Idle rough / noisy engine

[Grale]

We have a Citigo Sport with 4000 miles on the clock.

 

I bought the car for the wife three weeks ago, and it hasn't been a smooth start!

 

Firstly, after two days the exhaust failed at the front section and needed replacing... Two weeks wait for that. (Mechanics have never seen this fault on the Citigo before)

Then two days after that the clutch pedal developed a fault. The complete clutch pedal was replaced with a new one (known fault the mechanic said)

 

Now it's the first time i have taken the car to work since i bought the car for the wife. Now silly of me i know, however i didn't test drive the car before purchase. I left that to the wife, and seeing the glowing reviews i had no worries on this part.

 

So my two questions:

 

Firstly does anyone else experience rough/lumpy  idling? I can be sat stationary and i can feel vibrating throughout the whole car, steering wheel seat ect... Now it's not extreme, but it's there as if it's a misfire or something similar. The revs however are rock solid.

 

Secondly, this is a little more tricky to explain. I know the car has very little sound proofing, but i when beginning to accelerate, i hear what seems to be coming from the front left part of the engine bay, a sound that is like a blowing exhaust or perhaps when i has 17 when i put a K&N air filter on my ford escort!!

 

I am over all impressed with the car but at the moment the engine is letting down and feels a lot less refined as the rest of the car.

 

I am seriously considering taking this car back as i am still in the 30 days... just.

 

Any help and info would be greatly appreciated.

[Laffinassassin]

I would say the first issue, if not severe, is just the characterful 3 cylinder unbalanced-ness!

 

The second issue I think is what I would describe has a farting induction noise. Not sure where it comes from but maybe the plastic tubing on the top and left hand side of the engine as you stand in front of the car?

 

Very noticeable at low speed.  

[Stormchaser]

Agree with above. The 3 pot is a little lumpy on idle. Mines been like this since new. Now on 20K and no problems.

You will get a lot of noise whilst taking up drive with a bit of induction noise. They're not very soundproofed at all so the slightest noise/rattle you will hear.

But still it's a great little car with character [emoji106][emoji4]

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[YBR1]

Hi Grale

 

Sorry to hear that you are having problems with your citigo.  The noise that sounds like a blowing exhaust is normal.  This is a combination of a 3 pot engine noise and the use of plastics for the engine manifolds - its a characteristic and nothing for concern.  The rough idling and vibration is another thing.  These engines are silky smooth at idle speed, did you drive it before the exhaust failure and if so was it apparent then?  If not, it sounds very much like the replacement exhaust hasn't been fitted correctly and is possibly fouling against the body or associated ancillaries.  I would take it back and ask them to fix it.  What was wrong with your Clutch pedal?  These are noted for clicking when depressing the pedal, or did the pedal fail completely?

 

It seems that you have been very unlucky with your car so far.  These are cracking cars, take that from a car sceptic who has for a number of years bought new Ford KAs and got used to them spending lots of time in the workshop.  Skoda could certainly teach Ford how to screw a new car together.

 

I'm sure once you get these initial problems sorted you'll be delighted with it.

[Camlep]

Idle is definitely lumpy, and can occasionally have a moment where it feels like the engine is lurching before calming down. It can be loud too, on idle. 

Is the acceleration noise a groan with a slight whine? If so, perfectly characterstic.

 

The exhaust set-up is weird on the Citigo, there's no manifold as we know it, just a pipe to the back-box. But I wouldn't expect failure! Sorry to hear about your poor start to owning a sport. 

[Grale]

The engine noise or blowing as i explained sounds exactly like the characteristics you explained. I was just concerned it was linked to the exhaust.

 

As for the clutch YBR1, sorry maybe a bit too dramatic saying failed. I asked the wife and she said yes it was like a click / clunky vague feeling when depressing the clutch. 

 

The engine idling has always been a little rough, however she just sat in the car and said it was markedly worse and it definitely was not that bad yesterday when she drove the car.

So i will get the car booked in, as i think you could be right about improperly fitted exhaust and fouling on something.

 

Other than these issues it's a cracking little car as you say. it says it all when she now prefers to take her Citigo everywhere over our other car which is a F30 BMW Msport!!

 

Thanks for the replies guys, my mind is a little more at ease now. After all of my research i starting to believe the C1 would have been a better choice  :no:

[Camlep]

The engine noise or blowing as i explained sounds exactly like the characteristics you explained. I was just concerned it was linked to the exhaust.

 

As for the clutch YBR1, sorry maybe a bit too dramatic saying failed. I asked the wife and she said yes it was like a click / clunky vague feeling when depressing the clutch. 

 

The engine idling has always been a little rough, however she just sat in the car and said it was markedly worse and it definitely was not that bad yesterday when she drove the car.

So i will get the car booked in, as i think you could be right about improperly fitted exhaust and fouling on something.

 

Other than these issues it's a cracking little car as you say. it says it all when she now prefers to take her Citigo everywhere over our other car which is a F30 BMW Msport!!

 

Thanks for the replies guys, my mind is a little more at ease now. After all of my research i starting to believe the C1 would have been a better choice  :no:

 

 

Clutch click is a known characteristic of this car. It's a real pain!

 

 

Interesting, though on your choice of car. We've got my Citigo, a 2015 i20 and also an F34 BMW 330 GT M-Sport. Looks like you've got good taste in cars!  

[Stormchaser]

Talking of exhaust. I've noticed the engines do rock easily on these. That would put a lot of flex on the down pipe. Seems the engine mounts are made of cheese [emoji57]

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[Hyphons]

I'd take the clutch click over the Fabia's squeaky clutch any day! 

[littleade]

I've driven a ibiza hire car with the 1.2 3 cylinder engine in it and yes it is rather noisy and unrefined compared to a 4 pot but it was quite willing and held motorway speeds without any problems. Would I buy 1 myself? Probably not but given its for the wife and she likes it probably best let sleeping dogs lie.

[g6zru]

 

Thanks for the replies guys, my mind is a little more at ease now. After all of my research i starting to believe the C1 would have been a better choice  :no:

Have you driven a C1?

My wife had a Fiat Panda prior to her Mii and we test drove as many of the so called "city cars" as we could find before she decided on the Mii. The C1 was by far the worst car I have ever driven in over 50 years of motoring!

This was not however the recent release so maybe it's improved, not difficult!

 

 

Fred

PS I agree with all the previous comments.

[Emil]

I think that the engine is one of the best features. 3 cylinder means less internal friction, and bigger valves, when we are talking about 1000cc engine. (I like to say 1000cc, as it sounds better than 1 liter. :sun: ) Other words it means better fuel economy, compared to 4 cyl. engine. And it performs and works so well under 2000 rpm.

Less important is the sounds of 3 cyl. engine. Not as nice as V8, but then again you cannot get everything.

As coin doesn't stay on its side very long on top of the 3 cyl. engine, it needs to be mounted with very soft rubber fastener. Less vibration for the car body.

I don't quite get "clicky clutch issue", as I hardly ever hear it.

I haven't driven C1, but car magazines often claims that Citigo/Mii/UP! is better than C1/Aygo/107.

Edited 8 March, 2015 by Emil

[bluecar1]

started wifes today after it being stood for a couple of days

 

took longer than normal to start and when it did it sounded like it was running on only 1, would not rev for a few seconds then all was good

 

hmm

 

goes in a few days but it is the first hic up we have had in 18 months

[Emil]

Just to show you it's possible:

 

But with 3 cyl engine, I wouldn't bother to try.

[g6zru]

started wifes today after it being stood for a couple of days

 

took longer than normal to start and when it did it sounded like it was running on only 1, would not rev for a few seconds then all was good

 

hmm

 

goes in a few days but it is the first hic up we have had in 18 months

Battery going below threshold voltage?

 

Fred

[bluecar1]

Battery going below threshold voltage?

 

Fred

no, turned over nice and quick as normal, was an ignition or fuel problem

[Citigopher]

Less important is the sounds of 3 cyl. engine. Not as nice as V8, but then again you cannot get everything.

 

I prefer to think of it as half of a Porsche flat 6. Makes a lovely thrum to my ears.

 

I don't get this 'keeping it below 2000rpm' bit though. This engine comes alive above about 2,500rpm. It sounds so much happier then too. The gearchange indicator thingy is an obsessed kiljoy. Perhaps that's got something to do with why I'm not getting the stellar mpg some other forumers go on about :think: . What the hell - I'm enjoying it anyway

[Camlep]

I prefer to think of it as half of a Porsche flat 6. Makes a lovely thrum to my ears.

I don't get this 'keeping it below 2000rpm' bit though. This engine comes alive above about 2,500rpm. It sounds so much happier then too. The gearchange indicator thingy is an obsessed kiljoy. Perhaps that's got something to do with why I'm not getting the stellar mpg some other forumers go on about :think: . What the hell - I'm enjoying it anyway

With my induction kit, the Citigo sounds savage below 2,000 on a cold start. But other than for the first minute after start up, after 2,500 rpm is where all the fun happens! Much better noise. And better pull.

[Stormchaser]

You wouldn't make any progress following the gearchange indicator. I never have done. Work that little 3 pot and you'll still get great mpg [emoji106][emoji4]

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[Emil]

There is engines which does not work under 2000 rpm (For example Fiat 500). You can maintain speed under 2000 rpm with Citigo's engine. Most of the time 2000 rpm is enough for accelerating too, because most of people (at least here in Finland) don't know how to accelerate from traffic lights.

Gearchange indicator is simply clever. When you see an arrow you should change higher gear, OR give more throttle. If you give more throttle, the arrow disappear (It realized you want to accelerate). It's trying to teach how to use engine properly. There's no point to revving it (besides it is amusing of course), if you don't give enough throttle. :sun:

Edited 10 March, 2015 by Emil

[Stormchaser]

No point in revving it? [emoji6]

I'll catch a bus instead then.

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[Grale]

Update

 

 

Car went back into the garage today, Indeed as YBR1 mentioned the exhaust was incorrectly fitted. It was touching part of the chassis causing the vibrations.

 

Now the worrying part is that they have moved it, however he said 'we have moved it up slightly but it's now closer on the other side, see how it goes and see if that's any better' !

Also my wife noted a rattling sound that i never noticed, this apparently is a failed heat shield and also needs replacing, next Thursday is the soonest they can fit it in.

 

I'll be using the car tomorrow for work and i'll see how it is. 

 

Not a very encouraging start with this little car so far. On a positive note it's a great little car to drive.  

[Stormchaser]

The heat shield is a common problem on these. I've had mine replaced too.

Hope the exhaust is better. Don't lose faith in the car they truly are great [emoji4]

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