I think she's fixin to blow. What are the most common failure points for a NV3500? Mine is making some pretty nasty noises in 3rd gear. I'm lucky enough that the truck is strong enough and geared low enough that I can get by without 3rd, but I'd really like to have it back. Where's all my Dakota Guru's? Any Ideas?

 

I didnt think there was any weak points with the 3500. I thought when it was paired with the dakota it was pretty bulletproof.

 

^ what he said. I'm thinking it just might be one of the bearings or clutch going bad and that you can only hear it in 3rd right now. What kind of sound is it? Is it a grinding or squeak stuff like that.

 

Damn, You just had to ask the really confusing question huh? LOL!!! Ok, here goes. I'm away from home. My wife has the truck. She calls and tells me that it's making noise in 3rd. I told her to take it to my friend who is a little more mechanical and he test drove it. he explained it to me as sounding kinda like the chain that pulls a roller coaster up the track before gravity takes over. kind of a clack clack clack (I'm sure that helps). not as bad under Deceleration as it is under acceleration. goes into and out of gear fine and all the other gears are as they were, no noise or binding. This Trans has 272,000 miles on it. it's been a good one so yeah I'd be inclined to agree with you that they are pretty tough. I'm a "spirited" driver but I dont and haven't specificaly abused my truck. (It still has the original clutch). Any ideas?

 

hmmm I don't know if operation of 3rd is still normal (other than the sound) I have no clue. but at 272,000 miles it might just be time for a rebuild lol. Sorry I'm not more of a help.

 

I'm still shocked at the 272k miles on the original clutch. That's impressive.

 

Yeah, I'm pretty good about my truck. Hell even my wife drives it almost as much as I do and I still have a good clutch. She had a 93 Accord when we got together that she bought when it was about 2 yrs old. We sold it in 2007 with 218k miles and it still had the stock clutch in it too, and that was almost all her. I hardly ever drove it.

 

One of the nice things about a 4:1 1st gear.

Pretty good mileage for any transmission. Time for a rebuild or a replacement. Noise is probably something bearing related on the countershaft.