hasn't gone to the junk yard yet. Does ANYBODY know what is going on? I really really don't like having my car make noises without knowing what is causing them.

Before you open up the clutch, check the output bearings at the axle....grab on the axles and wiggle....each side. Slight play is OK, but if it clunks, the bearing is shot.

To better isolate the problem, you'll have to be a bit clearer when the sounds happens. Does it happen only as you're letting the clutch out but goes away when the clutch is fully out? Or does it also happen the whole time you're driving around in first gear? Does the sound happen when you're parked in neutral and push in the clutch pedal and/or let it out, or only when in first gear?

Thanks guys! Well let me see if this description helps. No noise occurs when I'm sitting in neutral, the engine is running, and I push the clutch in/out. Then I'll shift into first and start to accelerate. Initially within the first few inches of pedal travel on the clutch there is no noise, but as I let it out further while pressing on the gas (nothing crazy, maybe 1500 to 2000 rpm) the engine bay starts making the wood-chair-on-floor noise. It starts out loud and then dies down until the clutch pedal is fully out. There is still a small remnant of the noise if you leave the car in first and drive around, but as soon as I shift into second everything will be fine. Unless I put an excessive load on the car as if I were starting from a stop on a steep hill. The harder the load put on it the louder the sound is. I've found if I accelerate the car REALLY slowly in first then the sound doesn't occur, but that is way too slow for traffic :P

Does the sound happen if you slip the clutch in 2nd, 3rd or 4th? How about noise in Reverse? Larry

yes (occasionally a little bit), no, no, and no

Second gear only happens a tiny bit if first gear noise was REALLY screwed up. Like if I was starting on a steep hill. Then I could pretty much guarantee second gear will have some noise as I'm letting out the clutch.

Also, a check engine light keeps coming on so I will have to check out those codes too and see if they might be indicative of anything.

[This message has been edited by brandon_braun (edited 05-14-2013).]

Curious problem for sure, doesn't really sound like a clutch problem because it is only in first gear, wonder if it is some failure in the transmission related to the first gear which also affects second a little, they are on the same shift fork. Will be interesting to see what it really is. Larry

Maight be way off here but... what about engine and transmission mounts? Sounds to me like this is torque related and maybe the engine is moving and something is rubbing.

I have the same/similar problem.... hopefully you can figure this out.

I recently replaced all the engine and transmission mounts so I know those are perfectly ok. Larry, I didn't realize that first and second gear were on the same shift fork. That might be something.

Also, as I was driving home today and the sound was coming from the right side of the engine bay. I discovered I could make the sound go away if I kept the rpm super low (1000-1300) when initially accelerating, but even after the clutch was fully out if I floored it it would make that noise again.

I found a good comparison for the sound it's making. I was watching Fast and Furious lately and I noticed the pitch of all those high performance engines when they revved up sounds like my noise in the engine bay! Too bad my engine isn't performance

As I was looking in my service manual at the transaxle section, I noticed it mentioned something about noises/hangups being present in 1st or 2nd gear and that an adjustment of the selector cables might eliminate the noises. The alternative explanation it had was "Damaged or worn first/second speed constant mesh gears. Damaged or worn 1-2 synchronizer." Yay...I'd really rather not have to take apart the transmission at the moment as I need my car for work. About how long do you think a "worn synchronizer" or gear would last? Did I mention the transmission is approaching 140K miles? 0_o yikes...Is there any place to buy individual gears if need be?

My 86 2m4, (with the isuzu 5 speed) has a similar noise. The wooden chair description is good. Mine sort of sounds like wood sliding, what it really sounds like to me is as if a wood board was being pushed against the CV shaft as it spins. lol
Seems like it comes from the pssenger side rear. I have an added symptom, sometimes it feels like that tire is out of balance, but it isnt. New tires didnt fix it.

quote Originally posted by Gall757: check the output bearings at the axle....grab on the axles and wiggle....each side. Slight play is OK, but if it clunks, the bearing is shot.

Interesting thought

quote Originally posted by 2.5: Seems like it comes from the pssenger side rear.

Exactly! That's what is making me really think, cause I know the clutch/gear assembly is sitting pretty much directly behind the driver side and the sound is definitely coming from the far right of the driver.

You know...I'm going to check something. Does your car also squeal occasionally? I wonder if it is a slipping belt. That's on the correct side and I know mine need to be tightened. Doesn't account for only first and second gear though...

Na, after new quality belts no belt squeal.
You dont have a shimmy or shake like an unbalanced tire as well do ya?

Try this: If the e brake works good put it on hard, if not block the wheels. Put it in first and give it some gas and start letting out the clutch. If you get the noise then it is either the clutch or something rotating on the engine which is hitting something else when the engine torques over. Larry

No, my tires don't shake...well...depends. Do you mean like a vibration when the rpm's go really low as you first start accelerating? Or do you mean a constant vibration no matter what speed/rpm you are at?

Hmm that's a good idea! I'm a bit worried that will be burning out the clutch though. Not so sure I want to test it that way

quote Originally posted by brandon_braun: No, my tires don't shake...well...depends. Do you mean like a vibration when the rpm's go really low as you first start accelerating? Or do you mean a constant vibration no matter what speed/rpm you are at? Hmm that's a good idea! I'm a bit worried that will be burning out the clutch though. Not so sure I want to test it that way

Mine is exactly like an unbalanced tire, not just from a stop.

I think a few times trotterlgs test would be fine, clutches dont like it if you do that at every stop every day though.

quote Originally posted by brandon_braun: Hmm that's a good idea! I'm a bit worried that will be burning out the clutch though. Not so sure I want to test it that way

Ummm... if doing that test a couple of times was to burn your clutch out, it would have to already be on it's last legs!

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Ummm... if doing that test a couple of times was to burn your clutch out, it would have to already be on it's last legs!

I didn't say it would completely burn it out, just that I didn't like the idea of doing it cause it would at the very least be burning it a little bit.

[This message has been edited by brandon_braun (edited 05-15-2013).]

quote Originally posted by brandon_braun: Oh :/ Yeah mine doesn't do that. But check your belt tension though cause I tightened mine up and on the first drive after that I couldn't get it to make the noise. Could have been just luck though. More driving will tell

If tightening your belt actually changed it, its either the belt or a pulley / bearing that turns off that belt.

quote Originally posted by 2.5: If tightening your belt actually changed it, its either the belt or a pulley / bearing that turns off that belt.

Weird right? :P Could have sworn that did not sound like a slipping belt or anything else as "mild". It certainly sounded like something was grinding and slowly wearing itself to bits. Oh well! At least it is (hopefully) gone! Did you check your axle and bearings on the side of your car?? I wonder if they are bad and causing it to feel like unbalanced tires

Bearings I checkd a while back, were good. I still need to check the cv axle.

Yeah I've heard the axles can knock if the cv boots have split and let out the lubricant inside, allowing the joints to degrade. Maybe that could be the issue?

anything on this? i tried the ebrake method and the sound seems to go away..... sticky caliper maybe?