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Technical MJET 130 - losing my grip...

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Technical MJET 130 - losing my grip...

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scarlet_man

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Jul 3, 2008
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Hi,

I've noticed a really loud clatter from my GPS M-Jet when it loses traction.

Happens whether or not traction control is on.

Very difficult to get it to do this in the dry, but in the wet all you need's a roundabout...

Booked into dealer on Friday for them to have a look but wondered if anybody had any thoughts? Has anybody else had this problem or is this noise normal on loss of grip? It sounds loud and scary enough that it oughtn't to be...

Cheers

Mark
 
scarlet_man said:
Hi,

I've noticed a really loud clatter from my GPS M-Jet when it loses traction.

Happens whether or not traction control is on.

Very difficult to get it to do this in the dry, but in the wet all you need's a roundabout...

Booked into dealer on Friday for them to have a look but wondered if anybody had any thoughts? Has anybody else had this problem or is this noise normal on loss of grip? It sounds loud and scary enough that it oughtn't to be...

Cheers

Mark
Click to expand...

Hmmmm depends on the noise... rear wheel drive cars used to suffer a phenomenon called "axle tramp" that caused a feeling of the axle bouncing and a banging noise. I presume its coming from the front under power on a wet roundabout? Do you drive like a maniac in the wet? :eek: If not could be a dodgy shock/damper, check the front suspension, springs, damper, drop links etc... Cant say I suffer that at all in 48,000 miles TBH.
 
i've no idea what your problem could be, but from what your explaining it don't sound good mate, you checked under there yourself? i know most people wouldn't know what to look for but you'd be able to spot a break somewhere or something like that

if there is anything that doesn't lool right, take a picture of it ;), if anything is broke then i'd suggest not driving it until it's been looked at
 
@Ffoxy it is coming from the front and it is only under power and with the steering wheel turned more than a few degrees - all the ingredients of trying to pull away quickly from a roundabout but losing grip in the wet. You certainly don't have to try and drive like a nutter to get it to do it.

It does almost seem like a kind of wheel bounce so it may well be suspension related... although there are no suspension/knocking noises other than on loss of traction and the knocking is so quick it almost feels more like a transmission thing (although I admit I have no idea at all...)

I guess I just wanted to be sure this is isn't normal so I can press the dealer to sort it out...
 
@daniel yes it doesn't sound good but it is only occasionally it happens - I've had a quick look but can't see anything obviously amiss. I'm sure if there was a major breakage of some sort I wouldn't only get the noise in such specific circumstances... Hopefully dealer on Friday will know!
 
scarlet_man said:
@Ffoxy it is coming from the front and it is only under power and with the steering wheel turned more than a few degrees - all the ingredients of trying to pull away quickly from a roundabout but losing grip in the wet. You certainly don't have to try and drive like a nutter to get it to do it.

It does almost seem like a kind of wheel bounce so it may well be suspension related... although there are no suspension/knocking noises other than on loss of traction and the knocking is so quick it almost feels more like a transmission thing (although I admit I have no idea at all...)

I guess I just wanted to be sure this is isn't normal so I can press the dealer to sort it out...
Click to expand...

Dealer job... I hope its raining on the test drive... :eek:
 
sometimes power with steering can be the CV joint. tell me this, drive slowly at full lock round in a circle, do you hear a click click click or clunk clunk clunk. Dont need to give it big guns, just gently and slowly.
 
@Ffoxy, thought of the rain issue as I don't fancy trying to replicate this in the dry, but there's a nice patch of lawn outside the back of the dealer...:)

@beany, only ever heard the noise when traction is lost - doing a slow circle on full lock won't do it. Noise also doesn't need full lock...
 
scarlet_man said:
@Ffoxy, thought of the rain issue as I don't fancy trying to replicate this in the dry, but there's a nice patch of lawn outside the back of the dealer...:)

@beany, only ever heard the noise when traction is lost - doing a slow circle on full lock won't do it. Noise also doesn't need full lock...
Click to expand...

Ok yeah i know the noise you mean, its a real proper clunk, you can feel it too. Ive been in plent older cars that have done it when wheels spinning. Im guessing its covered under warrant, something suspensiony:p
 
scarlet_man said:
@daniel yes it doesn't sound good but it is only occasionally it happens - I've had a quick look but can't see anything obviously amiss. I'm sure if there was a major breakage of some sort I wouldn't only get the noise in such specific circumstances... Hopefully dealer on Friday will know!
Click to expand...

you'll prob be alright in the mean time then, i'd carry on driving if i were you(y)
 
Sounds like a cv joint failure to me mate. I had those symptoms in my first car (my long gone but not forgotten D-reg Fiat Uno) and I replaced the CV joint. Let me knowif I am correct!;)
 
All my front wheel drive cars I have owned have done this. As suggested its called tramping. My 51 Reg Fiesta was terrible for doing this. I had to put my foot down the other day in the rain from an island, and my GP did it as it was struggling for grip. First time I have ever noticed it in my car. I believe its a fairly common thing? Though you do have to be pushing it hard to do it.
 
@jimbbob, it's much noisier than normal tramping - it could be that the tramping is causing something else to knock. It's like a metal on metal thing. Just hoping it rains so the dealer can see this tomorrow (what are the chances of rain when you actually want it?)
 
scarlet_man said:
@jimbbob, it's much noisier than normal tramping - it could be that the tramping is causing something else to knock. It's like a metal on metal thing. Just hoping it rains so the dealer can see this tomorrow (what are the chances of rain when you actually want it?)
Click to expand...

I had an old Pug 106 that was terrible for tramping, but after an encounter with an unexpectedly harsh speed bump one of the engine mounts decided it was the end.

Although it wasnt 'broken', the rubber went so bad that when the car lost grip, the tramping caused metal to metal contact within the mount. This made a considerable increase in the amount of noise when losing grip.
 
danielfay88 said:
i miss these kind of things not having an old car :cry: it made a car IMO
Click to expand...

I dont miss the things breaking, i do miss having a car i could thrash and park anywhere without caring though. Im so careful with my new GP in comparison. Whereas i used to pride myself in making the longest skidmarks down hills in my pug :p
 
Well, car went into the dealer just now and lo and behold it's raining, so I could demonstrate the noise with no problems at all. Mechanic admitted he had no idea what the noise was but did raise his eyebrows when he heard it... I hope this means there is a straightforward fix.
 
98dizzard said:
I dont miss the things breaking, i do miss having a car i could thrash and park anywhere without caring though. Im so careful with my new GP in comparison. Whereas i used to pride myself in making the longest skidmarks down hills in my pug :p
Click to expand...

:ROFLMAO: to be honest it i think it might be that i really miss,there are soo many places i would park my old S reg punto and especially the L reg polo before that, that i would never dream of parking my GP there

scarlet_man said:
Well, car went into the dealer just now and lo and behold it's raining, so I could demonstrate the noise with no problems at all. Mechanic admitted he had no idea what the noise was but did raise his eyebrows when he heard it... I hope this means there is a straightforward fix.
Click to expand...

might not be simple if he has no idea what it is, but deff let us know what goes on mate and what they eventually find(y)
 
It seems to be fixed - I've not been able to reproduce the problem. They replaced the front anti-rollbar.

Also took it in for the notorious rear suspension creak (as documented in many other threads on here...) They changed the shock but it's still creaking...
 
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