28 replies to this topic

[spiguy]

Hi all,

 

Just noticed tonight that I have a slight rattle in neutral. If I depress the clutch, it goes away. If I push the clutch in and out I can hear it coming and going - it's a bit louder as I release the clutch initially. I also notice that as the engine dies when I switch off, the rattle is more audible - again it is gone with the clutch depressed. There are no other nasty noises (yet) that I can hear, but I assume this is idler gear related (from what I have read).

 

Should I act now or wait a bit and see what happens? I have had the car a year and I think this is a recent development. Is there any way to check the situation without taking the engine out?

[driftz]

Its going to be either the release bearing or the idler gear bearing (like mine was)

 

I would not recommend letting it go to long, if its the bearings on the drop gear (idler gear most likely) they can be destroyed quickly and the spinning gear will then eat into your case (ask me how I know)

 

I hope for your sake its the release bearing

[spiguy]

any way to investigate / decide which it is? if idler, is it diyable?

Edited by spiguy, 16 July 2015 - 11:45 PM.

[Spider]

I don't think there's anything wrong with the Idler Gear, but I do think your Radio is broken.

[Guess-Works.com]

It's idler gear... and yes diy-able if you can take the engine out.

 

If it was the clutch release bearing, it would make a noise when it is pressed and be silent when not, unless it has completely collapsed when it'll rattle and probably stop the engine when pressed, make a loud squealing noise, or do absolutely nothing at all and you won't be able to select any gears.

 

Does is sound like this metro.....

 

https://www.facebook...852183871516782

[spiguy]

I don't think there's anything wrong with the Idler Gear, but I do think your Radio is broken.

ha ha ! That's one way of looking at it!

 

It's idler gear... and yes diy-able if you can take the engine out.

 

If it was the clutch release bearing, it would make a noise when it is pressed and be silent when not, unless it has completely collapsed when it'll rattle and probably stop the engine when pressed, make a loud squealing noise, or do absolutely nothing at all and you won't be able to select any gears.

 

Does is sound like this metro.....

 

https://www.facebook...852183871516782

 

No, nothing like that - the only noise is a slight rattle at idle with the clutch out. When driving, everything sounds exactly as it always has - no undue whine that I can detect, just the usual 1st gear whine.  The only reason I have noticed it is that I have a very keen ear for any change in sounds (clunks rattles etc) I can always detect balljoints, track rod ends etc as soon as I get in any car (It's a bit of a condition I think!) 

 

On return from a mini show camping weekend, I got out the car which was idling in my driveway, and straight away I could hear this little rattle. That's not to say it is loud, just that I didn't recall hearing it before. And it is still there.

 

EDIT - what noise am I looking for on that video?  Is it the whining? 

Edited by spiguy, 17 July 2015 - 09:10 AM.

[alex-95]

Heres a video of mine when the idler bearing went, click on the pic in my first post.

http://www.theminifo...-engine-rattle/

[spiguy]

I can only hear the rattle when you blip it, but I suppose the sound I get when the engine is switched off (same thing - just decelerating quickly rather than accelerating) is similar.

[spiguy]

Update. Went out today after work to get a video clip of the noise for your opinions, and it wasn't there (the noise that is!). Let the engine warm up, still not there. Clutch in and out, no rattle. Listening device up against the gearbox and clutch cover, nothing but nice whirring noises.

 

So conclusion is, that it only develops a little bit of a rattle after it has had a good run. Both times I have heard it so far it has just come back from either a long motorway blast or some spirited driving on twisty roads.

 

My thoughts are :

 

1. Maybe it's nothing really and I should just get a life.

2. Maybe it didn't do it today because the car had just been warmed up and not driven = cooler oil = gearbox drag loading up the slack in the transfer gears.

 

If it's option 2, it will return after the next drive. If that happens, should I worry yet? or wait until / if it becomes something that is there all the time?

[Guess-Works.com]

Change the oil.

[spiguy]

Funnily enough I just did change it 2 weeks ago prior to the long run, after which is the first time I heard it. I put in Valvoline VR1 (expensive) 20/50 having previously used halfrauds classic 20/50. So do you think I shouldn't worry too much about this yet then?

[Guess-Works.com]

Sounds like the oil maybe loosing it's integrity at high temperatures, which will kill bearings

[sledgehammer]

+1 on oil

 

are the rev's low at idle ?

 

I have in the past set the idle too low , & sometimes get a rattle from the idler

 

edit - just seen it's a spi - forget that

Edited by sledgehammer, 17 July 2015 - 04:50 PM.

[spiguy]

I have an oil pressure gauge, and there has been no change in pressure since changing the oil - I still get 60 psi at anything above about 1500 RPM and 50Psi hot idle, even after long fast runs.

 

Surely the valvoline racing oil wouldn't be breaking down would it?  Bad batch?

[Spider]

Sounds like the oil maybe loosing it's integrity at high temperatures, which will kill bearings

 

I have to say, I wouldn't expect anything different from Valvoline.