Good evening all. I’m new to this site so I do apologise if this is the wrong place to post this thread. Back at the start of 2018 I had my clutch release bearing replaced and since having the vehicle back I have noticed a strange noise that only seems to appear on the first start up in the morning, whilst traveling in gears 1 & 2. I took it back to the garage recently as it’s only now I have been able to get a recording of the noise and has become more prominent. They seem to think it is a engine valve, can anyone else give their opinions on this, I understand it’s hard to get an accurate diagnostic just through a video! Thanks, Lizzie

Lizzieryalls said:

Good evening all. I’m new to this site so I do apologise if this is the wrong place to post this thread. Back at the start of 2018 I had my clutch release bearing replaced and since having the vehicle back I have noticed a strange noise that only seems to appear on the first start up in the morning, whilst traveling in gears 1 & 2. I took it back to the garage recently as it’s only now I have been able to get a recording of the noise and has become more prominent. They seem to think it is a engine valve, can anyone else give their opinions on this, I understand it’s hard to get an accurate diagnostic just through a video! Thanks, Lizzie

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Hi Lizzie and welcome to FF

OH Dear..

Spending the money and having a new fault.

Ok.
If it only does it in the morning.. with EVERYTHING COLD.. and NOT whilst stationary.. in neutral gear..

I would be tempted to discount any engine issue.

So.. it only does it as you initally pull away?

Could be a LOT of things..

Crusty brakes scrubbing..

Clutch action..

Driveshaft

It seems odd it started after some major work.

MANY things are disturbed to access the clutch.


Did the garage who gave the recent diagnosis get it in the air..?

Drive it.. or just listen to your description.??

Have you double checked all the fluid levels? Just to rule things out..


Charlie

If it's a scraping then that would suggest something going round, rather than "up and down" as an angine valve. Valves tend to make ticking or tapping noises.

Does the scraping happen only when you're moving, or does it also scrape when the car is standing still (engine running)?

If it only does it when you're moving then it's definitely not a valve. The most likely thing would be that during the work to change the clutch bearing, the mechanic might have just bent the brake disc protection plate slightly so that it is rubbing on the brake disc, particularly if the disc is a bit old and has a rim of rust around the outside (it's usually higher than the rest of the disc, which gets worn down by the pads).

It's just a thin piece of metal and easy to de-form by accident but it's simple to just bend it back out of the way a bit.

If the car also makes the noise when the car is standing still then it's got to be related to the transmission since the only thing going round that are going to scrape is the flywheel and the clutch.

I presume the gears change okay, clutch works okay and without juddering / all otherwise normal..? Usually a scraping clutch noise is caused warped plate or flywheel but those tend to make the clutch judder as you use it. Did you have the clutch plate changed at the same time as the release bearing?


Ralf S.