97 Grand Prix 3800 Series II Mystery Tick/Noise - YouTube
I'd driven about 20 miles right after I hopped out and recorded this. As is typical for this car the longer it's been running the more difficult it is to observe this noise. I first rev the engine a few times, then listen through the wheel well. Finally unsatisfied that this noise is audible enough for experienced forum members to observe, I try again to reproduce the noise.
In response to dsmuts suggesting this is a flexplate issue, I know I have some kind of torque converter problem. The trans still shifts through all gears beautifully for its age... but every shift into 3rd or 4th gear is accompanied by another sudden drop in RPM by 400 or 500 RPM. This sudden drop in RPM is NOT an actual shift, I've confirmed that even with the shifter in "3" it drops RPMs but doesn't shift into 4th. At anything above 3/4 throttle I can delay this 'drop' more than 10 seconds. With less agressive acceleration this RPM drop happens almost immediately. Torque converter clutch solenoid? I can't say.
