Hi all,

 

My wife has a 2007 Fabia 1.9TDi PD (100hp) with approx. 78k miles on it. On Sunday she was driving down an A road when it started making what she described as a loud "flapping" noise. She stopped at a fuel station (about 20 miles from home) and called me - I told her not to move it and to call the AA just in case of the worst and that the cam belt was about to self destruct. The AA turned up and the noise had gone so she continued to her destination (AA man said it was potentially a stone in the tyre!). The noise returned half way on the way back (yesterday) but she continued home. So it seems it something which happens when it gets warm. Having got her to give me further details yesterday evening, it appears that noise increases rhythm with road speed and not engine speed, and the noise stops when stationary and when the clutch is depressed.

I took it out last night for a 40 mile drive and couldn't hear it at all (it was raining heavily which could have masked it, but my wife said she could hear it clearly over the radio). I'm guessing it is something clutch or gearbox related - any common faults that these cars have which would have these symptoms? It's booked into the garage on Friday to be looked at, but I'd prefer to resolve myself if possible and/or be prepared for what it may be.

 

Thanks all

If it's an intermittent flapping sound and road speed related, check that the arch liners, and any undertrays and/or mudflaps fitted, are secure.

I'd say check the undertray as it's quite common to see them flapping around when a screw is lost or has rusted apart.

They make one heck of a noise when you're passed by the car on a motorway, so in the car it would be quite obvious.

Thanks for the input guys and the undertray was one thing that came to mind, but wouldn't the fact that the noise close with the clutch pushed in eliminate that option?

2 hours ago, tim200sx said:

Thanks for the input guys and the undertray was one thing that came to mind, but wouldn't the fact that the noise close with the clutch pushed in eliminate that option?

Indeed. 

Best to rule out cheap/free/easy options first though.  

Can't imagine what in the gearbox would cause a flapping noise though, it's generally crunching/grinding/whining. 

Was there any vibration coupled with the flapping noise? 

 

JRJG  

She didn't mention any vibration - I'll double check with her, but pretty sure she would have mentioned it if there were some.

I'll grab a torch and have a look underneath tonight and see if I can find anything.

I had something similar a few years back - turned out I'd lost a clip for the heat shield around the exhaust.