MX-5 OC Forum

hi guys, ive noticed a strange noise with my car reacently.. i first discovered this noise when i was pulling out of a junction.. i edged the car forward with a bit of rev to see both ways.. as i dipped the clutch to bring the car to a stop i noticed a dinging noise from underneith.. when i got home i tried to simulate this noise by building a small amount of revs up, releaseing the clutch slowly then dipping it again..my first thought was that maybie a spring / springs on the clutch are on the way out?? ive never played around with clutches so im not sure what to think!!

i will attempt to make a movie of how it sounds but it seems to happen on and off.. maybie when the cars warm more so

any thought into this would be greatly appreciated..

Charlie

had a long drive tonight and the noise is in its prime! made this short movie to demonstrate it.. hopefully this can help with a diagnosis!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsiOh5K4fN0&list=UU1zp59copOjWJHm-oSurUNg&index=1&feature=plcp

Charlie

Does it happen when you bring the clutch up to engage drive or when lowering clutch to disengage drive?

watched utube video but couldn't be sure when noise was happening.

I think without getting under there and seeing where the noise is coming from, it's hard to guess.

But no, it isn't normal.

it happens when i let the clutch up..i also noticed when i was driving round a car park in first gear it was bounceing off the engine / wheels!

charlie

It sounds to me like the noise you have is transmission slack being taken up when engaging drive, the problem is finding out if the slack is excessive (something broke) or just wear and tear. I would suggest as did Victormeldrew, to get under the car and check everything from the gearbox to the drive wheels for any obvious signs of wear or damage. Another option for checking the slack in the drive train would be to put it in first gear with the hand brake off and rock it forward until it's against the compression of the engine and then back, until it's against the compression of the engine. Try to measure this travel, perhaps a chalk mark on the tyre and on the floor might do, then check this measurement against another car of same mk, age, mileage etc. This may give you some indication as to whether the slack is excessive or not.

Hope this helps.

Grubnut:

It sounds to me like the noise you have is transmission slack being taken up when engaging drive, the problem is finding out if the slack is excessive (something broke) or just wear and tear. I would suggest as did Victormeldrew, to get under the car and check everything from the gearbox to the drive wheels for any obvious signs of wear or damage. Another option for checking the slack in the drive train would be to put it in first gear with the hand brake off and rock it forward until it's against the compression of the engine and then back, until it's against the compression of the engine. Try to measure this travel, perhaps a chalk mark on the tyre and on the floor might do, then check this measurement against another car of same mk, age, mileage etc. This may give you some indication as to whether the slack is excessive or not.

Hope this helps.

i tried this this morning but at the moment i have bigger fish to fry with my car as i split a coolant hose.. im still waiting for a replacement so i cant do much with it at the moment.. i couldent manage to get the noise to happen with rocking the car backwards and forwards in first as it does take quite a lot of force to get the noise to occur.. plus as it only happens sometimes ( mostly when the car is warm ).. i might get the car on my lift and see if i can get it to occur then while i can see the drive shaft so i can identify if thats the source of the problem!

Charlie

does it engage the gears OK still?

Could be something like a bolt is loose (pedal cage?) rather than the clutch itself if the gears are OK form your vid it sounds like a bracket knocking.....just a thought!

i got the car up on my ramp and tried to simulate the noise, seems to be the gearbox knocking on the exhaust, time to get some new rubber brackets! im quite glad its just that lol

charlie