Umm... Gas pedal grinding!?

[ironheart1]

ok.. I've been having a lot of issues with my power. I discovered that I had a bad spark plug wire, replaced it and now my horsepower is mostly back. I would like to see if its fully back but my car makes the oddest grinding sounds I've ever heard. Whenever I press the gas pedal down past half-throttle or so (when it is and is not in gear) there is an extremely loud grinding. My friend was testing the car and I was behind him in my buddy's '02 Camaro SS and the grinding from my car was louder than the LS1 in the Camaro. Oddly enough - when the throttle is opened manually, there is no such sound.

What in the name of torque is wrong with this car now!? This thing is costing way, way too much for me. I love it and don't want to get rid of it, but its killing me.

 

[HISSIN50]

ahh, where is the noise coming from exactly?

 

[ironheart1]

Well, is sounds like its coming from circa the transmission. That was my first concern, but it makes the noise in all gears including neutral. To make matters worse, my low beams won't turn on as of last night (right before work). The grinding noise is really, really worrying me. Never heard anything like that before. Shouldn't be able to hear any sound my own car makes while doing 100mph in a 2002 Camaro SS with the T-Tops off behind it except maybe exhaust

Gotta say, even though its way out of my price range, I'm a fan of the LS1.

Me <------- :OT:

 

[ironheart1]

Anyone? I've personally never heard this noise or heard OF this kind of sound.

 

[ironheart1]

Shameless bump... I'd like to avoid taking it to a dealer so if anyone has any ideas, feel free to speak up. I'd appreciate it.

This car is quickly becoming a pile of

 

[HISSIN50]

you have not tried to work on an F body have ya. you would change your mind if you had. there is a reason plugs dont get swapped but every 100K miles.

im not good with the trans stuff, but i remember threads where people had the same type of deal. i just dont remember what the problem was. so i will bump ya, and i would say keep bumping - someone in here will know. im pretty sure Rick does.....

 

[ironheart1]

Forgive my ignorance on the subject, but I'm not sure who Rick is.

So this is a bump for Rick hopefully having an idea about this.

Also, it IS also making the noise when the throttle is opened manually but only at WOT. It does it in neutral and in all five gears (never tried reverse, I think its moot).

 

[ECU5.0]

rick91gt....i think thats his forum name. have you check the throttle cable? maybe its bad and frayed...but that wouldnt really be that loud. maybe its a horribly slipping clutch that only slips when you really get on it.

 

[ironheart1]

I actually considered that. However, it does the same sound in neutral with the clutch out, so I kind of dismissed the clutch thought. Is it still a possibility?

Hmm... Throttle cables can grind? I'm not doubting your knowledge; I was just totally unaware of that.

 

[kevin2m4]

my camaro does the same thing, wont grind once its in gear, but in park or neutral it will grind if i rev it at all..

 

[ECU5.0]

it could be a bad crank bearing? i dont know, im just tryin to think of anything that makes a loud noise....a spun bearing would make noise all the time. if the cable is frayed and there is a cut or whatever in the line it will make noise when the fray gets to the part...but it wont be so loud that you can hear it over another car

 

[ironheart1]

I'm stumped too man. The noise seems to be correlated directly to my power: When it was running like crap with a bad plug wire, it made the noise but it was much quieter. Now that I have my horsepower back, the same noise is still happening but much louder.

 

[ECU5.0]

it could be a bad main bearing or rod bearing man. it could be loose and it only spins under heavy acceleration and load. but im no engine expert....i just know that those things make a wicked noise when they let loose

 

[ironheart1]

Hmm... The ONLY fault with that thought is that the noise is coming from the area of the transmission/catalytic converters. Could that bearing still be the sound?

 

[ECU5.0]

i dont really know....sorry. its really wierd that no one can figure this out. check your starter and make sure it is functioning properly and properly seated. i remember right before my starter fell off it was making a really loud grinding noise...on my freakin flywheel!....theres lots of stuff you could check

 

[ironheart1]

I know. The only issue being that I'm not terribly mechanically educated yet so I don't want to break anything. It seems as it is every time we fix something, something else goes

Oh well, I'm sure someone will have a more specific thought on this. Thanks for the ideas ECU I appreciate it.

 

[kevin2m4]

could it be your torque converter going out or is it manny tranny. if the noise could be heard in park or when the car isnt moving id get someone to rev the motor while you look for the noise with a rubber hose or a screwdriver to your ear

 

[ironheart1]

The car is a 5-speed.

I had my friend climb underneath and he seems dead-set on the sound coming from the catalytic converters. There is a leak on the driver's side cat, and it has been getting a bit worse. Would a lot of exhaust gas through the car cause a loud grinding noise potentially?

 

[93 teal terror]

Did you check to see if your driveshaft or exhaust is rubbing something? My pilot bearing was eating itself up one time and made a grinding noise but i didnt get very far with it doing that

 

[freakazoid]

grinding noise

check to see if the cable is hitting the firewall or something else. When you hit the gas the engine rotates a bit the cable or something else could be hitting sheet metal in the engine bay; could sound like grinding.

Good Luck