I hear a noise almost like a branch caught in a drive shaft. It goes faster as I move faster and slower as I slow down sometimes not at all and it can come back sometimes when I hit a bump, it is irratic at best. I coast out of gear and still hear the sound. It is eminating approximately from the center of the car just below the center console to the right a little. It's freezing here and I noticed it more so since it has gotten colder. I don't see anything under there. There is a big black plastic cover there underneath. I hate working on cars in the winter and have not pulled it apart as of yet.... Any Ideas? Thanks!.. Indi

Maybe a hunk of snow or ice is between the belly pan and driveshaft? Maybe something like string is partially wrapped around the driveshaft?

Maybe the flex disk is comming apart?

Could be lots of things......you or someone else is going to have to look at some point.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

If it is the flex disc, try this. Keep pressure on the foot brake first. Drop it into D and then move it to R. If thee is some sort of clunk, I'd suspect the flex disc.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

I second the flex disc theorem. Cold weather does odd things to relatively high-mileage or age-affected Benzes. I currently have a cold-start squeak which I think is the belt tensioner pulley on my '98 E300.

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Carleton - That squeak is from the tensioner pivot arm which rides on a pivot pin. The pivot arm has a sacrifical metal sleeve inside an aluminum housing which rides on the hardened steel pivot pin. There are no bearings, just metal on metal. Try using a large bladed screw driver and taking 10 lil dabs of grease and packing the gap between the block and the back of the pivot arm where it attaches. Works for a while, then needs to be done again.

The pin is a 17mm hex if you want to remove it and try to lube the insides. Have to first drop the belt, remove damper shock and spring, remove aux grill, pull the metal crossmemebr in front of the rad, loosen the bracket the horn is attached to, unclip the rad hold down clips and pull everything as far forward as possible (put some cardboard in front of the rad fins before you try to remove tthe fan and shroud - your knuckles with thank you) remove the fan shroud, remove the fan itself. Then loosen the pivot pin and finally remove the tensioner pivot arm and lube it.

If you are really, really lucky it is only the sealed bearings in the roller pulley, but is doubtful.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Thanks!.. All good suggestions.. I will try them as soon as weather permits.. I will drive the rx300 meanwhile No hurry, unless the RX goes down Indi

Doesn't matter as far as testing it going back and forth between D and R. You can do it in your driveway.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

No clunk, It's solid as can be I will check the rest after it gets above 0 degrees out

Thanks!.. Indi