My ute is making a noise

[Tullyban]

Hi guys ive just recently bought a vs ute for cheap.. So hi everyone.. My problem i can hear a rattling noise when my car is at idle, until i press the clutch in the noise stops.. even when im driving i can hear a noise but when i press in the clutch it stops till i release the clutch.. would i be right in assuming this is the thrust bearing???

Also when i accelerate hard the car puts and struggles abit to accelerate, what would cause this on the vs ute? am i right in assuming it would be the spark plugs maybe or the fuel pump or injectors?? what can i do narrow down the variable to find the problem causing this..? cheers guys..

Also i need a left hand quarter panel (white), front bumper(white), and left handside headlight. anyone got any or can assist me in finding these parts.. I am in South Australia.

[hako]

First question - does not sound like thrust bearing which will make a noise when you have clutch depressed or just making contact - when at idle with foot off clutch pedal thrust bearing is not in contact with clutch fingers/diaphram so cannot make noise.
2nd question..do a codes check: Checking error codes VR/VS (Revised)
and also do a service and change plugs and leads...also put a tin of injector cleaner in tank.
Re body parts - these parts fit sedans....do not mention ute when buying as price increases despite the parts you are wanting are off a ute (fact of life).
Welcome to the forum and hope the above helps.

[Tullyban]

Cheers mate yes very helpful, havent got around to doing the paperclip test yet but ill do it tomorrow.. what would the noise be if the only whnoise happened en the "isnt depressed"?... any ideas anyone it sounds like a grinding noise.. could it be the exhaust at al??it is usually alot quieter when i accelerate..

[hako]

It could be the gearbox input shaft bearing - when the engine is running, gear in neutral and clutch released, the only part of the gearbox that is moving and can make a noise is the input shaft bearing. When you put the clutch in, this shaft stops rotating till the clutch is released and if the input shaft bearing is worn the noise will stop...and then start spinning again and making the noise when the clutch is released.
Repair is not rocket science if you have the earlier T5 gearbox as it is of conventional design and easily disassembled...but if you have the later Getrag box, it may be a gearbox specialist job (I really have no experience with them).
It may also be the clutch release lever...maybe it has slipped off it's mount or is otherwise loose. There should be an inspection plate you can remove and shine a torch up there.
Is the noise like a rumble as with a worn bearing or a rattle like a pebble in a tin can?

[westbad]

could be the spigot bearing

[Tullyban]

At this point id say a pebble in a tin can..

[hako]

Shouldn't be the spigot bearing as that will only be heard when the clutch is depressed.
A pebble in a tin can.....something must be loose in the region of the clutch release bearing/release arm....or the catalytic converter breaking internally altho that would be there all the time.
Have you read the fault codes yet, and changed fuel filter, plugs and leads? (should fix the power issue)

[Brett_jjj]

I could be way off track here but the pebble in a tin can sound could be the engine pinging(pre detonation)It sounds very similar.Could explain the power loss as well.The engine management system constantly changes the engine timing to suit load,fuel octane,and air temperature etc.Something would have to be wrong with the ecu or the engine sensors for this to be happening.Do an error check,it might show up something. <Update >Forget this.I should read the post more carefully,if the noise stops when the clutch is pressed or released or whatever, it is not going to be the engine.

[westbad]

Shouldn't be the spigot bearing as that will only be heard when the clutch is depressed.

Negative.. the spigot bearing is a bearing inside the end of the crankshaft into which the gearbox input shaft fits the spigot bearing only operates when the gearbox is in gear and the clutch is released, as soon as the clutch reaches friction point the bearing becomes stationary as the gearbox output shaft that is located into the spigot bearing and is splined to the clutch plate becomes one with the flywheel.

The thrust bearing is normally the only one heard when the clutch is depressed.

[hako]

Negative.. the spigot bearing is a bearing inside the end of the crankshaft into which the gearbox input shaft fits the spigot bearing only operates when the gearbox is in gear and the clutch is released, as soon as the clutch reaches friction point the bearing becomes stationary as the gearbox output shaft that is located into the spigot bearing and is splined to the clutch plate that becomes one with the flywheel.

The thrust bearing is normally the only one heard when the clutch is depressed.

Correct (first paragraph)...and that's exactly why I said it shouldn't be the spigot bearing - tullyban says:

"i can hear a rattling noise when my car is at idle, until i press the clutch in the noise stops.. even when im driving i can hear a noise but when i press in the clutch it stops till i release the clutch."

I think you must be reading my post wrong.

[Tullyban]

I a mechanic mate listen to the noise and said it might be the catalityc converter.. could this be it? thats also the direction the sound is coming from...

[Tom_1569]

Didnt read the whole thread, but sounds like the throw out bearing, and the rubbers that hold it in place will be worn as well.

[boonga]

maybe check trany oil

[Tullyban]

Im going to change the clutch in the next couple of weeks, i have a 98 vs ute.. what gearbox does that have in it? also where would be the cheapest place to source out the parts such as clutch, throw out bearing, input shaft bearing?

Ive been reading through alot of differnt posts all over the net with the same symptoms as me and the fix is usually replacing the input shaft bearing or the throw out bearing (is that the thrust bearing?).. Also when i push the clutch pedal in, is that considered engaging the clutch or depressing it??

[hako]

You should have the Getrag gearbox and the (expensive) dual mass flywheel/clutch. Throw out bearing is the same as thrust bearing and when the clutch pedal is depressed (pushed in) it is disengaged and when you take the foot off the pedal it is engaged.

[Tullyban]

so what should i replace to be sure i've fixed the problem.. Thrust bearing, Spigget bush and bearing, input shaft bearing..?

I just rang up sprints auto they said thrust bearing is $65, and spiggot bush is $15, they also said they didnt have anything listed for a spiggot bearing or input shaft bearing..

EDIT: Just rang motor traders they said they have the input bearing for $106 and spiggot bush for $5 ... do i only replace the bush not a bearing??

[hako]

Before you go buying parts you should have a look at just what is involved in replacing the input shaft bearing (in particular). The Gregorys manual outlines pulling it apart and it seems a bit more involved than the T5. So I'd either buy or borrow from the library a Gregorys. It's not rocket science if you take your time although I haven't done one since about 1988!
Re the spigot bush - it's a bush not a bearing according to the manual.
I think the expensive is the dual mass flywheel so keep your fingers crossed that it is OK.
Good Luck.

[Tullyban]

yeh im gonna get a mechanic mate to do it for me, definately wouldnt do it myself.. And yes im not planning on changing the clutch, dont have the money for a new one right now. it seems to have plenty of meat on it.. so its definately not the thrust bearing then.?

[hako]

I'd replace the thrust bearing, the input shaft bearing and the spigot bearing - it's cheap insurance and you don't want to pull it apart again! . You'll also have to change the gearbox oil...maybe even flush it first but your mechanic mate should know.
Have you checked if the oil level in the gearbox? - this can cause more problems down the track if it is very very low.

[Tullyban]

He looked at it last night and said im better off getting a change over gearbox cause mine is screwed its a getrag M35.. any ideas where to find a cheap one?

[dawg]

I guess probably try your local wreckers, or check on the for sale section of the forum.

My car does similar to yours, accept when my clutch pedal is pushed in, no noise. When i let go of it, it rattles/grinding type of noise, any ideas what this is?

[Tullyban]

Yeah thats what mine does, when the clutch is pushed in the noise stops.. ive just recently noticed that i can also kind of hear the noise when i have the clutch in and put it in gear i hear the noise for a quick second even tho i still have my foot firmly on the clutch

[hako]

Unfortunately a "changeover" gearbox does not exist - your options are only 2 - overhaul your box or buy a second hand box which may be as bad as the one you are replacing. (maybe in the big smoke they have exchange but I doubt it).
The other bad news is the more you drive it with bad bearings which are disintegrating and mixing steel shards in the oil which chew the gears up, the more it will cost to overhaul.

[westbad]

theres a bloke on ebay who sells recon T5's on a changer over basis, dont know if he does the getrag box
might be worth a look.

[VS-S-PACK-UTE]

hey guys mine has also just began to do this noise although it isnt a high pitched one or anything, sounds similar to the exhaust rubbing on something and a lil grinding noise. same as you's have, off the clutch noise, push it in and it stops. reallly really not happy about this.