Test drove a Evo 9 GSR and there was loud gear whine in 1st and part of 2nd gear. Also the clutch engagement was at the very top of the pedal. Any ideas what might be causing this?

 

I've never been in an Evo that didn't whine in first and second low speed. Driven 150k like that.

Clutch can be adjusted but if it's really high and adjustment affects shifting it could getting time.

 

One thing I've come to expect from my evo on a daily basis is hearing weird noises. I'm always putting the windows up or turning the music down to hear some new noise Drives me crazy.

 

Probably just because the gears are straight cut?

Straight cut gears make a whine, typical whine you may have experienced when going in reverse in a vehicle. Uhm what have you driven before? Maybe its just more noticeable.

I'd be more concerned with grinding.

First gear and reverse are both straight cut gears on Evos, most vehicles are designed this way too. Purpose? Straight cut gears handle large amounts of torque more effectively and transmission designs are lighter with this design.

 

funny... i drove my buddys MR last week and i didnt notice anything out of the ordinary with how the trans sounded. Must have been the six speed? my only other experiance driving an evo was another friends 03, but that was about 2 yrs ago and my memory is foggy..
It did sound like how a manual trans honda does going in reverse..
As for the clutch, it's still original at 97k miles so that will most likely need replacing soon. My suspiscions also leaned possibly with a worn out throwout bearing which could also contribute to the noise.. As long as its just a relativly simple fix like a clutch and not the whole trans i might still buy it with a negotiated lower price

 

Was it cold when you drove it? Both my Evos have gear whine when cold. Once warmed, a little noise is normal. Lots of gears moving, gotta expect a little noise.

 

no it wasn't cold. I am in SoCal so it was about 70 degrees..After getting to a computer and searching more it seems its common for evo's to whine in first.
My buddy with a built MR says his made noise when the throw out bearing was bad so I'm still thinking it could be reduced or eliminated with a new clutch/bearing. The car is stock and unmodified and the clutch is original with 97k on it so I'm going to have it replaced when i take it in for service.
Now I'm looking into a aftermarket clutch that can handle the slight bump in power that i plan in the future and still remain comfortable on the street.
First im just going to make sure all the maintance is up to par and the motor is running as well as it can stock and after I drive it around like that for a while I plan on doing a turbo back exhaust, maybe an 02 housing, some intercooler pipes and a drop in air filter.(with a tune)
I'm not looking to get too crazy..Maybe 275-300 whp? Its an evo 9 so i'm really just looking to uncork its true potential