Help!!!

[StevieDB9]

Ok, so for a while now the polo's been running fine and its long overdue a problem, but the one thats appeared now is a bit more worrying than usual. Sometimes when idling theres a knocking coming from what seems the bottom of the engine bay and when I lift off the throttle theres a strange whining noise. It actually sounds like a supercharger slowing down if that helps you visualise it! It also seems to lose power and momentum when I lift off the throttle quiker than normal. I've checked all the fluid levels and they all seem fine. I'm going to do an oil change but it was done only 6 months ago. Anyone any ideas?

 

[obi_waynne]

Lets rule out the gearbox. Does the noise change with the clutch depressed when it is knocking? What mileage has it covered?

 

[StevieDB9]

im not sure now that you mention it but i'll check next time im driving. Its only done about 55,000 miles.

 

[HDi fun]

Engine mountings can cause strange noises.

 

[StevieDB9]

i was driving home from uni the other day and the noise is a lot louder now on lifting off the throttle and it doesnt matter if i disengage the clutch. if i let the car slow down too much in one gear theres a really loud and painful bang and the whole car lurches forward. if the car comes to a stop at a junction or round about say its impossible to get it into first gear but with effort goes into second. my dad took it to the garage for me on friday while i was at uni but he reversed it into the driveway and couldnt get it back out of reverse gear.

the car wont be seen to until next week, my dad seems to think its something to do with the clutch, perhaps the thrust bearing? anyone any ideas?

 

[Prince]

It sounds like the clutch to me, but I'm not sure what part...all I could tell you that it's probably not the linkage (you wouldn't get reverse if this happened), which would be the cheapest part to replace! Other than that I'm not really sure, but I'm sure one of the other guys will have a good idea!!

 

[pgarner]

differently sounds like the gearbox / clutch

 

[HDi fun]

it is starting to look/sound like a transmission issue.

What's the vehicle please?

 

[fingers]

I know exacly why its doing that. Something has broken.





Sorry, That doesn't help much does it.

If it is a clutch problem it will tend to be doing one of three things.
1) It will either not diss-engage at all when you push the pedal and you will not be able to get it into gear with the engine running, or if it's in gear and driving it, it will stall when you stop.
2) The clutch will drag and only partially diss-engage and it will crunch the gears when you change, especially reverse.
3) the clutch will slip or not engage properly resulting in the engine free revving as if you had your foot on the clutch pedal when you try to accelerate hard.

Sounds to me like you have either an issue with your gearbox probably a bearing collapsed, or you have an engine mount collapsed and the gear selector linkage is jammed. Its difficult to give a more definative answer without looking at the car but reading what you have said I very much doubt if its the clutch.

 

[StevieDB9]

cheers all, will find out soon enough when the car goes in the garage

 

[Prince]

You'll have to post the result when you know so we can all look out for the same problem. Good luck!

 

[StevieDB9]

this is getting expensive. my local garage cant fix it as they cant get hold of a decent gearbox, only reconditioned ones from scrapyards with a 7 day warrenty. so its now in a transmission specialist who are fitting a new gearbox for about £500 which i suppose is quite good. (another place qouted me £700 to fix the original box). but before i told the guy in where the car is now he said polo or golf before i told him what my car is. apparently polos and golf from around that time are REALLY bad for gearboxes, usually going about 30000 miles!! im guessing the seats from that time will be bad aswell. ive heard that from all three places the cars been at. so ive had enough, ive spent a fortune keeping the car going so once its fixed its getting sold. any ideas of what to get, im thinking focus or mondeo???

 

[Prince]

It depends on what type of car your after, and what car you can afford. My brother owns a 06 1.6 Focus, its not a bad car, but I think you can do better, I'd go for an A3! waynne will be along soon to agree!!

 

[obi_waynne]

Why not fit a scrapyard recon box if you are going to sell it anyway. Me thinks you are still quite attached to the car

Yes Prince - in my totally impartial opinion the A3 is a good option. The 1.8T has to be one of the most tunable engines around - it is the same engine as found in the Golf, Skoda and Seat so there are a few different options around. If you are after reliability the Honda 1.8 Vtec engines are good. You might also look at a prelude, and the Nissan 200sx Turbo which are reliable and easily modded. But overall I would recommend and A3.

HDi will be along soon and recommend an oil burner of some description so hurry up and buy the A3 that you wanted.

Seriously though the A4 2.5TD Quattro is a nice car which is pretty economical.

 

[StevieDB9]

id love an audi, especially an A4, but remember im a student!!! i'm going on work placement for a year starting in june and i was planning on buying an A4 from the wages from that but with this set back i dont know if i can afford one. oo, update, the clutch is on its way out, might as well replace it while the gearbox is out anyway, save money in the long run.

 

[StevieDB9]

yey! ive got it back. boo! it cost a fortune. im pleased ive got the car back but its completely different. i dont like the new clutch, the old one was a lot stiffer which i liked and also it disengaged almost as soon as you pressed down on the pedal which was great for fast changes. but the most disappointing thing is the ratios are completely different. it accelerates a bit quicker now but sitting on the motorway (or any straight peice of road for that matter) and the engines doing about 500rpm more than it was doing with the old gearbox at any given speed. the engines doing 3000rpm at 60mph!!!!

 

[obi_waynne]

Well done. View it as a performance mod. The clutch will need a bit of time to break in so don't pass judgement on it just yet. Take it easy whilst everything beds in and CHECK FOR GEARBOX OIL LEAKS, this can be fatal. Bigger wheels might help make up for the difference in gearing - but thats more money