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240 Whining and rattling noises while driving

Maximum Turtles

Maximum Turtles

New member
Joined
Feb 18, 2014
Location
Santa Rosa, CA
I have a 1992 240 wagon (automatic) that has been making a couple of worrying noises lately.

The first noise (whining) happens when I am coasting to a stop. The sound goes away if I apply the brakes or lift the throttle up with my foot (giving it less gas). It also occasionally happens when accelerating from low RPM.

The second noise (rattling) is much quieter. It comes at about 1000 RPM from the engine compartment. It sounds like gears that aren't quite meshing while they're spinning, and rattling while they go along. It only exists for a short range of RPM, then goes away completely.

Other than at these conditions, the car sounds perfectly fine, as far as I've noticed. During these conditions they consistently make the noises every time I drive, and I'd love to try and fix these problems. I don't know where to start, any advice is appreciated, thanks.
 
Maximum Turtles said:
I have a 1992 240 wagon (automatic) that has been making a couple of worrying noises lately.

The first noise (whining) happens when I am coasting to a stop. The sound goes away if I apply the brakes or lift the throttle up with my foot (giving it less gas). It also occasionally happens when accelerating from low RPM.

The second noise (rattling) is much quieter. It comes at about 1000 RPM from the engine compartment. It sounds like gears that aren't quite meshing while they're spinning, and rattling while they go along. It only exists for a short range of RPM, then goes away completely.

Other than at these conditions, the car sounds perfectly fine, as far as I've noticed. During these conditions they consistently make the noises every time I drive, and I'd love to try and fix these problems. I don't know where to start, any advice is appreciated, thanks.
Click to expand...

Check your vital fluids, then:

Check CLOSELY for unmetered air (vacuum leaks) both ported and manifold or loose intake plumbing. Could be responsible for both symptoms.

Marshall
 
MCSmith said:
Check your vital fluids, then:

Check CLOSELY for unmetered air (vacuum leaks) both ported and manifold or loose intake plumbing. Could be responsible for both symptoms.

Marshall
Click to expand...
The only thing out of place in my fluids is somewhat high transmission fluid levels, and I couldn't find any vacuum leaks using carb cleaner (though I am not 100% confident in saying that there are none). Do you think the tranny fluid could be causing this?
 
Maximum Turtles said:
The only thing out of place in my fluids is somewhat high transmission fluid levels, and I couldn't find any vacuum leaks using carb cleaner (though I am not 100% confident in saying that there are none). Do you think the tranny fluid could be causing this?
Click to expand...

As for the transmission fluid being over filled? No.

Checking the vitals was mentioned as it should always be the FIRST thing you do EVERY TIME you raise the hood.

Just good protocol. (solves a lot of problems too)

Marshall
 
Its might be an insignificant detail, but after some thought I think the whining would be better described as a groaning noise. It sounds as if something is rubbing against something else.
 
Maximum Turtles said:
Its might be an insignificant detail, but after some thought I think the whining would be better described as a groaning noise. It sounds as if something is rubbing against something else.
Click to expand...
If you can control the symptom with repeatability, you're close to diaging your problem.
Can you make the noise stop with the brake pedal?
The carrier bearing can make some haunting sounds with its swan song.
 
poulson01 said:
If you can control the symptom with repeatability, you're close to diaging your problem.
Can you make the noise stop with the brake pedal?
The carrier bearing can make some haunting sounds with its swan song.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can make the noise go away with brakes. I had a suspicion that it might be that.
 
Rattling is probably exhaust. I've also seen the AC jack screw come lose on the back side and cause some wierd noises. So check your accessories and what not. Groaning could be the rear end, I've also seen partially stuck drum brakes make some odd noises. Can you tell what part of the car it is coming from?
 
The groaning noise sounds like it is coming more from the front. I also quite recently put in new pads in the rear brakes, and I didn't see anything wrong with the rotors or calipers. I haven't checked my front brakes though, so I'll check there.
 
poulson01 said:
Probably need rear calipers/pads/rotors.
Inspect and decide.

Stopping power is what I like most about the 240.
If your brakes are old and busted, you're missing out.
Click to expand...

I checked the front pads today, which were right at the point of replacement, so I swapped them out, with excellent results. The whining is gone, and the stopping power is nearly doubled, man was I missing out. The rotors and calipers looked fine, actually pretty good for their age.

While I was under there I found a bunch of loose and even some missing nuts and bolts, so I got to appropriately tightening everything. Im not sure what exactly it was, but I'm happy to say the rattling too is gone. Good day.
 
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