Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Morgan Plus 4 - Drive train noise

I am a newbie to Morgan ownership so please forgive me if this is a question to which I should already know the answer!

2006 Plus 4 - 28k miles - when I release/engage the clutch in neutral I hear a whirring noise from the drivetrain - audible inside and outside of the car. Disengage the clutch and the noise stops.

As the car is under warranty I reported this to my Morgan dealer a couple of weeks ago and they inspected the car today; the result is that they want to order in and then add some sort of additive to the gearbox to see if that cures the problem. Is this a good/sound/recognised course of action and is it something that anyone else has done with success?

I think it's decision time here.

Do you want the dealer to repair the car under warranty or do you want the forum to give you a set of instructions to give to your dealer to repair the car when the members of the forum have never seen your car I assume.

I think the first suggestion I made would be the normal course of action.

In a Morgan there is no sound insulation like in a "normal" car and you are close to the gearbox. When you are engaged in neutral, the shafts and gears of the gearbox are moving without stress, there is play between the gears and this is surely what you hear. At idle speed the rpm is more chaotic and increases this effect.

When you disengage the clutch the primary shaft doesn't move and the gears stop, there is no noise. Normal. This noise increases when the oïl is hot.

Depending on the level of the noise, it seems to be normal.

You can listen the same noise on a "normal" car but you have to be outside and close to the gearbox. Inside the noises are filtered.

I have a Ford Puma, ie Ford gearbox, the noise is very low, but when you disengage the clutch you hear a small difference and no noise due to the gearbox. Try on your normal car, you must have a difference between engaged and disengaged.

After I don't know how high is the noise of your gearbox. You have perhaps to compare with another Morgan with a Ford gearbox.

On my 2005 PLUS 4, at neutral and idle, when the oïl is hot you hear the gearbox. If you accelerate at neutral, the play between the gear disappears, there is no oscillations and the noise is not the same and lower.

CBY: Thank you for your informative reply - some good points and I am grateful. For what it is worth the noise is there when the engine and gearbox are cold.....from start up.....and as a newbie to this marque I just wondered if the noise level is routine or not....although I so (with hindsight) appreciate it is difficult for others to judge the level of noise without hearing it. I do expect to hear more of the mechanical noises in this car than in my tin box for all the obvious reasons stated. Compared to test drive cars it does seem louder....but then like me it is also older.....so hard to compare at present.

Eddie: You make your point in a most pointed fashion - and in English as opposed to The Doric - thank you. Could I ask you to read my question again please? I am not asking for instructions; I provided some background to my concern and asked whether anyone had gone down the additive route in order to try and reduce the noise levels - and to indicate whether or not it worked or was worthwhile as a course of action. I intend to let my dealer sort it out but would have valued some advice from members who might have had the same concern.

I doubt that additive will make much difference if it's usual noise. CBY has summarised the source, and there may be some noise from the release bearing. A bit of whine and rattle is nothing to worry about, especially if depressing the clutch stops it and you don't get it on the move.
A gearbox oil change could make a difference though because it may not have had one. "Sealed for life sir".........

Dave,

Thank you for your points - from lurking I know you are something of a guru on all things Morgan and I appreciate your comments and advice. The noise is most apparent when stationary, it either disappears or gets lost in other noises once on the move (certainly not louder!). I didn't get a chance to talk to the technician today so had to come away without knowing exactly what he'd inspected/checked etc but clearly he didn't find anything untoward mechanically (I hope anyway!). I suppose I was just a bit concerned that the solution put forward was an additive.....which to my layman's mind suggests treating the symptoms not the cause (but if the cause is indeed normal then quietening it with an additive may be a help to relieve concerns I suppose).

I will ask about the oil change though.....if it is possible.....and perhaps a different grade of oil might help. It would be good to know that there is nothing serious to worry about before my limited warranty expires at any rate.

Thank you once again for your help.

I had the same problem on my old +4, clutch release bearing.

If it only makes the noise when you press the clutch and it's silent when the pedal is up I'd go for release bearing.
'Normal ' transmission noise from poor sound insulation will be with the pedal up.

If you read the forums related to Ford, it seems that using guenine Ford gearbox oil is quite mandatory.

In the PLUS 4 2005 Morgan Owner's Handbook Ford reference is ESD-M2C186-A. Check it in your handbook. In another post I asked if people know other compliant oils.

It seems to be an ATF oil (Automatic Transmission Fluid) which seems to be thinner than a 75W90. It may explain than Ford gearboxes are a little noisy.

So would I .