Date:         Sun, 5 Jul 2009 13:15:24 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Was Metallic sound when depressing the clutch---Now happens
              in neutral when depressing accelerator
Comments: To: Harold Teer <teer.vanagon@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

HI Harold,
it's starting to sound like an engine rattle .......if noise is there with trans in neutral and not touching the clutch pedal.....
water pumps wear out ........they can get loose and be shot, but not actually leak sometimes.
I've never seen one make noise though, but it's easy, and worthwhile to undo the alternator belt from the w. pump and alternator pulleys and spin things by hand.

hydrualic lifter noise comes to mind ........though usually that's at idle and all revs above that. 
piston or rod knock/rattle ?
how's the oil lever, condition, grade, and age ? 

can you produce the sound standing at the engine, and reving it by the throttle lever ? 
is it one side or the other ? or in the middle ?
loose/tired exahsut .....
yeah............easily could be that - to test for that .......a fast simple test.....engine off, kick the muffler with your foot, listening for rattles.
my 'wild hunch' leans towards investigating the cat and muffler. 
or just loose brakcets and such.
The alternator on your yher van ( 2.1 engine right ? ) is famous for getting loose and rattling or floppy around a little. I've seen dozens of cases of that syndrom. 
elft long enough ........it can break the mounting bracket, even break off studs in the engine .
check that out for sure.
I looked at one 86 Westy for sale for $ 9,000 ( it was about 5,000 down on repairs too ) ........one glance at it idling and the floppy around alternator was most obvious.........to me, but not to the VW shop that had checked out the van for the sellers. This loose alternator was as plain to see as a flat tire actually. 

hope you figure it out !
scott 
www.turbovans.com 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Harold Teer 
  To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans 
  Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com 
  Sent: Sunday, July 05, 2009 8:50 AM
  Subject: Was Metallic sound when depressing the clutch---Now happens in neutral when depressing accelerator


  OK,

  I can now give a much better description of the problem.  The other evening, the sound had gone away and I was going from my memory which was faulty.

  I can now sometimes replicate the sound when the van is stopped, the emergency brake on, the transmission in neutral, the clutch not depressed, and I accelerate the engine.  The sound (metallic squeal) happens if I accelerate to about 3000 rpms and the sound briefly occurs there and when I release the accelerator.  It does not sound like a squealing belt but does have that kind of sound except that it is more metallic in nature.  Transmission and clutch operation are smooth.

  Now, I am starting to think it could be the water pump.  Not leaking yet that I can see and I have lost no coolant in the 1,000 miles since we have left home.

  What do you think?   Will try and check email this evening or in the morning.

  Harold
  ___
  Harold Teer
  1991 Westy (Vangaux)
  Harrisonburg, VA





  On Sat, Jul 4, 2009 at 8:05 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

    Could you describe the noise please !
    a whining sound, a crunch. a pop, a clunk...........etc.
    more than 'metallic sound' if you can.

    do the clutch pedal and shifter feel totally normal and smooth ?
    ........like there is *no* symptom, except the noise .........or is there 'a strange feel' in either the clutch pedal or shifter ?



    ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harold Teer" <teer.vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
    To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
    Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 5:40 PM
    Subject: Metallic sound when depressing the clutch




      My wife are on our way from Virginia to Newfoundland and are now in
      Brattleboro,Vermont heading to Maine.  I just noticed a new sound from our
      91 Westy and am wondering if anyone can give me a best guess as to what may
      be causing the noise.  I have Larry's list of shops on my computer so can
      access it to find a shop but wanted some ideas before hunting for a shop
      next week.

      The transmission shifts easily and the van is running great.  The
      transmission fluid has been changed every couple of years and it was changed
      before this trip.  However, sometimes when I put the clutch in to shift from
      1st to 2nd and from 2nd to 3rd, a metallic sound momentarily emits from the
      rear of the van.  After I get the van in the next gear, the noise goes
      away.  Once or twice, the noise continued for a few seconds after the clutch
      was released.  The noise does not happen every time I shift and I think it
      is related to the clutch and not the transmission itself.

      Ideas and thoughts appreciated,

      Harold
      ___
      Harold Teer
      1991 Westy (Vangaux)
      Harrisonburg, VA