Transmission Whine Making Me Nervous
 

I scoured the threads pretty good trying to find some relevant information, but nothing seemed to fit my case exactly. Going to be as descriptive as possible.

I test drove an 88 cherokee with 214k a few days back. Ran great. I was impressed, so I picked it up for $900, which isn't bad for my area. No weird sounds, smoke, funky smells or anything.

Due to the arrangement the seller and I made, I picked it up a couple days later. However, as soon as I gave it gas in 1st gear is made a considerably loud "whine" as if it was in reverse. But much louder than reverse. It increases in pitch as I accelerate, and disappears in 4th and 5th gear (manual tranny by the way).

Everything still shifts smooth, the clutch doesn't have a whole lot of slack as I was expecting, and it stays in gear.

Anyway, that's about all I got. Anyone know what's up? I'm also not a mechanic and don't have tools, so there's not a whole lot I can do. Looking for a pretty precise diagnostic (as best as possible via a forum, anyway) so if I take into a shop I can save myself some $$$.

Ok thanks guys!

I don't know if it's legit to bump a thread, but this was on page 5 with no hits... Hoping someone knows what's up.

It could be your synchros are going bad. Is it difficult to shift into first?

how do you know the noise is coming from the tranny? any slipping, hard shifting into gear etc...?

No, it is not difficult to shift into first.

I am not 100% positive it's the tranny, but if I play with the clutch I can hear the gears engaging and disengaging, and that sound becomes constant if it remains in gear and the jeep is moving. It just sounds like the gears are whining... like in reverse. I suppose it could be something else, as I am no mechanic, but that sure is what it sounds like.

Sounds like a bearing inside the tranny, would need to be rebuilt.

Is this something I should do soon? Is there a temporary fix (special kind of fluid?)

Whine could be anything, have you checked the power steering fluid?

Is the whine only under load? Have you taken it out of gear and coasted?

Or have you pushed in the clutch and is the whine still present?

Have you made sure its not in 4wd, and that the tcase and trans are filled with the proper oils?