Car vibrating when idle...any ideas?

cyclonebri1

Jamp wrote: »

Your problem sounds like the clutch's thrust bearing, not the friction material, so that test was of no real use. Unless your car has been treated very harshly then it shouldn't need new a clutch friction plate for at least another 50k miles. If, however, you do have to replace the thrust bearing, you might as well replace the friction material at the same time, as mentioned above.

Has the problem come on suddenly or built up over time? I would improve your driving style/mechanical sympathy and see what happens over the coming weeks. When you're going to be stationary for more than 30 seconds, put your handbrake on, change into neutral and release the clutch pedal. Since in the UK we have the amber traffic light for "get set", there's plenty of time to engage first gear and move off when the light goes green, if you're paying attention Plenty of people don't know the damage they might be doing though, and always have the clutch to the floor as you've been doing. Plenty of people also ride the brake pedal at traffic lights, dazzling anyone sat behind them in a low car :mad:

Exactly right.:T

Couple of points;

The car could well run for a further 30, 40, 50K more miles before it gives up the ghost, I personally wouldnt have it done yet, it will get alot more noisy before it fails.

The method of testing that Tesla recommends is wrong. If you put the hand break on and try to pull of in 4th or 5th, there shouldn't be an earthly change of the car moving. If the clutch is fine the car will stall, if its on its way out the revs should increase as the clutch slips. The car should not move.
If you try this more than once you probably will need a new clutch anyway:o

maniac886

Jamp wrote: »

Your problem sounds like the clutch's thrust bearing, not the friction material, so that test was of no real use. Unless your car has been treated very harshly then it shouldn't need new a clutch friction plate for at least another 50k miles. If, however, you do have to replace the thrust bearing, you might as well replace the friction material at the same time, as mentioned above.

Has the problem come on suddenly or built up over time? I would improve your driving style/mechanical sympathy and see what happens over the coming weeks. When you're going to be stationary for more than 30 seconds, put your handbrake on, change into neutral and release the clutch pedal. Since in the UK we have the amber traffic light for "get set", there's plenty of time to engage first gear and move off when the light goes green, if you're paying attention Plenty of people don't know the damage they might be doing though, and always have the clutch to the floor as you've been doing. Plenty of people also ride the brake pedal at traffic lights, dazzling anyone sat behind them in a low car :mad:

thanks for that excellent information... over the next week I will now be changing my driving style as you have advised above. I would say the problem was sudden as I only noticed it a few days ago... I have just been out for 20 mins in the car as of now and I can't hear the sound any more which is weird. I have the car booked in for a full service so I will ask the mechanic to check over the clutch... as I have said before I have not had any other problems with the clutch 'slipping' before...the gear change is as smooth as when I purchased the car. I only travel 60 miles a week to and from work so is it really worth changing the clutch now???

maniac886

Right looks like it isn't the clutch because the ticking/vibrating noise occurs weather the car is in gear or not. I spoke to the mechanic earlier on and he said the best way to test if the clutch is failing is to build your speed up to 30mph and put the car into 4th gear . Once its in 4th gear put your foot right down on the throttle. If the rev counter goes up quicker than the speed counter then the clutch is dodgy.

I tested it and the speed counter was going up a lot faster than the revs so hopefully clutch is fine. Mechanic said it could be one of the belts but will only really know when he sees the car on Friday next week!

Thanks for your advice, at least I know the best way of changing gears from standstill!!

Anyway I will let you know what the cause was next week!

happylife

Yes the clutch is slipping so it probably needs a new Clutch..

you should NOT be paying £600 for a new clutch.

I recently had one fitted on a Ford Mondeo for £175 inc vat in, So shop around ,,

maniac886

happylife wrote: »

Yes the clutch is slipping so it probably needs a new Clutch..

you should NOT be paying £600 for a new clutch.

I recently had one fitted on a Ford Mondeo for £175 inc vat in, So shop around ,,

Clutch isnt slipping..read update above

ohreally

goldspanners wrote: »

sound like the clutch may be slipping.

How does a clutch slip under no load conditions?

jeannieblue

Maniac886 - don't beat yourself up over your driving! I used to do exactly the same to be honest - and never ......ed up a clutch in all my years of driving (too many to count), I'm not saying its right but lets not be too picky eh?!!

I used to do the same.... but now I drive auto - so annoy people in little cars behind me by having my foot on the brake. Bothered? Nope

goldspanners

ohreally wrote: »

How does a clutch slip under no load conditions?

it doesnt,who said it was?
i was asking if the noise was still there when the clutch was up and in nuetral to try and rule out the clutch being faulty.

ohreally

goldspanners wrote: »

it doesnt,who said it was?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=8648773&postcount=4

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

The clutch isn't slipping. You can't detect a slipping clutch in neutral. I think some people here need to learn how a clutch works!

Its either a problem with the thrust bearing, or a faulty engine mount.

Best not to sit at lights with first gear selected - if you get hit by another car, and rendered unconcious, what do you think will happen to the car? It will drive forward until something stops it. Perhaps a car coming from the other direction....at speed.....