What Causes Abnormal Noises When Shifting Gears in a Car?
3 Answers
The reasons for abnormal noises when shifting gears in a car are as follows: 1. Use of low-quality or overly hard brake pads: If low-quality or overly hard brake pads are used, they may produce a squeaking sound when they rub against the brake discs during braking. Therefore, it is essential to use high-quality brake pads when replacing them. 2. Presence of sand or foreign objects between the brake pads and brake discs: During normal driving, it is inevitable to encounter complex road conditions. Due to the unique design of disc brakes, some sand or foreign objects may get lodged between the brake pads and discs, leading to abnormal noises during braking.
Last time my old Passat made a grinding noise when shifting gears, and it wasn't until I took it to my trusted repair shop that I figured it out. If a manual transmission car makes a clicking sound when you press the clutch and shift gears, it's most likely because the clutch isn't fully depressed or the synchronizer is worn. Automatic transmission cars are a bit more complicated—you need to determine whether the noise happens when shifting into gear or while driving: a loud clunk when shifting into gear while stationary could be due to worn transmission mounts, while a humming noise during gear changes while moving might mean the transmission fluid has degraded. Last month, a fellow car owner forgot to change the transmission fluid, and the gears inside ended up grinding out metal shavings. If there's unusual noise during low-speed turns, it's a good idea to check the CV joint as well—this is often overlooked. These kinds of issues should never be ignored. Just last week, the news reported a case where a car owner delayed fixing their transmission and ended up stranded on the road, nearly causing an accident.
As a veteran driver with 15 years of manual transmission experience, I've encountered gearshift noises three times. The first was due to dry grinding from insufficient lubrication in the clutch release fork, with particularly noticeable squeaking when the engine was cold. The second time, metal debris had contaminated the gear oil, producing an ear-piercing screech like fingernails on a chalkboard. The scariest incident was a loose driveshaft universal joint that made a loud clunk with every reverse gear engagement. I've since learned: manual transmissions need gear oil changes every 50,000 km, automatics require transmission fluid changes at 40,000 km intervals - shorten these intervals for frequent stop-and-go traffic. If noises persist after fluid changes, immediately inspect the transmission mount bushings; deteriorated rubber can cause entire transmission displacement. Remember: any noise accompanied by vibration means stop driving immediately - transmission repairs could cost more than a motorcycle.
