Just to add another issue with my new Skoda friend.

I have noticed over the past few days that there is a hooting/howling noise when the car is first started. This stops when I depress the clutch pedal and goes away after a few minutes when the engine has warmed a bit.

Upon closer listening there is also a light grumbling sound which is there all the time until I depress the clutch pedal, when it seems to get quieter/go away.

OK, I thinking release bearing, but I am told that they make a noise when the pedal IS depressed, not the other way.

I must say that the clutch does seem rather thin, there is a lot of travel until it bites, so maybe the whole thing is worn.

I also get a slight clonk through the car when taking up drive/on deceleration in low gear, sometimes. This doesn't appear to be mounting related.

A new clutch is about £80 I think, but does anybody have any idea how long it should take to replace it, so i can gauge labour costs. I have done one once, years ago on a Marina and have no intention of doing it again.

Edited 12 February, 201016 yr by myjalopy

Unlikely to be release bearing as they don't do anything until the clutch pedal is pressed down, I'd be thinking along the lines of gearbox oil level as a first check to make sure it isn't low, and possibly change the oil anyway.

Thanks for the reply.

I was thinking that as the bearing spins on the shaft if it is worn it would make a noise.

Oil level check is planned for this w/e anyway, so maybe that will solve it.

Thanks for the reply.

I was thinking that as the bearing spins on the shaft if it is worn it would make a noise.

Oil level check is planned for this w/e anyway, so maybe that will solve it.

Actually, the bearing doesn't spin on the shaft, the release bearing is held in place by a fork arrangement and not spinning, when the clutch pedal is pressed down the the release bearing is pushed forwards on to the release plate fingers which then move the pressure plate from the friction plate, and it is at this point the release bearing spins.

Just checked the Haynes manual and the clutch pedal travel can be adjusted, may be worth doing that too.

to check if its the release bearing the easy way is to slip the clutch cable off the arm on the gearbox and pull the arm the oppasite way to what the cable would pull it then start the car, the release baering will be out of contact now so if the noise is still there its not that..

clutch pedal should sit level with brake pedal when adjusted correctly

Yes, I was just reading on here about clutch adjustment, so will give that a try.

Ta both of you.

Edited 12 February, 201016 yr by myjalopy

Don't quite know how you've managed it so far, but twice now you've posted an issue with your car when I've either just had the same problem with mine or am in the process of investigating how to clear it. First the brakes, now this, was going to change the gearbox oil last weekend on my car but it was too bloody cold. Just to warn you btw, take care with the cigar lighter, it is a dashboard out job to replace it!

Must be common problems. Just to check, do you have/have you had any problems with lumpy idle, especially on warm up? Tappety noises from engine that aren't badly adjusted tappets? Knocking from front of car on bumps that was/was not cured by fitting new upper rubbers to the strut?

No plans to replace the cigar lighter at the mo.

Tappety noises from engine that aren't badly adjusted tappets?

timing chain sounds a lot like it on my felicia, im not worried about it.

Knocking from front of car on bumps that was/was not cured by fitting new upper rubbers to the strut?

could be a bit of play in wishbone ball joint

Edited 13 February, 201016 yr by J242

Cheers J242, but i am inclined to think the chain maybe OK as i have heard one with a dodgy chain and it sounds like a thrashing metal noise not a tappety noise. I am getting it all checked out on Monday, see what happens.

The balljoint seems OK, but havent ruled it out yet. I have 2 x new rubbers for the top strut which I will put on soon, I am really looking forward to them solving that particular problem, amongst the many that seem to be appearing on my new aquisition !

I have noticed over the past few days that there is a hooting/howling noise when the car is first started. This stops when I depress the clutch pedal and goes away after a few minutes when the engine has warmed a bit. Upon closer listening there is also a light grumbling sound which is there all the time until I depress the clutch pedal, when it seems to get quieter/go away.

My car has exactly the same issue (nice noise description btw). I thought it has something to do with the clutch assembly, so I changed it with a new one - disk, plate and bearing. But... bad luck. None of them were too badly worn, and what's worse... that annoying sound is still there. Intact. I used a stethoscope for mechanics and located the sound inside the gearbox. It sounds like a worn bearing that sometimes is slipping in its case till the gearbox oil is heating up. It is definitely outside low temperature and metal contraction related. Right now I am thinking at one of the input shaft bearings... but still baffled.

On the other hand, my clutch pedal is some 2 cm lower than brake pedal now. My mechanic said it's normal for a new clutch assembly, but I am not buying it, because... what about new cars? They don't have this issue... So what should I do? Because I smell rat...

It is definitely outside low temperature and metal contraction related. Right now I am thinking at one of the input shaft bearings... but still baffled.

On the other hand, my clutch pedal is some 2 cm lower than brake pedal now. My mechanic said it's normal for a new clutch assembly, but I am not buying it, because... what about new cars? They don't have this issue... So what should I do? Because I smell rat...

yes, the noise was worse in the colder weather, but is better now the sun has shown itself for a few minutes down here. Still there though, noticed it tonight after work. I was thinking clutch, as mine is on the thin side I think so i was planning on changing it anyway but if it won't cure the noise, I'll wait a bit.

You can adjust the pedal travel with the nut on the end of the cable in the engine bay. Maybe the garage adjusted it too far?

What year is your car, maybe they will show similar problems as time goes on and we could compare notes!

Don't quite know how you've managed it so far, but twice now you've posted an issue with your car when I've either just had the same problem with mine or am in the process of investigating how to clear it. First the brakes, now this, was going to change the gearbox oil last weekend on my car but it was too bloody cold. Just to warn you btw, take care with the cigar lighter, it is a dashboard out job to replace it!

CIGAR lighter, that's a bit posh ! :p

Hmm, well I have noticed that my cigarette lighter doesn't stay in when pushed in. That's probably the actual lighter itself though and I'm not worried, I don't smoke.

You can adjust the pedal travel with the nut on the end of the cable in the engine bay. Maybe the garage adjusted it too far?

What year is your car, maybe they will show similar problems as time goes on and we could compare notes! :p

my car is December 1997 (102.000 km). will keep you posted. 

Yeah, sounds like the mechanic is only used to auto-adjusted clutches, so a minute with a 10mm spanner will sort that out. Can't remember the spec offhand, it's in the manual...

"Yeah, sounds like the mechanic is only used to auto-adjusted clutches" - which is one of the worst excuses ever. Cable-operated auto-adjusted clutches still need setting up correctly manually when first installed. It's only hydraulic clutches that are totally auto-adjusting.

"well, sounds like a **** mechanic" would have been more like it, I was being tactful.

"well, sounds like a **** mechanic" would have been more like it, I was being tactful.

ok, I got this part. but what about that bloody muffled grinding-slipping noise ? any clue? I really don't want to break apart the gearbox (again), unless I have to.

do I have to learn czech and seek on Felicia czech forums? I'm out of ideas...

let's hear the sound - can you record it on youtube? I've had various different problems with the 'box on my rally Felicia (as the gear kit wasn't right and needed building and machining several times to get it to work), so I've heard a few interesting noises, but a written description is down to so much interpretation, it's better to actually hear the sound.

the thrust bearing is in constant contact and is spinning all the time, did you do as i said to try and eliminate that? could be the starter staying in a bit too long or maybe the clutch springs broken or the gearbox bearings or anything really

the thrust bearing is in constant contact and is spinning all the time, did you do as i said to try and eliminate that? could be the starter staying in a bit too long or maybe the clutch springs broken or the gearbox bearings or anything really

Not sure if you mean me, but no not yet, as i will need to be in the car to listen for the noise, while someone will have to be holding the lever away from it's usual position? I never seem to find anyone to help when I need it !

ok yes how about a bungie strap to hold the arm away?

ok yes how about a bungie strap to hold the arm away?

Yes, but I thought it would need more tension than that? I will get around to it, but have other things to sort on this little car as well regarding the basics of going along without stalling.

let's hear the sound - can you record it on youtube?  I've had various different problems with the 'box on my rally Felicia (as the gear kit wasn't right and needed building and machining several times to get it to work), so I've heard a few interesting noises, but a written description is down to so much interpretation, it's better to actually hear the sound.

here you go

Clutch Rattling

the thrust bearing is in constant contact and is spinning all the time, did you do as i said to try and eliminate that? could be the starter staying in a bit too long or maybe the clutch springs broken or the gearbox bearings or anything really

Tried your idea this afternoon, Jim. The noise was still there I would say.

I also put my ear to the gear knob, you can hear the grumbling through it whether the clutch is in or not. Gear box fooked?

Noticing that it's getting a b1tch to get into 1st most times now too. I have to depress the clutch pedal twice or it sometimes helps if I am rolling forward very slowly. On some occasions it kind of clunks into 1st and the whole car seems to shudder a bit. I've read this could be indicative that the rear gearbox mount needing replacing ?

So, low miles, regularly serviced and plenty of oil in the gearbox yet it sounds like a high miler. :wonder:

Edited 5 March, 201016 yr by myjalopy