Transmission Sounds Like "paper" When Accelerating

[moe2006]

Hello All,

I am a new member in the MD area and have a 1998 GS300. Recently, it had a small transmission leak in the front transmission seal (saw drops of fluid in my driveway). I took it to a very reputable Japanese shop in the area and they replaced the seal as well as an exaust gasket (for free) that they found was worn. No more leaks. However, now when accelerating, I hear a sound that sounds like a piece of paper blowing in the wind. Kinda hard to explain, but take a piece of loose leaf paper and wave it around and you will hear what I mean (No gear slippage, enging sounds great in idle). The repairshop had to remove the tranny pan I guess to replace the seal. They also had to put in any fluid they lost, etc. The fluid had never been replaced, added to or flushed before (I know, I know..).

I "guess" they put in the correct fluid, but don't know for sure because when I went to take the car back to them I found that the entire shop had burned to the ground! Unfortunately one of the mechanics was burned over 40% of his body as well. So here I am, no one to take the car back to and a little leary of going to the dealer. Two questions: anyone know what the heck that sound may be? and two, any local mechanics in the MD, DC or VA area I can trust to give it to me "straight". I don't want to ruin an otherwise perfect car. I was also thinking about getting a tranny "flush" first to see if that would fix the issue...thoughts?

Thanks

[GuyTelefunken]

Personally, I wouldn't waste any money on flushing or anything else before I visited the stealer....err I mean dealer. It is entirely possible that some pther component is to blame or simply that something, perhaps even a piece of paper, cardboard, or other debris is stuck under the car. Myself, I would check to make sure the engine undercover (plastic pan) has been replaced properly. If it has been left loose, it could make such a noise. There are a variety of tests that can be done in the shop to pinpoint the source of the noise.

As far as the transmission, transmissions in general can exhibit a card-in-the-spokes of a wheel type sound if there is a problem in the torque converter.

Edited January 8, 2006 by GuyTelefunken

[moe2006]

Ok,

I'll take another look-see under the car and check the plastic pan. There is nothing else there though. Also, I forgot to mention that the front seal, pump seal and rear main bearing seal were replaced. I think the last two are the same though, I am just reading from the invoice. -THANKS.

[moe2006]

Actually I do have my car make in my profile in the section that I thought was appropriate. I went back and also added it to my signature. Anyway, I have a 1998 GS300 (bought it for my birthday when I was supposed to be buying a truck!)....AND...

I think I found the issue with the paper sound. I have a hole in my exhaust manifold on the fourth pipe from the front (looking from the front of the car) on the bottom of the pipe. I found it by tying a string to the trottle and pulling on it while under the car with a flashlight. I assume perhaps that that is the culprit and maybe a piece of the manifold gasket is blowing in the wind as I rev the engine. I may even have a piece of metal or a piece of the gasket logded in the first cat. converter. Who knows, but the sounds does seem to be coming from that area.

I am sure I can remove the exhause manifold and have the hole welded (it is about 1/8 inch wide and 1 inch or so long and VERY near the original weld joints at the top of the manifold). However, I have been looking all over the web for manifold gaskets (there are two needed) as well as a gasket for the connection from the manifold pipes to the cat. converter under the car. My connection at that point looks a bit rusty, so I am sure that gasket needs to be replaced too. Problem is, I can't find that gasket anywhere online, nor do I know what it is called so I can go to the stealer, err I mean dealer.

Anyone know the name or at least how to describe this gasket? I assume I will have to go to the dealer but didn't want to look like a total idiot. GuyTelefunken, if you know, please help a budding Lexus "home garage" mechanic out. Thanks

[GuyTelefunken]

Manifold Gasket

The lower gaskets are the manifold to front exhaust pipe gaskets. The place above will have them as well. I just can't seem to find them.

Seeing as how the needed gaskets are relatively inexpensive, I would probably recommend the dealer for this. You might also need nuts and bolts that may break when you [try to] remove them. Where I live, metric hardware is not easy to find. I usually refer to the dealer myself for specific hardware. I recommend PB-Blaster or some other Liquid-Wench type product and a thorough soaking of the nuts and bolts before trying to remove them.

(Attachments aren't working right now. Please stand by.) 051306-01:07

Here's the only picture I could find of the area. You can take it in and point to the part if the guy at the counter does not understand.

The directions are in the .pdf with the applicable torques.