Our Idea multijet has started making a whirring / grinding noise from the engine. It's a bit like on a car with hydraulic power steering when it's reached full lock and you push the steering wheel against the end stop. Except you hear it all the time, and it hasn't got hydraulic power steering.

Just thought I'd ask, in case someone says "ah yes, it happens a lot, you need to check xyz etc etc". Failing that I'll have to have a thourough poke round inder the bonnet.

Another quick question, is the water pump driven by the "fan" belt, or the timing chain?

Noticed today it gets louder when I press the clutch, so I presume it's the clutch release bearing making the noise. This will be the sixth fiat clutch I've swapped in as many years. I wonder if the dealer will do it under the extended 3 year warranty......... I'm not holding my breath.

When I got my 1.9 JTD Multipla I got this problem too after a long motorway run. 0nly had 28 K on the clock ! Previous owner was a lady who did a lot of urban driving. (I suspect she drove with foot on clutch too.) Still I was amazed and not pleased.

Fiat changed it for the price of the clutch plate, because I had only done a thousand miles from sale.