gearbox

[Neil.]

in 3rd and 5th gear my engine makes a aeroplane wirling sound, as if it's going to take off, what does this mean?

[Mark]

Dunno but my 4-speed has been doing that for a thousand miles in 4th.

[Funkdocta]

It's prob as simple as a worn gears - if all gears did it it would prob b a worn gearbox bearing but it sounds like it's your gear cogs.

My gearbox has had a tired old life and would make that sort of sound in every gear and sometimes not wanna change gear etc. so I changed the gearbox oil for a good quality oil and added some gearbox treatment stuff(can't rem what exactly) and it really made gear changing smoother and the gearbox quiter - Give a try, much cheaper than a gearbox change (aprox ?750 for a re-cond one!).

[novashed]

lucky b*stards, my gearbox made wining noises for 2 weeks then went pop at 110mph, luckily it managed to stay in third gear to get me the 10 mile journey home, bunged in aan astra box the next day, only thing is its a long ratio jobby and my 17's dont like it, still only 30 notes from my local scrappy

[Mark]

I'm not too bothered, if it goes pop I'll chuck one of my spares in!
Might even treat the car to a five speed!

[mowgli]

if the selection of gears is ok, the bearings are probably worn, or the oil level is low. the bearings are fairly easy to do if you are brave enough to strip it. just follow the haynes book. a grumbly wheel bearing might cause it, or is the gear linkage fouling the exhaust???????