Hi Guys, I'm just wondering if anybody knows what this might be? I have this weird chatter like sound from underneath the bonnet on cold starts, it goes or is drowned out by thr engine once I set off. I dont think its the fan belt so Im quite worried. Any ideas?

Thanks

Sounds like the auxiliary belt tensioner bearing or the alternator pulley may be failing. It's not really anything to get worried about though.

Hi thanks for answering so quickly. If I'm correct the auxiliary belt is on the left side of the engine and this noise is on the right? Is the alternator on the right side?

Does anybody think it's the cambelt?

Does anybody think it's the cambelt?

 

Which is also on the left side of the engine, same as the auxiliary belt.

Oh right guess not then lol. So what's on the right hand side of the engine? It's the same layout under the bonnet as the fabia vRS if that helps. The noise itself doesn't bother me as long as it's not a serious problem.

I think it might be the DMF in that case because there's nothing else that side of the engine.

Oh ****! , I reckon you might be right mate. After looking it up, I seem to get a lot of the symptoms like shuddering at low revs in town, difficult selecting gears sometimes like the box is knotchy as hell and won't fully engage gears sometimes and clunking which I thought was the dogbone mount. Does this all sound like the DMF to you bud?

I appreciate the help by the way. 

Yes, DMF definitely, you didn't mention the other symptoms, that confirms it.

Yeah sorry about that, I didn't mention the others because I didnt't realise it was clutch/tranny related. One other thing is its only a slight squeaky/chatter noise you know? quite quiet at the moment. I had to shove my head right into the engine bay to hear where it was roughly coming from but definitely on the right hand side of the engine.

I know it's been ages since I posted this but I actually haven't managed to sort this out yet with other things taking priority. I have however got some new information which may narrow the cause down a bit. When I start the car in cold weather, whether that be in morning or at night, the chatter noise is loud and clear BUT if I select first gear the noise disappears??? Any other gear and the noise continues. Does anybody have any idea what it could be? I'm taking my car back to the garage regarding my HG soon and would like to sort everything out at the same time with labour costs shooting through the roof. Any help would be greatly appreciated    

Did you investigate the earlier suggestion of failing DMF?!

4 minutes ago, jars said:

Did you investigate the earlier suggestion of failing DMF?!

No, I hadn't because there was just always something else going wrong and the funds just haven't been there until now if I'm honest. The clutch hasn't really got any worse so I thought that there were more pressing matters such as my HG at the tail end of last year. I will however get it looked at when it goes in at the end of this month if you think it needs checking? Could it still be DMF failure when the noise disappears when first gear is engaged though?

 

Thanks

Pressing the clutch, engaging gear and then the sound you describe disappearing is one of the signs of a failing DMF. Your clutch can still be in good order with a knackered DMF 

 

There’s another way of diagnosing a failing DMF by putting it in 5th or 6th and pulling away from a standstill..... would be worth searching google with those words and Briskoda in it and you’ll probably find it. 

 

What made you think your HG was goosed? 

 

 

Or is it the other way around 

11 minutes ago, jars said:

Pressing the clutch, engaging gear and then the sound you describe disappearing is one of the signs of a failing DMF. Your clutch can still be in good order with a knackered DMF 

 

There’s another way of diagnosing a failing DMF by putting it in 5th or 6th and pulling away from a standstill..... would be worth searching google with those words and Briskoda in it and you’ll probably find it. 

 

What made you think your HG was goosed? 

 

 

 

I wasn't aware of any test like that, I thought I would have to pay a garage to check it. As for the HG, I had gas in the header tank in the mornings after sitting over night and coolant loss, had it sniff tested and there was a small amount of exhaust gasses so I was told and I now still have the same symptoms except a slower rate of coolant loss. So if I put it in 5th/6th and try and pull away what happens then? I surely wont be able to pull away?

Yeah, I defeniatly read a post from someone saying it can be done. Typically, I can’t find it 

 

 

1 minute ago, jars said:

Yeah, I defeniatly read a post from someone saying it can be done. Typically, I can’t find it 

 

 

Haha, not to worry, I'l just try it tomorrow morning and see what happens . What should I expect? Excessive juddering? I should also mention that after my HG replacement I have a rough idle which shakes the whole car, like the revs dropping too low AND it vibrates through the pedals when accelerating, like one of those 'pull-string furby' kids toys is stuck to my right foot. I don't know if its more related to DMF failure than HG.

 

Thanks

I've also just remembered that I did investigate it. I took it to a garage Feb 2017 who said they heard it while underneath the car and changed the auxiliary belt for £200.

1 hour ago, Tomjones1995 said:

I've also just remembered that I did investigate it. I took it to a garage Feb 2017 who said they heard it while underneath the car and changed the auxiliary belt for £200.

 

TWO HUNDRED QUID!

 

That's an incredible price just to change the belt.

1 hour ago, sepulchrave said:

 

TWO HUNDRED QUID!

 

That's an incredible price just to change the belt.

 

I know yeah, what a rip off!! I have said before on here how hard it is for me to find a good, reliable, VAG knowledgeable and trustworthy garage

4 hours ago, Tomjones1995 said:

and changed the auxiliary belt for £200.

 

Good god Tom! 

1 hour ago, TMB said:

 

Good god Tom! 

I know I know  I was younger and not so wise at the time evidently

Edited 13 January, 20197 yr by Tomjones1995

I just brought a Skoda fabia mk1 Ambient HTP. Picked it up on the second of the month and day later found out my coolant was disappearing way under the min level, searched for a leak and found nothing, took it back to the dealer and they took it into the garage and found problem with the head Gasket,  fixed over a couple of day. After driving it home the car seems to struggle when sitting idle at traffic lights or in traffic and when pulling away it sometime judders after a little acceleration . Yesterday i was driving around 14 miles and the cars "Control system for exhaust" warning light came on and the car went into a severe limp mode , pulled over and looked in the engine bay and no leaks. I restarted the car and the light went off and has been okay since but still with the idling issue. 

 

On 03/12/2016 at 11:07, Tomjones1995 said:

Hi Guys, I'm just wondering if anybody knows what this might be? I have this weird chatter like sound from underneath the bonnet on cold starts, it goes or is drowned out by thr engine once I set off. I dont think its the fan belt so Im quite worried. Any ideas?

Thanks

Just hope I don't have this issue too. Will try and take it back to the dealer as i have only had the car for 2 weeks and had too many problems. 

2 hours ago, Olliegee said:

I just brought a Skoda fabia mk1 Ambient HTP. Picked it up on the second of the month and day later found out my coolant was disappearing way under the min level, searched for a leak and found nothing, took it back to the dealer and they took it into the garage and found problem with the head Gasket,  fixed over a couple of day. After driving it home the car seems to struggle when sitting idle at traffic lights or in traffic and when pulling away it sometime judders after a little acceleration . Yesterday i was driving around 14 miles and the cars "Control system for exhaust" warning light came on and the car went into a severe limp mode , pulled over and looked in the engine bay and no leaks. I restarted the car and the light went off and has been okay since but still with the idling issue. 

 

Just hope I don't have this issue too. Will try and take it back to the dealer as i have only had the car for 2 weeks and had too many problems. 

All I can say to you is that this noise I posted about 2 years ago is still very much at large BUT having said that, the clutch seemed fine at the time (no slippage) and that remains the case. With my polo GT (fabia vrs cousin) I found out quite quickly you need deep pockets to keep it in tip top shape, unless of course your mechanically minded. Though my 1.2 polo S I had prior to the GT had no problems whatsoever in 2 1/2 years. So I guess its luck of the draw. Good luck in sorting yours out