Hello all, Think ive made a boo boo already?

[Felix]

Hey guys (n gals)

I just bought a galant VR4 for what i thought was a "deal" but now im not so sure???

I bought it under the pretence that the stereo needed attention, but on inspection found the speaker wires were missing, and what was classified as a "wheel bearing" has now been diagnosed as the AYC needing new fluid as a best bet if not the system being replaced!!

Anyway i found you lot via google and hope that maybe that someone here might be able to rescue me from this mistake, and give the right advice or help me restore this abused car back to its former glory as i have wanted one since i was young and would love to turn this tragedy into a success!!

Oh btw great site lol

[VR4Kaos]

/Welcome2 to the club a small fee of £20 to get yourself full regestration will get you every answer you need from here it full of vr4 experts who have been there done that many times best £20 ive spent since owning my vr4 /rally

[Davezj]

what part of the UK are you in.

it would probably be a good idea if one of the members takes a look at it, and give you there best diagnosis.

Edit:-
sorry forgot to do the

Welcome to the club thing, Welcome!

[elnevio]

/Welcome

Do you get any AYC lights working at all?

[Roberto]

Hi Felix.

Welcome to ClubVR4.

The speakers should ba an easy fix, you can get wires through the door wiring loom fairly easily.

The AYC could be a few things, so would advise doing a search on here for more info.

[Turbo_Steve]

Certainly. There are guides for doing the AYC fluid, the wheel bearing, and..weel......we can help with the stereo too


Where in the UK are you?

I reckon you need to budget £400 to fix all those faults, unless the AYC has out-and-out failed, in which case budget £700 if you do the work yourself, and
£550 - £1000 if you want someone from the club to do it.

If you're local, and prepared to learn, someone from the club is liable to come and help you for nuffink.

[AlanDITD]

welcome felix, post up ya location bud!

[Felix]

hey all and thanks

firstly im in harlow essex so if anyones nearby that i could swing it by that would be fab? 2nd 20 quid sounds like a deal lol 3rd wow posted this 10mins ago an loads of responce already i feel better already!!

[Felix]

/Welcome

Do you get any AYC lights working at all?


Yes they come on as i push round roundabouts etc hard btw lol not just general use?

[elnevio]

Does it only make the noise when the AYC lights come on? As this is the common sign of the AYC fluid breaking down.

I'm assuming it's a noise, as you mentioned 'wheel bearing' issue.

[AlanDITD]

hey all and thanks

firstly im in harlow essex so if anyones nearby that i could swing it by that would be fab? 2nd 20 quid sounds like a deal lol 3rd wow posted this 10mins ago an loads of responce already i feel better already!!

you came to the right place bud, not sure whos in essex, but theres alot of members within about half n hour, so you should get sorted no bother!

[Felix]

the noise comes on from about 20mph when i first start moving then continues everytime i accelerate, at first i did agree it was a bearing but it comes from the front nearside an stays from the moment the car moves til i park it pausing only when i let off the accelerator.

[Felix]

Thanks Alan as i said earlier my faith has already been restored purely down to the fact no-one knows me but is already willing to offer advise and help!

[elnevio]

Well, the AYC appears to be working ok - so that can probably be ignored for now.

Is it worse going around corners?

[Felix]

no mate it remains the same which is why i thought it was the wheel bearing in the beggining however ive owned enough dogs to know thats not a bearing and it was highlighted it may be AYC

[Davezj]

if you travel at a constant speed so the noise is audible then go round a corner, does the noise change when going round a left corner or a right corner or just stays the same.

louder noise when doing a right corner suggests a pasenger wheel bearing.
louder noise when doing a left corner suggests a drivers wheel bearing.

[AlanDITD]

what wheels are on it out of interest?

[Felix]

205/50/17 an the tread shows no sign of tracking issues

[Felix]

if you travel at a constant speed so the noise is audible then go round a corner, does the noise change when going round a left corner or a right corner or just stays the same.

louder noise when doing a right corner suggests a pasenger wheel bearing.
louder noise when doing a left corner suggests a drivers wheel bearing.

noise gets louder as i speed up corners make no difference,

[AlanDITD]

transfer box possibly needs an oil change?

[Felix]

ok thats worth a look too? any easy way to check these fluid levels out or is it a case of pay the grease monkey to do it?

[AlanDITD]

you got any tools?

[Davezj]

so it sound like something in the drive train

does the noise change with road speed or engine revs?
does it depends what gear you are in.

if the noise changes with road speed only and does not change when cornering and is coming from the front passenger side then it is probably driveshaft related.

[Felix]

alan tools yes knowledge .... sadly lacking lol

Dave no remains constant once the car has moved for the first time an stays til parked, only getting louder as i speed up

[Felix]

So as a point of interest is anyone nearby harlow or essex that wouldnt mind having a tyre kick session?

[PaddyB]

Does volume change when you give it more gas ??

[Felix]

yes mate it does but only when speeding up not on corners but it also drops the instant i let off I.E to slow down

[Atik]

Totally random thought to add to the discussion, but could a split or leaky hose be causing this?

I had a split pipe recently and one of the symptoms was a noisy whistly sound when driving. It would get louder with speed and quieten down to very faint when off the gas and parked up.

Also as others have brought it up, I'm assuming there isnt something caught around the driveshaft or something? I saw an Audi TT the other day with something stuck in the driveshaft going round and round!

Oh, and welcome to CVR4 :)

[Felix]

the more this thread goes on the more i think i need a 2nd opinion from one of you lot who actually know lol any offers to a visit to resolve this? by this i mean me come to you btw!

[Atik]

Well, Nutter John is in Luton sides so not that far away. Might be worth PMing him to find out his availability. Or wait till the end of May and he'll be free for 4 months! He has hos own ramps and equipment and stuff.

You may also find Gowf available who resides in Hatfield. No ramps though.

[PaddyB]

I have a similar[ish] problem: mine sounds like the noise you get when driving on a motorway with your windows down - just quieter & coming from the front.

It only happens between ~70-90kph, independent of gear & when it's warm under the bonnet. The pitch is not related to speed, but I can change the volume by changing the throttle. Ease off the gas & it goes. There's no vibration in the steering.

I've been thinking boost leak but haven't had the time to dig deep.

If I think of or find anything I'll holler.

[confusis]

Sounds like big-end?

[Turbo_Steve]

WHAT!? Big end sounds will change with RPM and generally go CLACKLACKLACKLACKLACK!


Most likely candidate is a bearing in the drivetrain: Propshaft bearing, transfer case or rear diff noise.

How loud is this sound, dude?

[AlanDITD]

Sounds like big-end?

and the prize for worst over the keyboard internet diagnosis......:D

[confusis]

i try, i really do!

[chris g]

I am no techie at all but I would not have thought of a big end problem...

...walks away from keyboard, looks in mirror, feels good...

[PaddyB]

Assuming Felix & I have the same problem - it's not a t/j is it?? :tiny:

My noise is a little bit louder than the general noise of motorway driving. I have to point it out to the Mrs when it happens so it isn't in your face (or ears). Turn the radio up & it disappears ;)

It appears to come from the front - but then again that's where I'm sitting so I suppose it could be transmitted from the back.

It's obvious when someone else says it - the noise is a function of road speed & engine power output (or drivetrain loading). /dunce

Well done Steve

[Felix]

Well i dont have the luxury of turning up the stereo as earlier mentioned, but i have been pointed to TR racing in harlow, jap specialists, so might have to pop in there an see if i can get any closure?

Thanks again for the welcomes and advice!

[steelie600]

try inner cv joints at the front, mine were dry and exhibited similar symptoms. A thorough regrease and refit cured it and the associated slight vibe at 90mph

[bakerboy-2007]

Hello and welcome

I had a noise from the front , cured with a change of hub, best advice to check the bearing is to find a quiet carpark and get upto speed when noise occours then drop into neutral gear so rpm drops to idle dont brake if the noise is still there it is poss the cv boot or the bearing, not the gear box or engine....

to check the bearing get upto speed as above and turn one way then the other the noise will ease off as the weight is lifted off the bad bearing....

Good Luck

[bakerboy-2007]

Oh and as for skills for playing with the car, im a baker deffo no mechanic , the articles and resource library you can access after paying £20 will make you want to tinker on a sunday afternoon

have fun

[White Lightning]

Welcome.

Eurospec are highly recommended around here: http://www.euro-spec2000.co.uk/. They are a bit of a trek for you but well worth it as they know their Mitsi's and in particular know the VR-4 very well.

Do you have any indication of when the fluids were all last changed? By this I mean; engine, gearbox, transfer box, diff oil, AYC clutch pack and AYC hydraulic fluid. There are quite a lot of fluids in these monsters! If one or more of these changes is overdue it could cause noises from the drivetrain.

[Felix]

The engine an atf fluids are clean indicating it has been done recently, the others i honestly couldnt tell you?

[elnevio]

The AYC hydraulic oil is an easy check - there is a reservoir on the right hand side of the boot. Should be full of nice ruby-red ATF! The others can only be checked by dropping a bit of oil from the drain bolts (or if you can pick up a little out of the fill bolts with something).

[Felix]

The AYC hydraulic oil is an easy check - there is a reservoir on the right hand side of the boot. Should be full of nice ruby-red ATF! .

sorry did i read that right? ayc uses atf fluid?????

[AlanDITD]

sorry did i read that right? ayc uses atf fluid?????

you did indeedy, only certain types allowed though SP3 standard!

[Davezj]

yep uses atf

[scott.mohekey]

Correct! It's the same principle as in the auto trans. A fluid coupling between clutch plates.

[Felix]

lol well in that case im grabbing a torch an see if i cant eliminate a possibility to my noise issues ............

thanks guys!

[Felix]

ok had a look and yes its on max an ruby red so my noise isnt ayc ..... I'll look into transfer box in the daytime when i can see better failing that i think you guys might be right at the drive shaft .....

[Turbo_Steve]

er....unless the AYC gear fluid is old?

The AYC diff uses three seperate fluids :D You really REALLY need to join up as a member and read some of the servicing guides!

[Felix]

AYC fluid was clean an red no signs of age tbh steve?

[scott.mohekey]

er....unless the AYC gear fluid is old?

The AYC diff uses three seperate fluids :D You really REALLY need to join up as a member and read some of the servicing guides!

I thought there was two? ATF in the clutch pack side of the ayc, and regular gear oil in the diff side of the ayc?

[White Lightning]

There is also ATF in the hydraulic (pump) system which is the third. The reservoir in the boot checks this only. It's actually the clutch pack fluid that needs changing the most (every 4500 miles is the Ralliart recommended change interval) and that can only really be checked by a drain and refill.

[Turbo_Steve]

I was under the impression it's the hydraulic fluid, the AYC fluid and the Diff fluid.
Which ATF fluid was it you checked the colour of, the one in the boot, or the one under the car?

And Wayne beat me to it! :D

[scott.mohekey]

I thought the pump fluid and the ayc fluid were linked? I.e. the pump increased pressure to a given set of clutch plates depending on where the power was needed?

[Davezj]

yes that is true but you also have the separate ayc hydrolic fluid that steve suggested was checked, so that is 3 separate fluids to check any one of the those could be old a dirty.
he has checked the hydrolic side now he need to get under the car and do the 2 fluids you have mentioned.

edit:- both beat me to it and a reply, i must type quicker.

[White Lightning]

FWIW, my hydraulic fluid looked ruby red on the dipstick but was quite manky when it was dropped and replaced recently.

[Louis]

the noise comes on from about 20mph when i first start moving then continues everytime i accelerate, at first i did agree it was a bearing but it comes from the front nearside an stays from the moment the car moves til i park it pausing only when i let off the accelerator.

If the noise is from the front it's not the AYC!!, :), or did I miss abit here somewhere?

[scott.mohekey]

Taylor's ayc went recently, and while driving it sounded like it was coming from the front.. It was only when you stuck your head right out the window that you could hear it coming from the back.

[Felix]

windows open its front passenger side (nearside) the noise comes from?

[Louis]

This may sound daft, but it is worthwhile checking that your nearside plastic wheel arch liner is secured and not flapping about and rubbing on your tyre (as it blows back into rub on the tyre as you pick up speed)

[Felix]

wasnt a daft idea but a whine sound is different to a rub sound besides it wouldnt rub at low speeds either but thanks for the input

[Felix]

Anyways forearmed is forewarned or something like that lol so bottom line is whats a driveshaft gonna rush me? or should i just bang this on ebay an move on?

[gareth001]

Anyways forearmed is forewarned or something like that lol so bottom line is whats a driveshaft gonna rush me? or should i just bang this on ebay an move on?

There are plenty of people on here who brake VR-4's - so used parts are availabe if the cost of a new one is too much. First thing though is to diagnose the sympton. If the sound is obvious to anyone driving it then it will be hard to sell unless you know exactly whats wrong and how much to fix and state that to any potential buyer.

As mentioned it appears it could be 1 of a few things that could be the problem - so check out what it is first.

There is a mini meet organised around Hemel Hempstead on the last sunday of the month - if you could make it to that then I'm sure a kind person would be able to help you out more. Plus you get to meet some faces of people on here which is always good. Keep a look out for the thread that will appear shortly I'm sure.

When you do find out what the problem is and want the part, just put a new thread up in the for sale/wanted section asking for what you need.

Welcome as well and I don't think anyone has said it yet - but pictures of the car are a must...

[Felix]

Noted fella,

As it happens drive shafts are working out quite cheap so just a case of confirming what needs doing?

I cant believe how cheap some repairs are on these things lol

[gareth001]

I cant believe how cheap some repairs are on these things lol

Just try not to go to Mitsi for things - then you will retract that comment!

[Felix]

I think thats the case for most car companies!!

[Gowf]

Well, Nutter John is in Luton sides so not that far away. Might be worth PMing him to find out his availability. Or wait till the end of May and he'll be free for 4 months! He has hos own ramps and equipment and stuff.

You may also find Gowf available who resides in Hatfield. No ramps though.


You dont need ramps to do work! But yeah, i also travel. If you want someone to diagnose the noise, im more than happy to oblige

[HPRULZ]

Hi and welcome so where in Harlow are you hiding this other VR4?

Kev

[HPRULZ]

by the way having read about the noise issue are you sure this isnt the common problem of a dirt shield touching the disk because either the retaining screw at the bottom is either rusted and broken or missing?

Kev

[Felix]

LOL firstly its well hidden but im in bush fair area too!! 2nd nope its not that as it was the first thing i checked under advisement!!