2005 Mitsubishi Outlander
 

Hey guys I need abit of help.
I really need some answers asap I love this car couldnt be happier with my purchase, unfortunately I cant take it off the road as I have no other way to get to work.
I have recently purchased an 2005 Outlander LS awd with a manual transmission.
My first question is does the car have a completly sealed transmission as I can not seem to find the transmission dip stick.
My second question what could be causing a grinding sound when I let the clutch out even when the car is in neutral.
Eveything else in the car seems to be running fine even everything else to do with the trans, it shifts in and out of each gear smoothly and doesnt slip at all. Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks guys

Hi ALX001, forgive my assumption, but across the pond in the UK, most cars are manual transmissions. There's no dipstick and yes they are sealed. There will be two plugs on the gearbox, one is a drain (lower) and the other a fill hole (higher up on the side of the gearbox). Basically the gearbox oil is changed at specific intervals depending on the model. Drain oil out of the lower hole, replace and fill through the upper hole until the oil is level with or just drips out of the higher hole - et voila.


The noise is I suspect the clutch release bearing. On my C-Crosser (RHD Outlander with French nose and badges) it is a concentric sealed bearing that when you press the clutch pushes the clutch plate away from the flywheel. They can make quite a bit of noise and I've never heard of one failing, but they are changed when the clutch is replaced - this could be 30,000 miles to 100,000 miles depending on driving style and journey types. Difficult to interpret 'grinding sound' but suspect it sounds rotational. If it goes when the clutch is pressed in (ie bearing being 'squeezed'), the it sound like clutch release bearing. They can make noise for the life of the clutch and I usually just turn the stereo up;)

One last thought, it might be worth checking whether the oil has been changed/has the right oil in it (ie gearbox oil rather than automatic transmission fluid - ATF). ATF is runny as heck compared with gearbox oil which is often 75/90w (ATF plus acetone make great releasing fluid) but gearbox oil would be rubbish for this.

HTH

Thanks man the info is much appreciated