Grinding noise when drivingâ€¦help?

JKM_GTI · Post by **JKM_GTI** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:27 am

Can anyone help with the below? I am off work next week so will get it booked in, just wondered if anyone has a similar problem and what it turned out to be?

When driving (in gear at any speed) I get a light grinding noise from under the car (could be clutch / gearbox area). It gets nosier as I accelerate until the engine note is loud enough to override it.

If I take the car out of gear the noise disappears completely (I can move the clutch up and down without any noises too)

The clutch seems fine, as does the gearbox, gear changes are sometimes rough / clunky but I believe this is a normal for gti.

Anyone know what it could be? Hopefully itâ€™s a cheap fix.

Thanks in advance,
Joe

olop_chris · Post by **olop_chris** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:55 am

I get a similiar noise, but its not too bad really, and i reckon it might be the thrust bearings in the clutch? I've not had it checked out or anything though yet as my cars driving fine.

JKM_GTI · Post by **JKM_GTI** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:37 am

Yeah mine drives fine, just has the noise!

andyg · Post by **andyg** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 7:34 am

Mine makes a grinding/rubbing noise when In gear and slowing down, If i dip the clutch it goes away. Its got much worse these past few days so I was gonna get a new clutch as its always been dog s**t.

JKM_GTI · Post by **JKM_GTI** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:49 am

Sorry to bump this, just after some more advice? Surely some one else has had a similar problem!

ccjjGTI · Post by **ccjjGTI** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:18 pm

Yep, mine is making the same sort of noises. I am getting my clutch replaced this Tues so will let you know if it makes a difference. I am 99% sure it is the clutch wearing out, unless your GB is buggered and its not working properly

cjwardy · Post by **cjwardy** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:48 pm

sounds like your gearbox mate.
mine did it a few weeks back now.
does the sound get worse in 3rd & then more so in 4th?
Mine was a gear linkage. Get it to a VW specialist asap

JKM_GTI · Post by **JKM_GTI** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:16 pm

cjwardy wrote:sounds like your gearbox mate.
mine did it a few weeks back now.
does the sound get worse in 3rd & then more so in 4th?
Mine was a gear linkage. Get it to a VW specialist asap

I think it does get louder, will go for a drive in a min...

Can i be rude & ask how much it cost you? pm me if you like?

EDIT - Thanks for all the comments so far

Petrified · Post by **Petrified** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 5:43 am

does it only happen at a certain rpm??
like 4000-5000rpm ?

JKM_GTI · Post by **JKM_GTI** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:15 am

Petrified wrote:does it only happen at a certain rpm??
like 4000-5000rpm ?

Nah revs make no difference, tbh the sound is not that bad, but i know i can hear it! It comes and goes, like yesterday i went for a little drive to check if it gets louder in certian gears....and it didn't do it

Another thing I forgot to add, sometimes the car feels very jerky, just driving along with my foot lightly on the accelerator, sometimes it will start jerking like I am tapping on it.

cjwardy · Post by **cjwardy** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:20 pm

I think all GTIs are very jerky like that, well mine certainly is.
Cost of the recon on my box was Â£450!
Best advice is to get to a garage soon to check it.
The noise isnt very loud, but noticeable enough.
I could also feel it through my pedals.
When you get the noise try dipping the clutch & see what happens to the noise

ccjjGTI · Post by **ccjjGTI** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 2:08 pm

I'd be still erring on the side of it being a clutch issue. The noise is the same for me if the clutch is down or up. The only difference is that mine gets louder when accelerating harder. Also my clutch judderes, so might wana see if yours does that too. That noise that your hearing is common to most cars btw, its not the GB - you'd know if it was becuase you would find it very very difficult to get in 4th, if it was buggered. Gear changes for me are very smooth - can easily go into 1st from 20mph and I'm getting the same noise

ccjjGTI · Post by **ccjjGTI** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 2:15 pm

Sorry to keep posting,

I actually think im wrong lol! Mine is different to what your describing JKM, I have realised. Mine makes this noise when warmed up, every time I drive, the noise is exactly the same in all gears, only time its changes is when accelerating. The noise sounds like buzzing, not grinding. Gear changes are easy however when you ride the clutch(I did this to check if it was clutch prob of GB prob) it makes a more buzzing sound. So maybe the prob is the GB I'm no mechanic.. clearly

Try riding the clutch whilst the window is down - if it makes more of a noise than when in clutch is full engaged then that would indicate clutch rather than GB, anyone second that?

JKM_GTI · Post by **JKM_GTI** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:08 am

Thanks everyone,

The noise does get worse as the car warms up...the gear changes feel fine, as does the clutch.

I am hoping it's the clutch (It's cheaper to fix!)

syrena · Post by **syrena** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 7:46 pm

My GTi was doing it especially in 2nd and 3rd gear when you accelerate and take your foot off to let the air run through. Took it into VW and they said the middle bit of the exhaust needed repairing so they replaced it even though my Dad said it was just some plate to do with the exhaust which was loose but we weren't gonna argue for a new free exhaust.

And yep...the noise was still there when we drove it out. Finally they listened to my Dad and just tightend up that plate which was rattling and the noise has gone away.