AT car techies, why does my engine do this?

[Jerboy]

Not that long ago, I took off real fast right after starting up the engine for the first time of the day and it seems to hit the rev limiter or knocks or hitting the rev limiter as a result of transmission not shifting right. It doesn't do this when I do this when it's warmed up.

This is what it sounds like, click on the second link.

It goes as follow:

1. Engine start

2. click clickity click(sound of me shifting the gears and turning the key)
sorry for the confusion

3. Gear in "D" and ready to go.

4. Gunn the throttle.. GO GO!

5. accelerates and shifts to second gear fine, then when it reaches around 5,500RPM on second it acts weird. I'm not sure if it's the rev limiter or something else.

 

[malbojah]

Sounds like a rev limitor. I'm most likely wrong though. My Saturn would make that noise, but only when in neutral. Excelerating though the gear and redlining it just fine. And now I have a Saturn with no engine

 

[notfred]

so that clicking noise after the car starts up is coming from the engine/transmission? I thought you were moving stuff around inside the car. And then at the end of second gear, you have the pedal to the floor the whole time? It's ounds like you let off the gas for a bit....

 

[toph99]

maybe it's just piston knock considering it goes away once it warms up

 

[Evadman]

Sounds like your trans is shifting late, so your engine is bouncing off the rev limiter. When it warms up, the clutch packs expand, and grab the steels better, so it goes away.

If that clack clack is from the car, your tans is on it's way out. Sounds like the booster is not providing enough pressure. How's your fluid level?

Warm up the car. After warmup, and with the car still running, pull the dipstick for the trans. When you pull it out, let it drip on a white scott towel. If you get rings, or a black center, your trans is toast. Time for a rebuild.

 

[KokomoGST]

Sounds like it might be knock... doesn't sound like lifter tick since it goes away...
The 5500rpm thing is either a limiter or a weird tranny issue where it's not shifting smoothly... don't know too much about autos.

 

[Jerboy]

<< so that clicking noise after the car starts up is coming from the engine/transmission? I thought you were moving stuff around inside the car. And then at the end of second gear, you have the pedal to the floor the whole time? It's ounds like you let off the gas for a bit.... >>



The clickity clicks are from me turning the key and shifting the gear before taking off. Microphones are awfully sensitive to this kind of noise

The sound in question is a few secs before the end of the clip.
The sound seems broken, because I think I over drove the microphone.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Yes, it's the engine hitting the rev limiter.

 

[Jerboy]

<< Yes, it's the engine hitting the rev limiter. >>



Sure sounds like it. It only does it when it's cold though.

 

[Evadman]

<< Sure sounds like it. It only does it when it's cold though. >>



Trans missing a shift? you said it is only at 5500 RPM? what is redline, and what kind of car?

 

[wiggyryder]

<<

<< Yes, it's the engine hitting the rev limiter. >>



Sure sounds like it. It only does it when it's cold though. >>



A rule of thumb if you want your car to last.. don't rev over 3000rpm during the warming up period.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Just a thought: Maybe the pcm won't let you rev it to the redline when it's cold. Makes sense if that's the case.

 

[blueghost75]

yea, I hope you realize that drving the crap out of your car when you first start it up cold is really really bad for the car. THe oil is too cold at that point to circulate fully throughout the engine when you rev it up.

Just go easy on the gas for the first couple of miles, or your going to be needing a new engine soon.

 

[Heisenberg]

Probably the rev limiter. As others have said, don't rod the crap out of your engine until it's warmed up. The computer on some cars will adjust the rev limit based on the engine temp, but without knowing the make or model I couldn't tell you if your's does that.

 

[cavemanmoron]

Please tell me what kind of car you drive and near where you live.
i do NOT want to buy a used car from you.......
you are lucky to have a built in rev limiter,or your motor would prob be gone already
sounds like a 4 cyl or a small 6,they will rev up rathe fast but

wow be nice to it if you need it to last more than another 10,000 miles LOL

 

Umm, don't rev your car to 5,500rpm as soon as you start it.
That's your problem.

 

[Balthazar]

<< Not that long ago, I took off real fast right after starting up the engine for the first time of the day and it seems to hit the rev limiter or knocks or hitting the rev limiter as a result of transmission not shifting right. It doesn't do this when I do this when it's warmed up.

This is what it sounds like, click on the second link.

It goes as follow:

1. Engine start

2. click clickity click(sound of me shifting the gears and turning the key)
sorry for the confusion

3. Gear in "D" and ready to go.

4. Gunn the throttle.. GO GO!

5. accelerates and shifts to second gear fine, then when it reaches around 5,500RPM on second it acts weird. I'm not sure if it's the rev limiter or something else. >>



If it doesnt do it when its warmed up, here is just a thought....
Let the car warm up before getting on it....

 

[etech]

"Only does it when it's cold"

Seals on the transmission are going. When they are cold they won't hold the pressure, when they warm up the expand and hold. Check you fluid and a fluid change may help. If you aren't going to keep the car much longer you can try the snake-oil remedies like Trans-Medic. If you want to keep the car for a long time, start saving up for a rebuilt tranny.