I started hearing this sound about 2 months ago. It has only recently become a daily ritual to hear it. It is a *grrrrrrrrr* type sound that is coming from the bottom portion of the center console right near the shift lever. Only happens when the engine is running. It kind of sounds like a big electric motor. Does not matter if climate control/fans are on or off.. it will still make the sound. I do not hear the sound when looking under the hood. Any ideas as to what is making this annoying sound? We need a strange sounds section in the FAQ I think.
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1988 760Tic - 155,550 1966 M-B 230 sedan - 98,000 - Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.

Sounds like your tranny mount took a crap on you, while your at it replace your engine mounts those are probly you problem and when they go they typicly take the tranny mount with it.

Ordered a new tranny mount today from FCPgroton. Couldn't here the sound this morning though. I figure for $10 I might as well replace it anyways. Thanks to everyone for all your help.
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1988 760Tic - 155,550 1966 M-B 230 sedan - 98,000 - Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.

Transmission Mount Replacement. [Editor] The rubber transmission mount will compress over time and need replacement. To do this, support the front of the car on jackstands. Place a jack under the transmission pan with a board to distribute force and jack up enough to support the transmission. Remove the rear support cross member and change the transmission mount, reinstalling in reverse order.

From the FAQ ^^^ This is the part you are talking about?
How does its failure cause this sound? Is the car safe to drive like this? Just curious.
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1988 760Tic - 155,550 1966 M-B 230 sedan - 98,000 - Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.

that would be what i am talking about,typicaly the way it goes is that the engine mounts go, and its not noticed but because of the way the engine sits the eventually takes out the tranny mount with it, the tranny mount is inexpensive and id recomend first before replacing it that you check for any transmission leaks, this is a commen cause of broken mounts back there as over time the transmission fluid will eat the rubber.

The one you have is the exact one my 89 has, i believe pre 89 used a different mount. You can do this many different way, it is not necessary to put the car on jackstands to replace a mount, if you skinney and can fit under the car just as it sits you can do it without moving anyone other then supporting the transmission with a 2X4 and a jack. Make sure you tell your mechanic you think the tranny mount and engine mounts are possibly bad as these items can be overlooked as sometimes they dont look broken as where other time you can see it. good luck.

If this fails, the engine falls down until it hits the back of the transmission on the crossmember, or the remains of a metal part of the mount. The driveshaft and the exhaust can both be out of line if this happens, with unpredictable results. Either item, or the engine or trans itself, can contact the frame or body. Anytime this happens, there's SIGNIFICANT vibration transferred to the body, creating noise, squeaks and rattles.
Normally everything is isolated by some kind of a rubber mount: i.e. engine mounts, center driveshaft bearing carrier, rubber exhaust hangers, even the rubber bushings in the shifter serve to isolate noise and vibration.
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 'Roterande Fläkt Och Drivremmar!'

Hmm, I just posted a very similar question. I do not think its showing up, some error of some sort. I have the same issue and think I have diagnosed it to the center support bearing. There is excessive play in the device and you can move the driveshaft with little force at the bearing. Heh, guess both of us might get the answer we were looking for. At first I was like maybe its the exhaust I had worked on last week... or geeze I hope its not my tranny. The motor and tranny are strong as ever and every other joint is solid except for the stupid center support. I guess every part has a day to go ;)
steve

I don't have any vibration... just the noise. The car runs find and the transmission shifts same as always. Volvosteel may be right? My car goes into my mechanics shop tomorrow anyways for a new hose so I might as well ask him to check it out.
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1988 760Tic - 155,550 1966 M-B 230 sedan - 98,000 - Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.

If it ends up being the support bearing think about replacing the u-jounts since you already have the driveshaft dropped. Look at the seal on the differencial where the drive shaft enters also. I think NAPA sells replacement U-Joints for under $15 a piece.