2.4 Alero 5 spd standard rattling

[Troy]

Hi, I get a rattling out of the front end of my car it is like an aluminum fan hitting the rad sound almost a rattling but it is not the brakes, it only happens in the summer (warm months) seems as though it might be the transmission.

#02-07-29-001 Grinding/Rattle Type Noise Coming From Transmission (Diagnose and Perform Repair) - (Jan 28, 2002)

I saw that post but i dunno if it pertains to my vehicle. Does anyone have info on this problem? My wheels are 15 inch and brake r good and there is no sign of rubbing. I have heavy duty mechanics certificate so I know enough to know it is not brakes sounds almost as if it could be clutch release bearing also. It happened the first warm months I owned the car and has done it in warm times ever since. I am in cold climate btw. Only happens at low speed usually at certain rpm range in 1 and 2 gears. THANKS I would appreciate it if I could get detailed info on this, I looked thru the posts but found 0 info.

[LuccianoDuckman]

I have EXACTLY the same problem!! Except my car does it all the time. I have an '01 Grand Am with the Getrag 5-speed. The conditions for reproducing the problem are as follows:

Usually when the car is under load, i.e. climbing a hill, the thransmission will make the rattling noise terribly. I've taken it to my CRAPPY dealer several times but they have given me the finger every time. Then I took the car to a different dealer and they said said they would look at it (after they fixed several things that the CRAPPY dealer had broken). But then I figured I would get a hold of the TSB first, which I have not yet done.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one hearing this anoying noise!!

[Troy]

Exactly...ok so have u found any info on this or was there a way that they fixed it because there is no way i am gonna have confidence in a dealership to fix it the first time and free of charge.LOL they will prolly do more damage than good. IE doordings grease on floor mats sandpaper windshield etc... I just wanna know what is the problem before i take it in, and yes i have that getrag also. I get that sound way more when i go up a hill slowly not even revving although it does it sometimes when revving too. Its almost when you put a load on it and the oil is warmed up sumthin does not have the space it needs at that point in time but i have not had any problems(that i know of) except the noise. How about you? I am thinking of flushing the oil and putting in a good transmission fluid but other than that i don't even know if it is inside of the tranny or not. LOL . Thank gawd I am not the only one with this problem. Will anyone else with this problem let me know where i can find info on it...or how they remedied it. TY
OH YES i have to add no i do not speed shift or bag my car in any way what so ever! and it has 28000 km on it

[LuccianoDuckman]

It sounds like we have the same problem. There are a couple TSBs that I'm trying to get from iceman. I PM'd him today and he said he was going to post them tonight here:

http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1137

One of them is related to the transmission issue and one is not.

Basically to fix the problem I resolved NOT to let the dealer mess with my car. I've taken it to several different places, and each dealer has broken something without fixing the transmission rattle. Finally the last time I took it in, they managed to fix everything that everyone else broke, and I'm back with only the transmission rattle now. So what I'm going to do is get the TSB about the transmission and fix the problem myself. I can live with the rattling noise for now. So I'm going to buy the shop manual for the car, and when I eventually change the clutch in the car I'm going to address the rattle problem at that time. This won't be for a long time, as I'm really gentle with clutches.

I'm assuming at this point that this rattle noise is not a major problem that will cause major damage over time. But when iceman posts the TSB I'm going to look it over to make sure. We shall see...

[Troy]

Thx alot man thats sweet...I am just worried if it causes future damage to release bearing or whatever it might be.
Do ya think u can post the link of the tsb or recall if you see it. Thx dude

[LuccianoDuckman]

DUDE!! SWEET!!! Here's the link to the TSB that iceman posted. Unbelievably easy fix!! I'm going to do it this weekend!!

http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=159886#post159886

[Troy]

Sweet, hey buddy do you have any other tsb or recalls you might be able to post for me or tell me about? My dealer seems to be to busy or sumthin stooooopid. It would be greatly appreciated! Oh by the way I get the odd hesitation now with my car also only 3 times so far it has just stumbled while driving in 3rd gear med accelleration, and almost stalled after starting it twice so far in 28000 km's . I was just wondering when did you do your first brake job? I have not even looked at mine yet. Oh ya i found a few drops of water coming through the spot where you clip in the driver side sunviser once and then never again...weird just thought i would mention that. I have just begun the search of forumns and aftermarket parts sites on the net it is kool to share and learn stuff so much easier than taking it to a mechanic. I have met some smart mechanics but I have also ran into some that just jump to conclusions and don't give a rats azz about your car! Oh well feed my brain some more of your ALERO knowledge! TY !!! Oh ya 2 and half weeks after i bought this car it hailed for 10 min on it the hail was the size of oh maybe at the very most pingpong balls but man i wanted to cry! oh well I waited out my 2 years after the damage and now i get a new hood and paint job so I have till August can u post me any links with kool aftermarket hoods for Alero's?? I like the Grandams new hood for the ram air man that gives it a lot more sport look to it.

[LuccianoDuckman]

One thing you can do is look at the list of TSBs here:

http://www.alldata.com/recalls/

Just select the year, make and model of your car, and you'll be able to look at all the available TSB information. It doesn't look like there are any recalls, only TSBs.

That will give you a good basis on which to start. Check the list for any of the issues you are having with your car. Alldata.com has a cheap subscription service too, I'm going to get one. I think it's something like $28 per year. But there are people on this forum that have access to this information already, like iceman. He was the one I asked to post this TSB about our transmission.

One other thing I ran into with my 2.4 engine is an issue with the water pump. Mine had to go back for a new water pump because the weep valve was malfunctioning and it was spilling coolant. This may have just been because I got a bad pump from the factory, but you may want to crawl under your car to see if it is spilling an excess amount of coolant from the weep valve. If so, do a pressure test if you have a pressure tester. If it's bad the weep valve will be dripping an excess amount. I took the car back to the dealer and they fixed that, but then broke some other stuff. Ug...it was a mess getting everything fixed which they broke, but it's all fixed now. :)

Your engine stalling problem may have just been a querk. I don't know. Difficult to tell if it's only happened a couple times.

[LuccianoDuckman]

here's the Alero site on PFYC where you can find aftermarket stuff. You probably already know about this, but just in case...

http://www.pfyc.com/store/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=PFYC&Category_Code=AL

[Troy]

Well my hesitaton when i accelerate at lower rpms say 2200 to 3200 (noticable here) is not fixed yet and my car has been at the shop for two full days now, with no phone call all day today. Wow I dunno if this is a normal thing or what? If it is I am never buying a new GM again.

[Troy]

Ok the hesitation while under light to extreme load especially noticable in 3rd and 4th gears at approx 2200 to 3200 was fixed, they replaced an ignition coil housing which they found resistance in and they replaced the sparkplug that was affected(I would say because it may be fouled now) and it is fixed 2 and a half days later....So far so good with the racket from the manual tranny on warm days, it seems to have dissappeared so far......Things seem to be excellent.There were no check engine lights on for my ignition problem btw. I asked two tech guys there if they have personally experienced the rattle noise out of the transmission from another car before and they said no, but they changed the fluid anyhow. They also updated my PCM, which seems to keep my throttle up a little higher for me between shifts which is nicer.
Thats the update!!Oh and no door dings etc... found thank gawd! cya!