Strange symptom today

The Riv developed an odd noise today, maybe yesterday first time. I think I've narrowed it down to only happening when I shift in and out of reverse. With the brakes applied, when I shift in or out of reverse, I am now getting a noise that I would best describe as a mild squealing rubber sound, definitely not the belts, and it sounds like it's maybe in the trans area. It's loudest when I shift INTO reverse, much lower noise level when I shift OUT of reverse. It's only a short duration noise, almost like a chirp, then it's done until I shift again. The trans seems to be functioning perfectly fine though. I'm not seeing any driveability issues at all.

Anyone experience something like this? It makes me wonder if it could be a motor or trans mount problem. Not basing that on experience though, just a hunch. The noise occurs when you feel the transmission engage or disengage in reverse, but not at all into drive.

Any feedback or opinions are welcome.

A few thoughts that come to mind is mostly stuff you covered.

Try having a friend repeatedly make the noise and you lay on the ground next to the car in different spots and try to pinpoint the area the noise is coming from.

You'll be able to get a better idea once you know where the noise is coming from.

I used to hear a similar noise when shifting very abruptly from 1-2 at a mild roll. It seemed to get worse after my trans was rebuilt, then it kind of disappeared. Imo, the tuning of my shift points and fluid pressures may have made the conditions less favorable for the sound to occur. I always felt it had something to do with the mounts.

Yeah, I have to find time to pinpoint the noise source. I need to clone me a couple of times.

I'd suspect some kind of mount movement. But it'll take what Bill said to find it - you'll have to lay next to the car while somebody else does it to locate the sound...

And we have a diagnosis...

MInor problem, I'm happy to report. On the custom SS intake I now have, there is a steel strap that bolts it down to one of the stock airbox mounting bolt holes. On my car the strap doesn't reach down far enough to be tightened down firmly to the mounting location, in fact it rides about 1/2" above it, but seemed solid enough at the time of install. Anyway, the intake is moving up and down a bit when I shift in and out of reverse, causing that strap to rub up and down against the bolt shaft, thus the chirping noise. I'll have to come up with a short spacer at work tomorrow to put on the bolt so I can get it nice and tight. It must have loosened up just enough in the past month to rub, hadn't done it until a couple days ago.

Wonder if I should try to exchange it for a new one from Rob with a longer strap...

You, know, now that I think about it, mine was probably the intake also! I discovered the mounting screw was broken after the trans install, and the noise went away around the time I fixed it, but I also did some shift tuning. Just didn't put the two together. Sorry Dave, I wish I would have paid more attention. Now that you say this, I'm sure that's what was causing my noise.

I love easy fixes.