Quick back story...about 6 months ago I thought my supercharger was broken because the car was making a terrible sound that seemed to be coming from the SC. I posted here about the issue, and long story short, I am 100% positive now it's not the SC. The car has been sitting since then, and I have now circled back to it to see if I can tackle this issue. The car makes 2 awful and distinct sounds at idle that get worse with RPMs (at least as high up the RPMs I have the guts to take it). The first sound is what almost seems like a distinct fuel injector ticking sound, but times 10x. Very quick and sharp. The second sound is worse and sounds more mechanical, and more "up front". It sounds like it's coming from the bell housing. In fact, I got underneath the car while it was on jack stands and got about 6 inches away from the inspection window of the bell housing, and the sound seemed to be coming directly from it. I can see on the flex plate a circle of very shiny metal, where it seems to have rubbed against the bell housing. And the sound has a distinct "circular-ness" and rhythm to it. The two sounds have to be connected, as I can't see how both would appear independent of each other. There was no gradual build-up of the sound either, it just appeared as it sounds right now after driving home one night. 2003 Jaguar STR, 104k miles. No modifications. No CEL lights or warning lights on dash. Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas as to what's going on with this car? TIA!
Odds sounds from Jaguar S Type R - YouTube

 

Some one might be able to make something of the sound at :28 seconds, where I rev it to 2750 RPM for a split second. You can hear the sound ratchet up quickly and have a "machine gun" rattle to it.

 

Here's a close-up of the flexplate through the inspection window.

 

It sounds mechanical in nature, perhaps a torque converter to flex plate bolt has come loose. It could be hitting something inside the transmission housing.

 

starter?? I would check all the starter bolts for start and if that does not do the work........I would try to identify the

 

Did you ever remove he SC belt to make sure the noise was not coming from the SC?

Pretty easy to do and then you will know for sure.
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Yes, I removed the belt and ran the car without the SC engaged and the sound was still there.

 

Interesting thought on the starter. I'll get under there and check it out. Anything else I should look at while down there? I want to exhaust all options before I do the inevitable and drop the trans

 

Just something that I may suggest:

It sound also like a failed bearing. This is exactly the sound of a faulty bearing somewhere...
I must say - this is EXACTLY the sound of a failed bearing..

 

What bearing comes to mind? I know you can't tell from the video, but the sound is very present and up front...and not something that sounds like it's coming from deeper inside the engine. It really sounds like it's coming from the bell housing. Could it be an IMS bearing like the 996 PORSCHE 911s had issues with? Again, the car idles fine and has no CEL or warning lights. I'm baffled and frustrated

 

take a look at the engine oil dipstick in the sun, does the oil sparkle

 

It sounds metal-to-metal and looks like something is rubbing against the torque converter:



Not the sound of a TC breaking up - that's like shaking a broken mirror in a biscuit tin!

Graham

 

Yes, the torque converter is rubbing against the bell housing, I can't see whats causing it though.

 

Here's my $0.02 regarding your dilemma.

I had a similar sound from the flex plate section of my 95 Trans Am (the intermittent clank, clank, clank) sound only - the starter gear (after engaging the starter) was floating on the shaft making intermittent contact with the flex plate while the engine was running.

The other sound definitely sound like one or more flex plate bolts are loose or sheared off. You could also have a crack on the flex plate itself causing the TQ to wobble hitting/rubbing against the bell housing.

I recommend you get to the bottom of the issues before running the car anymore.

Good Luck.