loud swooshing sound, clutch-related

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geecee
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 8:53 am
Your car is a: Bruna - 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 FI
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina

loud swooshing sound, clutch-related

Post by geecee »

Hi Y'all,

it's a continuing saga with my Bruna (1980 FI). The latest is a swooshing sound, quite loud like a lot of air coming out. It starts while driving and after she has had the time to warm up a bit. It seems to come from the passenger rear side, but I could be wrong there.
The key information is that it stops if I press the clutch, and starts right back and just as loud if I release it.

Any idea? Transmission related obviously, but I'm trying to figure out if this is going to break me and make me decide that she needs a new owner, or is it not time to give up yet?

Thanks a bunch!
Giulia
ORFORD2004
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Your car is a: 1983 PININFARINA
Location: Sherbrooke, Qc, Canada

Re: loud swooshing sound, clutch-related

Post by ORFORD2004 »

pilot bearing in the center of the flywheel
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RRoller123
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Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: loud swooshing sound, clutch-related

Post by RRoller123 »

This may sound crazy, but when I switched from synthetic gear oil (Redline MT-90) to plain old GL-1 from NAPA, the entire gearbox system quieted down tremendously. Like you, I had some noises when engaging and disengaging the clutch, due to the bearing most likely.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
geecee
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 8:53 am
Your car is a: Bruna - 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 FI
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina

Re: loud swooshing sound, clutch-related

Post by geecee »

I'm taking her back to her mechanic tomorrow, and I'll ask them to drain and flush the transmission fluid. Hopefully that will improve things.
It's not in the gear box as the shifting seems quite smooth, and she responds appropriately to it...we'll see.
I'm hoping for a minor issue, but when is it ever the case??
Giulia
geecee
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 8:53 am
Your car is a: Bruna - 1980 Fiat Spider 2000 FI
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina

Re: loud swooshing sound, clutch-related

Post by geecee »

Lucky for once....so far.
It turns out that it was a vibration issue related to the muffler. Basically the clamps holding the muffler, which by the way it's probably not the original one, are not holding it properly and while running it moves around. After a while it started rubbing against the passenger side rear wheel and making that weird sound. My guy "fixed" it with some improvised clamping system and....voila', the noise is gone free of charge.
Yeah well, for now it's gone. Until I can find time to take a look and work on a permanent solution.

Giulia

P.S. I had them empting and replacing the transmission oil. Just for good measure, and because it's just odd to leave a garage without paying for something. :D
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Nanonevol
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Your car is a: 1977 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Medway, Massachusetts

Re: loud swooshing sound, clutch-related

Post by Nanonevol »

And you were considering selling her! I hope her feelings aren't hurt. :wink:
1977 Fiat Spider
1985 Jaguar XJ6
1967 Triumph Bonneville (hard-tail chopper)
1966 BSA Lightning
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