General A few problems!!

[simon1978]

Ok here goes, I have a knocking noise coming from under my Multipla when I`m driving along. It`s not the springs as I had 1 done last month & 1 last year after it failed the MOT. There`s a juddering as well when I pull away( although not all the time). The other day whenever I put my foot on the clutch there was a noise as well (a kind of rattling sound), but that hasn`t happened since.
When I took the car for the spring to be done the mechanic told me that the n/s front inner cv boot is split, not being very maechanially minded myself I haven`t got a clue what this means.
After reading through quite a few pages on here I`m sort of resigned to facing a hefty bill to get it repaired , which I could well do without,but if anyone can help with a diagnosis before I take it to the garage on Monday I`d be very gratefull

Cheers, Simon

 

[JTDman]

A rattly clutch with juddering will prob just be the release bearing, about £100 for a full 3 part clutch then fitting price UNLESS its the dual mass flywheel then add about £230 on top.
Sorry im not trying to be negative but a rattle is usually just the release bearing but if its that bad then it may well be the judder as well and not the DMF , try a search on here there is a good write up on how to change your clutch if you facied it yourself.

 

[JTDman]

Oh and the cv boot gaitor isnt a big problem, its just a boot around the cv joint. If the joint has been left exposed long enough it will be damaged .
Try and drive the car on full lock one way then the other and if you hear a rattle when going one way then it kinda confirms its damaged.
It may be cheaper quicker and easier to just buy a second hand drive shaft with it all in place and swap them over.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Knocking noise will be one of two things, both well-covered in this forum under many previous threads...

Search for (first) anti roll bar drop links (about £20 for parts from shop4parts.co.uk and not difficult to fit). Second search is for anti roll bar bushes (rubber sleeve over the anti roll bar where it's clamped under the car. Official repair is to replace antiroll bar (£100+ for part, plus labour) but some threads describe being able to replace the bushes themselves.

To check the drop links, jack up a front wheel and see if you can rotate the link rod, its a vertical bar towards the front of the car from behind the brake disc and up to the spring -- ideally you can't , or it will turn but be very stiff. If it moves easily, needs replacing (its an MoT fail point too). If you don't think they've been changed, do them anyway to elimiate the cheap option (tend to need redoing every two or three years). If clunks/knocks continue then more likely the antiroll bar itself. (A less common problem is lower ball joint failing, but this would have been picked up at MoT or spring replacement.)

CV joint boot is the rubber 'bellows' where the drive shaft connects to the wheel hub behind the disk brake. It must be replaced to stop dirt/grit getting into the moving parts there which will quickly cause damage. Not an easy DIY job but a good mechanic can do it in an hour and the parts are cheap (see shop4parts as above)

Pete

 

[simon1978]

Thanks for the replies, I will have a try tommorrow with your suggestions & take it from there.
The guy at the garage said the cv part was a special order part & he would charge about £120 for sorting it out, is that reasonable?

Thanks again, Simon

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

If it helps, the CV boots can be bought from Euro Car Parts for less than a fiver!
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/F.../Transmission/Transmission-Parts/CV-Boot-Kits
But they do take a lot of effort to fit (and other parts, eg replacement hub nut) will be needed too... But to me, £120 sounds pricey

P

 

[simon1978]

Ok took it in to the garage today, the mechanic went out for a drive & heard no knocking noise( I knew that would happen). But he did say there was a whining from the timing belt area & advised having it changed. He also said there was a sound coming from the clutch & again advised having that done.
They quoted £202 for the timing belt & £265 for the clutch, is this reasonable?

Oh, & he also pointed out a hole in the chasis,(a circular section near the front wheel) that was an mot failure, so that needs welding before I an use it again (mots up this week). So the multiplas parked up on the drive while I consider what to do next:bang:.

 

[Zundapp]

Just had my clutch done at a local independent. £495, using FIAT parts.

If someone will do your clutch for £265, jump at it. You'll probably find the clutch parts alone are just over £200 though...

 

[simon1978]

Well I`ve had a quote for the welding, about £50, so thats booked for Saturday, Mot`s booked for Monday, if it passes that I`m thinking that it`s best to get the timing belt done first,then the clutch at a later date( money is really tight at the moment).
Gear selection etc is not a problem at the moment, so can I do alot of damage by leaving the clutch for now (obviously using the car as little as possible)?

 

[rab10000]

dunno what kinda noises u have but i have had a whine in 4th gear since i owned the car, turns out ive been driving for a year with no oil in the gearbox at all and it hasnt affected the performance of the clutch or gearbox, done approx 21k miles as well.

seems like a pretty solid gearbox and clutch

 

[simon1978]

Had the car in for mot today & it failed on a rear tyre( which was a relief, as I was expecting worse), asked the guy about anti roll bar & bushes etc as mentioned earlier in the thread, he said he could find nothing wrong.
The timing belt & clutch are due to be done on Thursday ,so hopefully come Friday I will have a noise free Multipla

 

[simon1978]

Why is it that my car is problem free for most of the year, but come mot time it gives no end of problems?????????

Took it in yesterday for timing belt & clutch, got a phonecall at about 5pm saying that they were having trouble with the clutch & it might take longer than they 1st thought. Then got another call this morning saying that they were having trouble with the timing belt, lol, something about a special tool being required. The local Fiat dealers wouldnt lend them 1 so it`s going to be atleast Tuesday now before it`s ready :bang:.

I`m glad that I`m not in desperate need for it to be ready, Oh well atleast the garage is cheap

 

[JTDman]

No special tools required just common sense.