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  #1  
Old 12-10-2012, 03:08 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland
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Ticking/clicking noise in reverse - 300TE-24?

I've noticed that my recently acquired W124 is making a clicking/ticking noise when reversing.

The car drives perfectly other than this and it doesn't happen in forward gears. Gear changes are smooth up and down the 'box.

This only seems to happen after a cold start. After the car has warmed up the noise quietens significantly, to the point where it can no longer be heard.


The car has 120k on it, and is in great condition overall. I've done 1000 miles in the past week, and it's never missed a beat. Great long distance car!

Any ideas?

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  #2  
Old 12-10-2012, 05:15 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
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When in reverse, pull the shifter back ever so slightly, if the noise goes away the parking payl might be dragging on the parking gear. If so, make sure the shifter to trans linkage is adjusted / has good bushings. If this checks out, the internal linkage might be failing.

I've seen cars where the owner refuses to use the parking brake and damages the internal linkage when pulling it out of park on a hill.
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  #3  
Old 12-10-2012, 07:17 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Modesto CA
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Does the noise cease when you apply the brakes? If so, the noise may be the brake pads clicking in the calipers. This seems to be accentuated when cold and the rotors and pads stick slightly to each other. The anti-squeal taper of the caliper pistons prevents this when moving forward.
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  #4  
Old 12-10-2012, 07:44 PM
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Thanks for the tips. I'll try both and report back tomorrow
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  #5  
Old 12-11-2012, 11:08 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Dallas
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If the ticking only occurs when the car is MOVING in reverse, then it's probably the dreaded reverse clutch plate wear. I don't know which transmission the later TE has, but the 722 series trans is notorious for this issue. The reverse fiber clutch plates wear down, the clutch basket moves too close to the housing and begins to contact it when the car moves in reverse. One other clue is that when shifting to reverse, it takes several seconds to engage the gear - it should engage in 1-2 seconds.
If those symptoms exist, you should repair it soon, as the ticking sound is grinding small pieces of metal off the clutch housing, and the plates are probably coming apart.

You should pull the pan and see if there is evidence of clutch plate dust or actual pieces of plate in the pan; that's a dead giveaway.

Replacing the plates is actually pretty easy -once the tranny is removed - they are at the front of the tranny, and only the front cover and pump need to come out to reach them.

Many guys recommend a total tranny rebuild if you are going in that far, and if you are paying a shop to do all the work, that may be the best approach.
But, it's a reasonable DIY job for a decent home mechanic, and the rest of the trans will probably last for years.

Check the easy things first as recommended in the earlier posts, but if you have the above symptoms, do a search herein for more info, lots of good posts about it.

DG
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  #6  
Old 12-11-2012, 01:04 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland
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Thanks DG, Lots of useful stuff. It's a five speed auto, btw.

I've done a search and my symptoms seem to be what you describe.

The noise is very faint at the moment, and when the cars warmed up, barely noticeable.

Also, I'm getting a delay going into reverse of only 1 second, so possibly issue is in the early stages?
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  #7  
Old 12-11-2012, 01:24 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 829
dg is correct, the reverse clutches are worn hence the delay you notice. takes longer to build pressure against worn parts. good luck, chuck.
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  #8  
Old 12-11-2012, 10:50 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: 10 miles from Egypt
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My 92 300TE started doing that around 210K, after I bought it. I put in Lucas in the tranny, and it was OK for maybe six months. But finally the it would not reverse. I drove until 303K, then disposed of the car. You can extend your operating time by pulling thru parking places, and looking for places where you can park "uphill" and roll back in "N". So I drove it at least a year with no reverse.

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91 300 TE 235K
93 Cabriolet 155K sold
92 300 TE 200K boneyard
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