Looming DMF Failure

Retrogamer

I recently bought a 2006 Ibiza TDi FR with the Vag PD130 engine. It was bought from a trader just over 1 month ago.

It's mostly older cars i've driven until now so no ECU's, DMF's or anything like that.

Since i've bought the car it's always had an intermittent vibration but very mild and only at idle revs.
I've recently noticed that there's a sort of "shuffling" type noise, almost similar to a train but it's extremily hard to hear due to how quiet it is just now (my friends can't hear it over the diesel chatter but i can)

As it still drives fine and there's no clutch slippage or anything would i be within my rights to have this repaired under the SOGA as it was bought less than 6 months ago, or would it just be minor wear and tear expected with a car of this age and miles?

Buying price was £3400, car has FSH and 94k on it when bought and 96k now

vaio

Tricky one...

The garage are going to say "what fault?"

You are going to say "that almost inaudible intermittent vibration/shuffling noise" on a 10 year old 100k miles diesel car.

I think you are going to struggle to get them interested. What happens if they do open it up and there is nothing wrong with the DMF?

Retrogamer

This is the thing. It's a tricky one indeed.
If the DMF failed before the 6 months i'd have some better come back but i'm not sure what happens exactly when one fails. In my mind i'd imagine it's really bad guessing by the RPM and weight

I'm 99% certain if they removed the box they'd find a bit of wear on it for sure with it but maybe i'm being too fussy with it? Sometimes it's silent, but often a bit more noisy when engine is cold. It's hard to find a video on youtube with a really noisy one so i can try and gauge how much life is left in mines. Could be months, could be years.

Ad86

Its one of them things tbh. Most start going around 100k mark.
You can usually spot a load of metallic shards stuck in the starter motor if you remove it where the dmf is starting fail.

facade

They sound like tin cans in a washing machine when they get bad, and the gearbox chatters at idle.

DMFs last anything between 100k and 200k, 160k is reasonable.

Only sure way to tell is to get the clutch replaced, and have the DMF checked at the same time.

Just hope that if it fails it is covered, a DMF is a wear & tear item.

Iceweasel

What's a DMF?

Is it like a DPF - a Diesel Particulate Filter?

GolfBravo

Dual Mass Flywheel

Yolina

Dual Mass Flywheel

Edit: too slow by a few seconds :rotfl:

GolfBravo

Ad86 wrote: »

Its one of them things tbh. Most start going around 100k mark.
You can usually spot a load of metallic shards stuck in the starter motor if you remove it where the dmf is starting fail.

The easiest way to diagnose a failing DMF is to start the car, put it in first gear and then slowly release the clutch pedal (don't touch the accelerator). This is when the DMF is working really hard, and if well worn will definitely make loud rattling noise.

GolfBravo

Yolina wrote: »

Dual Mass Flywheel

Edit: too slow by a few seconds :rotfl:

:rotfl:

DMF, AKA QME (Quick Money Earner for garages and car manufacturers).

Retrogamer

Appreciate the advise so far everyone. Since most people can't hear it i'm guessing it's starting to show signs of wear but may have a bit more life left. I'll keep an eye on the noise to see if it gets any louder.

Does anyone know what happens when they fail, or would it get that noisy before it fails you'd replace it kind of thing?

I don't do aggressive gear changes or hard launches or labour the engine, but i give it the beans every now and then once rolling to clear out the cobwebs

GolfBravo wrote: »

The easiest way to diagnose a failing DMF is to start the car, put it in first gear and then slowly release the clutch pedal (don't touch the accelerator). This is when the DMF is working really hard, and if well worn will definitely make loud rattling noise.

Will give that a try tonight after work, cheers