i know that you're all going to tell me to take it to a shop because its tough to diagnose a funny noise without hearing it, but i really have no money to get it checked out. this happens sometimes when i'm driving, usually only when accelerating: i get a noise like something is rubbing very fast on an irregular surface, or maybe like a metal plate is shaking loose. it seems to be coming from the front right side of the engine. i jacked it up and checked things out, but nothing is loose. it is rythmic, and gets louder/faster when i put on more gas, when i let go of the gas, it goes away. like i said, i have very little money, but plenty of free time, please gimme something to look into! thanks.

Raise the right front and turn the tire by hand:

- Maybe the brake pads are rubbing on the rotor if the rotor has some runout.

- Maybe the baffle plate is bent and rubbing against the rotor.

Check for anything around the engine pulleys that may be bent.

First figure out if it is the engine or the wheels. While driving and you have the noise going press the clutch and let the engine go to idle. If the noise persists then the wheels or the drivetrain is the culprit. Give it some gas while your holding in the clutch, bring it to about 3500 rpm then let it drop back to idle. If the noise comes and goes with the rpm then it would definately be the engine. Check all rotating items alternator, water pump, cooling fan etc...

Let us know what you find out.

Good luck

Open the hood set the emergency brake, or hold the brake. Apply a little throttle, Put the car in gear, and gently let the clutch out enough to apply some torque to the drive train... See if the engine lifts off of the motor mount... It is possible that your noise is being caused by any number of moving parts coming into contact with other parts when your engine displaces from it's normal location... Be careful doing this remember not to let the clutch out all of the way.. Another method would be to try to gently raise the engine with a floor jack, and see if it lifts off of the mounts.. I had this problem once, and this was the cause...

Did you ever find the cause of the noise???

its been raining pretty hard ever since i posted, so i haven't had much opportunity, although i know its not the brakes, i'll go through the suggestions during the weekend and check back with the results. thanks.

okay, so i raised it up, put it in first, and let the wheels roll. the noise is not coming from any wheels/brakes, it seems to be coming from the middle of the car, its a rubbing noise, so i thought there could just be something hanging down onto the drive shaft, but i can't feel anything, heres how the noise progresses: i get a few sharp pings, then the grinding/rubbing noise happens, goes away when i press the clutch. it doesn't sound like the transmission is disintegrating(maybe just wishful thinking), although it looks like there has been a lot of fluid leaking out of this cable hooking into the transmission, i guess its the spedometer? what next, guys?

It sounds like the problem i used to have with my old celica. I sometimes don't hear it, but when i do it's usually in cold weather and i can feel my steering wheel thumping as that clicking sound progresses. I found the problem behind the front left hub. The bolts that connects the hub to the shaft was loose and was scrubbing against the disc as it turns. Quick check would be to remove the wheels and wiggle the hub and bit away and towards you. If that is your problem make sure you change both the bearings and the bearing housing also.

good luck!:classic:

If it is a grinding noise that goes away when you depress the clutch pedal my guess would be a bad throwout bearing and/or clutch. It might be the throwout bearing itself, but if you are going to take the trans out to check it replacing the clutch at the same time is the best way to go. If the clutch is fairly new, it might be that the throwout bearing is the culprit, perhaps needing grease on the clutch sleeve.

Have you noticed the clutch slipping lately? Any funny noises while shifting?