Technical Clonk and bump at small speed.

[tomdee]

Hello dear Fiat users, recently my panda cross 4x4 1.3 Multijet started to make a clonk noise and bump that can be felt even in the gear lever. This only happens at low speed (1st and 2nd gear) and also with the engine in neutral or clutch pressed. It happens when going straight or turning and it is very evident when driving at low speed in the mall parking lot, for example.
The mechanic can't identify the origin and says it could be the gearbox or the transmission axles and wanted to rule out the problem by testing with a used transmission, unfortunately it's hard to find for this specific model.
Has anyone gone through something like this?
The engine was new and it has 40K kilometers without any problems (I have another thread about it here), the panda has 146K kilometers in total.

 

[tomdee]

Small update, did the test on reverse and there were no odd noises or bumps. Did almost 300 meters in reverse in various speed and with the engine in neutral as well. Did not have the chance to record a video yet it will be my next step.

 

[tomdee]

So, problem got worse. Massive vibrations and shakes.
The propshaft was removed but some of the vibrations continue. I'm waiting for the final veredict from the mechanic...
Vibrations started strong last Friday.

 

[tomdee]

Still "dark smoke" on the resolution.
From transmission inspected and OK, engine mounts OK as well. Next will be inspected the clutch and gear box.
The vibrations and shakes only ocurr after engine is running hot, there are no weird noises just the vibration.

 

[koalar]

only ocurr after engine is running hot,

there’s got to be a clue here
Don’t know what

 

[tomdee]

there’s got to be a clue here
Don’t know what

I think it may be related to the expansion of the metals.

What makes me curious is that both the clutch and the gearbox work without any problems, that is, the gears engage well and I don't feel strange noises or the clutch slipping.

 

[tomdee]

Well, just got a call from the mechanic, he says that they found that the inner joints from the front transmission were dry (inside the boot).
They will repair it (fill it with apropriate grease if the bearings are not compromised) and test it to see if solves the issues. #fingerscrossed

 

[tomdee]

Yay ... the Bianco Gelato Cross Panda is

Finally there are no clonks or shakes. Now I must take it to the snow real soon

 

[euroben]

Yay ... the Bianco Gelato Cross Panda is View attachment 417699

Finally there are no clonks or shakes. Now I must take it to the snow real soon

I’m assuming that the boot looked OK and the problem wasn’t known until the boot was removed? I think I have the same issue. Mine has been to so many garages now but I think I have narrowed it down to CV joint. Chat GPT agrees!

 

[Panda IIs]

I’m assuming that the boot looked OK and the problem wasn’t known until the boot was removed? I think I have the same issue. Mine has been to so many garages now but I think I have narrowed it down to CV joint. Chat GPT agrees!

@euroben assuming your Chat GPT comment is very much tongue in cheek? Its first reference is probably this forum anyway!

 

[euroben]

@euroben assuming your Chat GPT comment is very much tongue in cheek? Its first reference is probably this forum anyway!

I actually find ChatGPT is very good with mechanics. It draws its answers from far more sources than I could find and I have found it to be 100% accurate so far when asking it car problems.

 

[Panda IIs]

I actually find ChatGPT is very good with mechanics. It draws its answers from far more sources than I could find and I have found it to be 100% accurate so far when asking it car problems.

Fair enough, I guess I should try it more often. I work in a research environment and find it can be a little hit and miss, after all I can publish stuff on the internet... It can certainly give valuable direction.