Ping noise putting car into gear......did this problem get solved?
05-18-2005, 03:02 AM
#1
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ping noise putting car into gear......did this problem get solved? My Z28 is an A4 with GU5. I've noticed it's been making a really quick, not all that loud but still noticeable "ping" noise when I shift the car from park into reverse. The only other time it makes this noise is when I accelerate from a stop, but this doesn't always occur. I did an extensive search for any threads covering this issue...the one I could find was from about a year ago, but seems to cover the exact problem. It included this which was cut from an F-body FAQ....
My car is a 2001....this seems to indicate that the problem was 98-99. 
Besides that, my car is in auto, does have 3.23's, and the description of the problem is dead-on. Anyway, has a better solution to this been figured out since then? I want to get it resolved while I still have an active warranty. Is it likely/possible that this is the same problem occuring on an '01? How long will a standard replacement stay quiet? Any info from someone who's gotten this resolved would be beyond appreciated.
Q: I have a 98 or 99 LS1 F-body with an automatic transmission, and each time I put my car into gear from park and each time I accelerate from a stop, there is a ping or tinking noise that sounds from underneath my car. Where is this coming from and how do I fix it?
A: This is a problem with the automatics that have an aluminum driveshaft. The aluminum driveshaft comes standard on the cars with the 3.23 (GU5) rear end. Although there is no TSB to fix this, if you have the dealer replace the driveshaft with a new one, the sound will go away. However most people who had this repair done report that it comes back. As of this time, there doesn’t appear to be a permanent fix other than replacing the driveshaft with a carbon fiber one.
A: This is a problem with the automatics that have an aluminum driveshaft. The aluminum driveshaft comes standard on the cars with the 3.23 (GU5) rear end. Although there is no TSB to fix this, if you have the dealer replace the driveshaft with a new one, the sound will go away. However most people who had this repair done report that it comes back. As of this time, there doesn’t appear to be a permanent fix other than replacing the driveshaft with a carbon fiber one.
Besides that, my car is in auto, does have 3.23's, and the description of the problem is dead-on. Anyway, has a better solution to this been figured out since then? I want to get it resolved while I still have an active warranty. Is it likely/possible that this is the same problem occuring on an '01? How long will a standard replacement stay quiet? Any info from someone who's gotten this resolved would be beyond appreciated. 
05-18-2005, 07:40 AM
#2
Staging Lane
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by GoldenBird
My Z28 is an A4 with GU5. I've noticed it's been making a really quick, not all that loud but still noticeable "ping" noise when I shift the car from park into reverse. The only other time it makes this noise is when I accelerate from a stop, but this doesn't always occur. I did an extensive search for any threads covering this issue...the one I could find was from about a year ago, but seems to cover the exact problem. It included this which was cut from an F-body FAQ....
My car is a 2001....this seems to indicate that the problem was 98-99. Besides that, my car is in auto, does have 3.23's, and the description of the problem is dead-on. Anyway, has a better solution to this been figured out since then? I want to get it resolved while I still have an active warranty. Is it likely/possible that this is the same problem occuring on an '01? How long will a standard replacement stay quiet? Any info from someone who's gotten this resolved would be beyond appreciated.
My car is a 2001....this seems to indicate that the problem was 98-99.
Besides that, my car is in auto, does have 3.23's, and the description of the problem is dead-on. Anyway, has a better solution to this been figured out since then? I want to get it resolved while I still have an active warranty. Is it likely/possible that this is the same problem occuring on an '01? How long will a standard replacement stay quiet? Any info from someone who's gotten this resolved would be beyond appreciated.I have this same exact sound in my 2000 TA with the GU5 option
05-30-2005, 03:40 PM
#5
Launching!
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Dallas Texas
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mine did that exact same thing and me and the dealership went toe to toe a few rounds and in the end they replaced the driveshaft and low and behold no more "ping" sounds coming from the drive shaft.
Good luck
Good luck
05-31-2005, 01:23 AM
#6
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by RevGTO
I don't know that this is a "problem" - there are no deleterious effects, just the sound. Mine has done it since I replaced the steel driveshaft with aluminum - I think everybody's does.
I guess it's not hurting anything but I figured I'd ask...
Originally Posted by God Forgives I Dont
Mine did that exact same thing and me and the dealership went toe to toe a few rounds and in the end they replaced the driveshaft and low and behold no more "ping" sounds coming from the drive shaft.
Good luck
Good luck
05-31-2005, 07:23 AM
#7
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: wilmington delaware
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
drove my old t/a for 3 years with the ping sound. its not gonna hurt anything but if it does bother you, try and replace the driveshaft to see if that fixes it.
