Technical Ducato 2.8JTD Accelerating/Decelerating clunking noise

[NandK]

Hi

we have just returned from a holiday in our motorhome, but on the return journey the engine started to make some clunking noises when accelerating & decelerating

. After a bit of forward and reverse investigation without running over the Mrs, it looks like the noise is coming from the where the universal joints / drive shafts go into the engine / gearbox (I'm no mechanic)?

Any ideas would be great,

thanks

N&K

 

[MarkEJ]

I think you may have answered your own question there. I suspect you may find that you have one or both driveshafts worn. In your place I would be checking if there is any variation in the behaviour (better / worse) when doing forward / reverse with full lock on. Certainly vibration / wobble in the steering while pulling away from a standstill with some lock on generally indicates failing driveshafts, but may also implicate the bush at the top of the front MacPherson strut.

If you do need to replace driveshafts, for goodness sake spend the extra money and get genuine Fiat ones, not pattern parts. I had my off-side driveshaft replaced with a pattern part a couple of years ago, and I now get a noticeable wobble when climbing hills. Every other possible culprit has been eliminated -- the replaced shaft is seriously out of balance. The one on the other side was replaced the year before, with a genuine Fiat part, and is fine. Lesson learned.

 

[Jaguarnut]

Due to another issue, I found that the gearbox mount at the rear of the compartment, bolted to the crossmember needed replacement. I was advised that this is a common failing with Ducatos. This mount takes all the engines 'twist' when accelerating or decelerating so this may be the answer. I had no clonks, but it made hell of a difference to the take up of the drive with the clutch.
I couls see that if my mount had deteriated further, I would also had odd noises! Hope this helps.

 

[John C S]

The rear engine mount is worth changing first, before doing the driveshafts! I had the similar sort of clunk you are describing!

Just had the rear mount done on mine and it has tightened up the whole driveline a treat.

 

[lightweightmick]

Agree with others - sounds like 'engine rock' - if the mount goes the engine loses its fore and aft stability - torque from the engine twists the engine on the top mounts - hence the 'rock' and the clunking on acc. and dec. from the 3rd mounting. Common with transverse engine. Get mounting looked at, as more stress is transferred to the exhaust and its mountings...
Not a big job. Driveshafts are prone to wear more slowly.

 

[Torq]

Had the same problem on my jtd, it was the passenger side driveshaft inner joint. Replaced with a low mileage 2nd hand unit and the knock was gone.
Keep well,
Torq

 

[NandK]

Had the same problem on my jtd, it was the passenger side driveshaft inner joint. Replaced with a low mileage 2nd hand unit and the knock was gone.
Keep well,
Torq

Hi

Thanks everyone for the replies, these are perfect!

I have had a crawl underneath and the rubber mountings for the engine all look in good condition (for the ones i can see)

Torq - it does seem to be coming from the passenger side too but thats where the gear box is located i think. Not sure what an inner joint is, my local garage (which Fiat recommended as they dont do anything bigger than a car) isnt great they were puzzled by the noise and want £100 to investigate, i said no.

I am looking for a Fiat garage which will accept something bigger than a car. (Reading - Berkshire)

ta.

 

[NandK]

Hi

Well, I rang Fiat who recommended a good place take the motorhome. , they found the problem straight away and most of you chaps were right

It is the rear engine mount which needs replacing.

thanks very much to everyone for replying, the part is on order £42+vat and less than 1 hour labour.

 

[Torq]

Hi

Well, I rang Fiat who recommended a good place take the motorhome. , they found the problem straight away and most of you chaps were right.

Ha Ha and some of us were wrong! Good to hear you got sorted.
Keep well,
Torq

 

[John C S]

If you had any reversing up an incline vibration, this should be much improved on fitting the new mounting!

You'd be surprised at the difference two bolts and a part inbetween make!!

 

[Markonee1]

Play in the joints of the drive shafts and play in the gearbox also give your symptoms.

Jack up each drive wheel in turn and rotate in each direction with one hand, or with helper whilst feeling each joint with the other, and watch for slack at gearbox...
Worth doing even if mounting is part to blame, as a check for problems ahead.

 

[Autotrailer]

Very helpful, where did you get the work done as I need the same, thank goodness mine was not the clutch or gearbox.
Rgds��