Hello to all. Hoping someone out there can help with some solid advice. I drive a 1.4Tdi Fabia 2 with 74,000 miles and full service history. It's had new clutch, timing belt etc as I have used it as a driving school car. Been totally reliable. Just recently it's started making a rattling noise when Neutral is selected and the clutch is lifted up. The rattling goes away instantly if you dip the clutch down and back up OR blip the gas for a second. There's no vibration or whine from the gear box and it pulls smoothly in all gears. A local dealer has suggested that it is more than likely a bearing in the gear box but at around £650 for repairs I'm rather sceptical. I'm more inclined (possibly being hopeful) to think it's the clutch bearing but am at the mercy of the mechanics experience/knowledge. Can anyone out there help ?

I'm not a mechanic, but clutch release bearing maybe?

It sounds like that to me anyway

Do those have a dual mass fly wheel. Ive had a couple cars which the dmf started to brake down and rattled alot the rattling stopped once the clutch fully depressed.

Yup it certainly sounds like the bearing on the First motion shaft. Inside the gearbox.

 

It should last for years. Hopefully.

 

Time for another car!!!

 

You could try changing the gearbox oil, to a little heavier oil. But thats clutching at straws.

Clutch thrust is the most likely. Especially as its a school car where the clutch bearing works quite hard. Also it could be the clutch disc centre hub springs which can also take a hammering as they absorb the tranny shocks. They become loose in their housings over time on some school cars. Not yet seen a first motion shaft bearing give problems on this box but it is a small possibility.

Wheelspins, I wouldn't worry about it. We have a 1999 Polo 1.4 that has a gearbox rattle exactly as you describe. Bought s/h at 25k miles, I first noticed it at around 50k miles and now at 144k miles it seems no worse. The car still has its original clutch, gearbox, and engine and they have never been disturbed.