when im in reverse (Re: noise)

[chobocobo]

My car has a little over a 1000 miles on it now. My question is that when I put it in reverse it makes like a winding noise when im backing up is that normal? It goes berrrrrrrrrrrrrrr its not really that loud it kind of sounds like a wind up toy or something.

[Smart Enuf]

normal

[JPaul]

Most cars, in reverse and driving relatively fast - pressing the gas pedal - would produce a whining sound. It's normal. It just happens that in the smart the transmission is nearer the driver and more audible.

[jetfuel]

...did you take the wind-up key out of the hole????

jetfuel..totally wound up

[sandalscout]

I think it has something to do with the fact that the reverse gears are cut different (maybe do tot he fact that it does not have synchros). But, yeah, normal, my other cars do it too.

[Padawan]

Originally Posted by sandalscout

I think it has something to do with the fact that the reverse gears are cut different (maybe do tot he fact that it does not have synchros). But, yeah, normal, my other cars do it too.

Correct. The reverse gear in most cars is straight cut, resulting in the characteristic whining noise, while the forward gears are helical cut (and thus much quieter).

If you want to know what a full straight cut gearbox sounds like, here's a nice video:

YouTube - Straight Cut Gears

[sandalscout]

yeah, dogbox transmissions used in full race cars are amazingly loud....

[DoraAnderson]

My neighbor teases me about it on mine, she says they can hear me from inside the house!

[Padawan]

Originally Posted by sandalscout

yeah, dogbox transmissions used in full race cars are amazingly loud....

It's actually not the dog engagement (as opposed to syncro engagement) that makes them loud, it's the straight cut gears that they utilise.

[Mud Pie]

The first time I threw my smart into reverse, it made me smile. That "whir-whir-whir" sound brought back high school memories of me and my Willys surplus Army Jeep !!