I will try to explain my problem with my best english. Let me know if that gives you a clue about what might be giving up in my tranny.
Today I started having a sound similar to that of a ligthened flywheel, kind of slack sound in the gears when off throttle in pretty much any gear, mostly between 2000-3000 rpm. Except that I have a stock flywheel. Sounds like something loose inside the tranny when not under power or very slightly compressing.
Additionnaly, when decelerating in 3rd or 4th to a stop, when going below 2k there is a fairly loud low pitched vibration noise similar to a shot wheel bearing, but only for maybe 300 rpm range (2000 - 1700). There was also the usual diff whining when off throttle but it was much louder than before.
It started after a ride in a dirt road, with a few hard 1st speed spinning starts. There may have been some ice spots while I was doing that but I am not sure, I did it where it appeared to be dirt only. I could see that alternating between ice and dirt could cause shocks to the tranny..
I let the car sit for a couple hours. I then had a ride but could not hear anything abnormal when trying to duplicate the sound. Maybe there was metal particles floating around and by leaving the car sitting they all got stuck on the plug.
Additionnally, I should say I have been running with the tranny oil level way too high for a long time. I had the tranny replaced with a used one about 2 1/2 years ago and until today was still running the same oil they put in there when installing it. It is only recently that I found out they put way too much oil (like 1 inch on the gauge). When checking the oil after using the car it is pretty obvious that there are air bubbles in the oil (sign of foaming I guess). It is now my understanding that I should have replaced the tranny oil a few times in the past 2 years (some say to replace it each 15k).
I drained the tranny oil, the drain plug was covered with metal particles. Looks like the larger parts were the "latest". Underneath those larger particles there was the more normal metallic paste.
There are like dozens of more or less 1/8 inch metal parts. I cannot identify any shape, looks like shavings with no specific shape.
Is it possible to identify what is failing by having a look at the metal particles ? My camera has no batteries at the moment but if you guys say it is possible to tell more by looking at the particles I will find a way to post some here.
Also I don't know if it is normal but the "outputs" on the tranny have quite some slack. I can wobble those and also slide in/out by about 1/16 or 3/32.
I noticed oil on 2 locations on the tranny : where the shifter linkage goes in and at the left wheel output.
Right now the car is sitting in the garage with no tranny oil, will be filling it tomorrow. Let me know what the symptoms tells you.
Thanks