Today, just for fun, I peeled back the trans boot and listened to the happily whirring driveshaft bearing and related noises. However, when I popped into forth gear I heard a ding-ding-ding-ding noise driving or coasting! I guess something is rattling around in there and wonder if anyone else has heard these noises?

Guess I'll just avoid forth gear from now on. Maybe POs drove around alot in forth! Other gears make no noise, yet. I'd really love to get my hands on a used box and take it apart, just for fun.

Update, not that it matters, but the ding ding, rattle rattle, which I have been hearing for a few weeks is now obvious in second gear, forth gear and rolling in neutral, 88/240/47, 160K. I imagine it is a very loose bushing or bearing on that shaft in the transmission.

What I have been doing is winding out first gear, grabbing third and then dropping it into fifth, all without lugging. Is it possible that all 47 gearboxes eventually make these noises and only when I pulled back the rubber shift boot and listened did I become aware of it? And it really doesn't matter as it was probably doing long before I heard it? Or, does avoiding second and forth extend the life of the trans?

And this morning I heard a ding-ding-ding noise in second gear and when coasting in neutral. Not that it matters since I wouldn't, nor would anyone else, have heard anything unless I peeled back the boot and listened! Maybe these boxes as they wear make noises? Ring-ring-ding-ding very strange, so very like driving a Volvo.