'09 VW Jetta 2.5 5 speed manual transmission noise

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Aug 7, 2015
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Car has 111K+ miles. Started out driving in 40 degree weather, and as the car warmed up I noticed a rough "whining/squealing like" noise after shifting into each gear. No grinding or difficulty shifting from gear to gear, but once in gear the noise got louder as I accelerated. Put gearshift in neutral & accelerated, no noise. And the noise was "rougher" or more grating than slipping engine belts. As noise became louder turned around & returned home. Had driven for about 10 minutes. Checked online and haven't seen any required fluid change intervals for the MT. Concerned about doing serious transmission damage before I drive to my VW specialist 45 minutes away. I try to pay attention to my car's sounds, and this was a sudden surprise. Thanks in advance for any explanations.
 
Car has 111K+ miles. Started out driving in 40 degree weather, and as the car warmed up I noticed a rough "whining/squealing like" noise after shifting into each gear. No grinding or difficulty shifting from gear to gear, but once in gear the noise got louder as I accelerated. Put gearshift in neutral & accelerated, no noise. And the noise was "rougher" or more grating than slipping engine belts. As noise became louder turned around & returned home. Had driven for about 10 minutes. Checked online and haven't seen any required fluid change intervals for the MT. Concerned about doing serious transmission damage before I drive to my VW specialist 45 minutes away. I try to pay attention to my car's sounds, and this was a sudden surprise. Thanks in advance for any explanations.
Throw-out bearing.
 
Check fluid level first. Guess you didn't ever change transmission fluid, right?
If you but yet did, which oil did you use? Lastly, which transmission, MQ250 5F?
 
Original clutch? If so, probably the throwout bearing. Transmission has to come out.
Yep most likely the throw out bearing, dont worry though, taking the transmission out of the 2.5's or 2.0s are very easy to do for manual transmissions, they are light, and are made to be taken out, all you may need is a transmission jack if you want to do it yourself.
 
Everyone saying throw out bearing: normally those only make noise while the clutch is depressed.

Sounds to me like backlash or gear noise. Maybe a bearing.

I would check the fluid level and then change it. Capture the old oil and see if there is any metal present.

Not everyone. I agree with everything else you said. I'm almost sure
he'll find some metallic debris in the old oil.
.
 
The fill plug is under something you have to unbolt. I only remember that much from my 2008 Jetta 2.5.
It wasn't hard, just a heads up that you may want to look the procedure up if contemplating a fill.
 
Guys - thank you all for your interest & replies. Would it be OK to drive the car to my mechanic 45 minutes away? Approaching 77 most of my wrenching is done.

And 930 (loves those cars! Had a 356B, 81SC, & 88 Carrera -other than my MCs, most fun I've had w/ my clothes on *G*) how do I determine if I have the MQ250 5F?
 
Nice Porsche history! I will never forget when I had the chance driving
a 356 SC. Low power, max fun.

Almost impossible to tell if travelling 45 minutes is ok or not whithout
looking into your transmission. Remember there's likely some metallic
debris circulating around, perhaps oil level might be low. That's why
you should at least check that before driving any distance.
Fill plug should be in front of your transmission if I remember correctly.
As CleanSump pointed out you'll have to remove that tiny little piece of
'undercarriage', that's sitting right behind the front bumper and ends in
front of the gearbox, which is most likely filled with a 75W MTF. I'd use
VW G 052 171 or equivalent as a replacement or top-up.

MQ250 5F:

M = manual
Q = quer, German for transversal
250 = max. torque capacity (Nm)
5 = 5 speed
F = front wheel drive

There's also a MQ200 5F, but I guess the 2.5 delivers more than 200 Nm
and a transmission has to be at least as strong as the engine it's bolted to.

Whatever you do - good luck!
.
 
930 - WOW - couldn't afford the SC at the time - amazing engine. Something I learned quickly with the 356 - if you have to look into your rear view mirror to see where you're going, it's not going to be a good day!

930, Roofless & vava - if there are metal shavings in the oil, what would be the fix? Depending on the amount, could it just need a fluid replacement. And if a LOT? Arranging to have it flat-bedded to mechanic. Thanks again!
 
Clean - will do!

parts - I appreciate your interest. FWIW - read 9 articles on TO bearing (and pilot) bearings - all said the symptoms occur when the clutch pedal is being depressed. Noise at top of pedal - TO, at bottom - pilot. I have NO noise (nor any of the other symptoms) with any clutch pedal pressure/movement. Noise happens only when in gear.
 
930, Roofless & vava - if there are metal shavings in the oil, what would be the fix? Depending on the amount, could it just need a fluid replacement. And if a LOT? Arranging to have it flat-bedded to mechanic. Thanks again!

1. check oil level (it should reach fill hole)
2. top up if necessary
3. drain fluid and check with a magnet

After either 2. or 3. it should be easier to decide if you could
take the risk traveling to your shop as of course this bears the
potential of making things worse. The fix would be to replace
the failed bearing or even better to replace all bearings inside
the transmission. I'd wish it's the TO bearing but I believe it is
not due to the aforementioned reasons.
.
 
Sounds like a transmission bearing. I would do as roofless said and drain and strain the fluid to check for metal. Then replace it with fresh and see if it helps. Can’t hurt! It’s time for a change at 111k.
 
1. check oil level (it should reach fill hole)
2. top up if necessary
3. drain fluid and check with a magnet

After either 2. or 3. it should be easier to decide if you could
take the risk traveling to your shop as of course this bears the
potential of making things worse. The fix would be to replace
the failed bearing or even better to replace all bearings inside
the transmission. I'd wish it's the TO bearing but I believe it is
not due to the aforementioned reasons.
.
You may be right. I said TO bearing previously, but the only time that spins under a load is when the clutch is engaged/pedal depressed. Could be a input shaft bearing or carrier bearing under load. Do as stated above by 930.
 
Sounds like a transmission bearing. I would do as roofless said and drain and strain the fluid to check for metal. Then replace it with fresh and see if it helps. Can’t hurt! It’s time for a change at 111k.

That's why I repeatedly advocated for performing oil changes on manual
transmission regardless of manufacturers claiming it's 'lifetime fluid'. One
early change ideally at 1000 mls or so followed by changes every 30,000
or 50,000 miles at least. Personally I tend to keep the intervals even shorter.
Main grounds for that little effort is simply avoiding such issues like that the
OP suffers from.
.
 
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