Hi Guys,

I've a '03 1.9 TDI est UK RHD, for some time it has had a chattering/clattering/fuzzing noise coming from the engine bay passenger side.(-going past a wall on the left, window open is fairly deafening.) the noise doesn't get 'faster' with speed, it just clatters like something is lose somewhere.

It's driving me crazy. It's got worse over time.

I think it could be coming from above the gearbox where the gear change leavers are, they could be lose and vibrating? Anyone had this before and how to fix?

I know it's not the suspension, as I have had that all before and that's all sorted all replaced with new.

The noise happens over bumps, but not in any specific gear (which makes me think perhaps it's not the leavers)

pushing the clutch makes no difference to the noise.

Main dealer on a service told about it but they found nothing, MOT garage found nothing. neither of them probably looked so I might have to ask an independent. hmm

would be so good to fix this as other than that (and the broken aircon) it's the perfect car.

Edited 15 August, 201213 yr by Gman1978

Does it happen when the car is stationary but with the engine still running????

Could be loose bolts on engine subframe, track rod ends, or strut top bolts come loose. Or anti roll bar bushes, or drop links........or console bushes...........or loose rad mount.

is it knocking noise? i have a similar thing on mine.... replaced the first suspect things bushes, droplinks, checked all round and no idea.

maybe exhaust bracket broken? can you feel it through the pedals but still sounds like its from the left?

I'd say it's defo not a knock, it's a metal on metal /clatter/chunk, if I turn the engine off and waggle the gearstick I get a similar noise, but hard to tell. It only does it when driven, and being out of gear or not makes no difference.

Struts have been replaced but noise happened before and after.

I'm considering somehow attaching my camera sphone down there to see if that can capture it.

After having a cam belt change at a main dealers 2 years ago, I was driven mad with a similar noise.

It turned out that the engine had been forced upwards on the drivers side to assist in changing the parts.

I found that the bracket holding the two heater pipes on the bulkhead had been broken (I got them to replace this FOC) and also the gear change cables had been pulled from out of their clips on the floor pan where it meets the lower bulkhead, I managed to strap them up with a nylon tie to stop them chattering on the bulkhead at certain revs.

Just a thought but worth a look and check.

DB.

After having a cam belt change at a main dealers 2 years ago, I was driven mad with a similar noise.

It turned out that the engine had been forced upwards on the drivers side to assist in changing the parts.

I found that the bracket holding the two heater pipes on the bulkhead had been broken (I got them to replace this FOC) and also the gear change cables had been pulled from out of their clips on the floor pan where it meets the lower bulkhead, I managed to strap them up with a nylon tie to stop them chattering on the bulkhead at certain revs.

Just a thought but worth a look and check.

DB.

any chance I could get a part number of this bracket please boys? had the exact same issue but give up explaining to the skoda dealer on the phone of what bracket it is, cheers.