General What's that noise?

[Flossyfly]

Ok guys, its been 2 weeks since I got the panda and I have a mysterious noise. When I reverse, if I let the clutch up fully, I can hear a scraping noise! It sounds like a wheel scraping on something.....seems very strange.
Anyone got any clues as to what it is?

 

[1986_1000S]

Hi there,

I could possibly hazard a guess as to what the noise might be. Does the noise occur only on reverse gear? Is it very audible? Also, does the noise occur when the clutch begins to bite, continues as it bites and then disappears just after the clutch pedal is fully released?

If the answer to all the above questions is yes, then I would suspect (although I can't say for sure) the noise you are hearing is the clutch release bearing beginning to fail. The only remedy for this is to replace the part, which I'm sure you are aware, requires the removal of the gearbox. Although this is essentially not difficult, it does take two people and quite a few hours of labour.

I hope this helps and all the best for rectifying the problem!

Regards,

Gary.

 

[Flossyfly]

Only in reverse, yes. Clutch bites and the car moves but if I release the clutch fully then it happens. It is quite loud. I am gonna take it to get a service and get my mechanic to look at the clutch, linkages and the gearbox to check oil levels and lubrication.
My last panda had an awful gear box. Gear selection is OK with this one but there is a little noise and occasionally am not sure if it has gone into gear but it always does.
Thanks for your opinion and I will mention it to my mechanic when I take it in.

 

[Nuova500]

If its only in reverse its not going to be the bearing, maybe youve a problem with the reverse gear itself. Personally, Id leave it if all others are fine. With the car idling and in neutral, is there a chattering sound from clutch area, thats the normal release bearing noise.

 

[Flossyfly]

If its only in reverse its not going to be the bearing, maybe youve a problem with the reverse gear itself. Personally, Id leave it if all others are fine. With the car idling and in neutral, is there a chattering sound from clutch area, thats the normal release bearing noise.

Yeah, thats it. Its not all the time.
I think it just needs a bit of grease on the gear level linkages.
Is there any way of making the clutch a bit softer to press down? I
don't know if I have been spoiled over the last few years with the Stilo I have or the Brava I used to have....I think I have forgotten all the quirks of an older car.

 

[Nuova500]

The Panda clutch should be pretty light, not much you can do except lubricate the cable and linkage on top of the gearbox.

 

[Flossyfly]

Well its not light at all.....lol....its a good job I have strong legs
I think a load of grease is required for my panda. Its strange when I drive my Stilo now cause it is so quiet and smooth. Doesn't make me smile like the Panda does though.

 

[Nuova500]

If its really that heavy, your clutch could be past its sell by date!

 

[Alan.D]

If it's that heavy It won't be the clutch but the release fork possibly siezing.

Unhook the cable from the gearbox (just a matter undoing two 10mm nuts) then press the cable to see if it's loose or tight. If tight it's the cable, if loose I'd put money on the release fork.

You need to get oil underneith the release fork arm that attaches to the cable or at this stage a thin lubricating oil such as WD40 or plus gas, spray liberally and leave for an hour then go back out and spray again, then press the cable to move the arm back and forward to let the oil penetrate down the shaft.

Re the noise I think it's unrelated, do you have rear mud gaurds? if so ask someone to watch the back wheels whilst you are reversing to see if they are catching OR to pinpoint the noise.

 

[Flossyfly]

If it's that heavy It won't be the clutch but the release fork possibly siezing.

Unhook the cable from the gearbox (just a matter undoing two 10mm nuts) then press the cable to see if it's loose or tight. If tight it's the cable, if loose I'd put money on the release fork.

You need to get oil underneith the release fork arm that attaches to the cable or at this stage a thin lubricating oil such as WD40 or plus gas, spray liberally and leave for an hour then go back out and spray again, then press the cable to move the arm back and forward to let the oil penetrate down the shaft.

Re the noise I think it's unrelated, do you have rear mud gaurds? if so ask someone to watch the back wheels whilst you are reversing to see if they are catching OR to pinpoint the noise.

Could a novice do this, armed with a workshop manual and a keeness to learn the anatomy of her car or would it be a workshop job?

 

[Plug]

For anything that needs unseizing/unsticking, I'd have no hesitation in recommending a product called Tri-Flow. WD-40 is brilliant stuff, but Tri-Flow is in a different league. It's not cheap (~£20 for a 400ml aerosol), but you get what you pay for..

http://www.triflow.co.uk/

Cheers,

Plug

 

[Alan.D]

Could a novice do this, armed with a workshop manual and a keeness to learn the anatomy of her car or would it be a workshop job?

Simple, but don't know your level.

Do you know where the clutch cable attaches to the release fork/arm? if you do there is two 10mm nuts at the end of the cable, these can adjust the position of the clutch pedal OR if you remove the nuts means that the cable is free of the arm.

Once the cable is free of the arm press the clutch cable it should be very light, if it's tight the cable must be sticking and one of the problems.

If the cable is light have a look at the arm. At one end of the arm it attaches to the clutch cable at the other is a shaft which passes through the gearbox, attached halfway down this shaft is a fork type fixture (which you can't see due to the clutch/gearbox housing) which holds the release bearing for the clutch. Where the shaft goes through the housing at the top and a cradle at the bottom should be free, BUT they sometimes stick to the side of the housing or cradle due to corrosion. It's this corrosion you will be trying to free with the WD40 or other type of penetrating lubricating fluid.

If you want pics to describe it better I should have some available.

 

[Flossyfly]

That noise, the original one mentioned in this thread, was the exhaust. Just had it serviced and apparently it had the wrong exhaust on it. Not any more. It has cost me a few notes but it is worth it. I have a whole list of things to do. Oh joy, Oh rapture.......times to get my fingernails dirty lol

 

[greenbriggs9]

Ok guys, its been 2 weeks since I got the panda and I have a mysterious noise. When I reverse, if I let the clutch up fully, I can hear a scraping noise! It sounds like a wheel scraping on something.....seems very strange.
Anyone got any clues as to what it is?

If it is only happening in reverse, then it is probably a worn dogs, on that pinion! If i were you, i would not worry about it, untill it fails, which is not likely too. IF it does, then replace your gearbox. Simple

 

[Chas Uno]

If it is only happening in reverse, then it is probably a worn dogs, on that pinion! If i were you, i would not worry about it, untill it fails, which is not likely too. IF it does, then replace your gearbox. Simple

That noise, the original one mentioned in this thread, was the exhaust.