Let's play another round of "Guess that noise"!

[int2str]

Welcome contestants to the 332nd round of "Guess that noise"!

Tonight's puzzler:
- 2002 Audi A4 3.0 Quattro 6-Speed
- 103,000 miles on the odometer
- Good overall condition with not-too-recent timing belt replacement
- The clutch seems a bit worn (can make it slip if I want to), but seems to hold fine overall

The noise:
- When accelerating hard, a strange noise can be heard from under the hood somewhere.
- The noise sounds similar to a slightly open window maybe, or a loose metal part - but not quite as "tinny".
- The noise stops as soon as the clutch is pressed-in to shift.
- The noise does not seem 100% RPM related, but only occurs under acceleration, not maintaining of speed.
- The noise does not seem to be reproducible by just revving the engine in idle, though there may be a little bit of "the noise" as well. That one is too hard to tell really.
- The noise does seem somewhat related to how "hard" one accelerates, not necessary what RPMs.
- The noise can be reproduce in any lower gear, but hard to reproduce in higher gears (3+).

Initial guesses:
- Clutch worn past the limits?
- Flywheel rivets? (I read that somewhere here, I think?)

Contestants may ask any questions or have further experiments performed.

Thanks for playing!

[absolutegtr]

Seems like the throw out bearing

[int2str]

The noise only occurs when I'm "in gear", not with the clutch pedal pressed to the floor. Would this still be a symptom for the throw-out bearing?

[absolutegtr]

Hmmm....never mind then

[downhillracer]

throw out bearings only makes noise when you push the clutch in

[downhillracer]

are you going to the meet at the irvine spectrum on january 4th.. if so i can check out ur sound... and hopefully help you out

[A4natomical]

are you going to the meet at the irvine spectrum on july 4th.. if so i can check out ur sound... and hopefully help you out

I doubt he'd want to wait 7 months. You probably meant January.

[yung turbo]

worn synchros maybe

[BRSox307]

My car (3.0 w/ 50,000 miles) makes a noise that sounds similar to what you are describing. Its been driving me crazy for over a year now and 2 dealerships and 2 other shops couldn't give me the slightest idea what it was. It could be a completely different noise than me though because mine is RPM related. Loudest being between 1500-2000 RPMs and i can reproduce it while standing still by revving up to 2500-3000 RPMs and letting go and I can hear it pretty clearly especially if i'm parked next to a wall. The best way I could describe it is a very amplified brake noise. Not the squeal, just the rubbing of the pads. Almost a hissing or a very light fast vibration... Also, I had my friend sit in my car and rev the engine while i stuck my head under the hood and walked around the car listening to see if I could find where its coming from and I couldn't hear it with my head next to the engine. However, I could hear it very clearly from the side and rear from the exhaust. Sorry I can't help answer your question, I just figured I would put this out there on the chance it's related.

[downhillracer]

I doubt he'd want to wait 7 months. You probably meant January.

haha .. oops.. edited!