Technical Panda 4x4 21 plate - occasional "chirp" on downshift

[field500]

Hi
Have a 4x4 Panda on a 21 plate - done 4k miles and its a great car - albeit not used quite as much as intended.
Noticed an occasional "chirp" when going down into 2nd (when using engine for braking) - clutch not slipping, gears seem to work as they did from day one - any ideas? I am guessing it maybe the flywheel/friction plate making the noise, maybe because of lack of use of car (bit of surface rust on flywheel after not driving for a week)?

Due its first service in a few weeks ago so will mention it to dealer, but unless it does it when they drive it, doubt they will be able to suggest anything.

Thanks

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Don’t expect much from the first ‘service’. The 9,000 mile ‘check and inspect’ involves no parts, or anything being unscrewed or even peered into. It is, if you read the description in the handbook, a simple ‘check the lights work’, see that the wipers move, and a visual check of the tyres. Really that is about it, and they charge £80 or more for the privilege. If you’re very lucky, given the low mileage covered, they might change the oil and filter too (at an extra £120 or so). It’s very unlikely they’ll drive it other than across the car park. Only the operations marked with a dot in the first column in the images below are done at that first ‘service’. I call it the Paddington Service - nothing more than a hard stare!

No idea about the noise….

 

[field500]

Thanks, this is my 3rd Panda and about the 10 FIAT - they take them out on a (very) short drive after they are serviced at my dealer - I will mention the noise but not expecting much unless it actually does it when the technician is on the test drive. Car is going perfectly, other than this little noise - the only other "issue" I have is my fuel economy (which was crap anyway) is worse with E10 petrol!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Thanks, this is my 3rd Panda and about the 10 FIAT - they take them out on a (very) short drive after they are serviced at my dealer - I will mention the noise but not expecting much unless it actually does it when the technician is on the test drive. Car is going perfectly, other than this little noise - the only other "issue" I have is my fuel economy (which was crap anyway) is worse with E10 petrol!

Mine very occasionally does this too. I put it down to lack of use. Long run recently seems to have shut it up.

 

[field500]

Mine very occasionally does this too. I put it down to lack of use. Long run recently seems to have shut it up.

Thanks, will see how it goes. Got a few days out planned in next week or so, will see how it goes. Car sits on my drive unused most of time, WFH and price of fuel has reduced use. Thanks

 

[TinyTurbo]

Hi
Have a 4x4 Panda on a 21 plate - done 4k miles and its a great car - albeit not used quite as much as intended.
Noticed an occasional "chirp" when going down into 2nd (when using engine for braking) - clutch not slipping, gears seem to work as they did from day one - any ideas? I am guessing it maybe the flywheel/friction plate making the noise, maybe because of lack of use of car (bit of surface rust on flywheel after not driving for a week)?

Due its first service in a few weeks ago so will mention it to dealer, but unless it does it when they drive it, doubt they will be able to suggest anything.

Thanks

My previous Panda 4x4 TA 2016 sometimes did this going down to 2nd, or occasionally 3rd. I mentioned it to the dealer when it was serviced - they said they couldn't hear it when they took it for a test run. They said to bring it back if it got worse. I think I modified my driving style not to use engine braking so much. But this was more a subconscious thing - I must have been aware of it in some deep corner of my mind and it became automatic. Anyway, it didn't get any worse! It gradually got better and disappeared but not quickly, over say 18 mths. Nothing went wrong the car, no failures of gearbox, clutch, flywheel etc. I kept it 3 1/2 years 35,000 miles. I have a Cross TA now which doesn't make the noise, nor does my wife's 4x4 TA.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

The sound could actually becoming from the alternator...! the Panda (like most cars these days) has an intelligent alternator that only delivers full charge when the engine is on the overrun, so it will engage rather more positively if the engine is being used for engine braking.

 

[field500]

Thanks for the updates, not sure about the alternator as I am old school, and have used engine braking since I passed my test (a very long time ago)
, and have not heard the sound before a couple of weeks ago on this car. Did three or four trips out weekend and no sound. So will keep see if it reoccurs etc.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Thanks, will see how it goes. Got a few days out planned in next week or so, will see how it goes. Car sits on my drive unused most of time, WFH and price of fuel has reduced use. Thanks

my suspicion is clutch release bearing. If it is, its either going to shutup with use or get worse. I still have 2 years warrnty so I shall just observe. If anything changes I will pit up a post