This is a 1.2 TSI 110 with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

 

When I depress the clutch pedal fully, I can hear a dull 'ponk!'-like sound coming from somewhere in the engine compartment. At the same time it feels like there's a slight lump in the pedal. It happens:

• towards the end of the pedal travel, in the region where the clutch is dis-engaged;
• generally if the pedal is depressed fully from the top;
• often when the engine is warm or at operating temperature, but not when stone-cold; and
• whether the engine is running or not, but the sound is mostly drowned out by the engine when it is running.

It's not a loud clonk, it's more like giving full a tin can a tap with a spoon. I don't think it's the Stop/Start or rev-boost switches because it happens at a different point (and those are probably mounted on the pedal anyway).

 

There's no apparent clutch malfunction (like sticking or slipping). I don't hear any nasty clutch-related noises when the engine's running.

 

The dealership believe the sound is coming from the bell housing. However they were able to reproduce it on another, more recent Fabia with the same powertrain -- so for now have chalked it up as a characteristic and I'll monitor it further. Fair enough, but I'm not convinced that a sample of two cars is enough to conclude that it's just a harmless quirk.

 

So -- more data! Does this happen to anyone else driving the 6-speed manual 1.2 TSI?

Does part of the clutch operating mechanism go 'over centre' when pressed, possibly to make it lighter to operate?

On 12/08/2017 at 16:27, punyXpress said:

Does part of the clutch operating mechanism go 'over centre' when pressed, possibly to make it lighter to operate?

 

I don't understand -- up to the 'ping' it feels like a normal hydraulic clutch.

Same drivetrain but in a 2015 VW Polo, I do notice a noise, and I thought that someone on one of these forums was handing their Polo/Fabia/Ibiza in to let the dealer "have a look" - but I did not noticed any feedback, and I'm sure I would if there had been.

 

One question, just in case I missed that in your postings, can you make that car make that sound while it is stationary, or is it only audible when the car is moving and you use the clutch pedal?  I ask this as on my wife's Polo, it is only audible when on the move and under normal use of the throttle, ie "correct" and "too little" and "too much" throttle at clutch release time. So, I'm thinking that what I heard is either movement of the engine+gearbox or within the clutch/flywheel assembly, which might be concerning - model trait/quirk or not!

This is audible when the car is completely switched off. I think it still happens (intermittently) when the car is in motion by feel of the lump in the pedal, but engine and road noise drowns the sound out.

 

It doesn't happen if I depress the pedal very slowly.

 

Every VAG car I've ever driven (Polos, Ibiza, Citigo, Up!) has made some clutch slap noise when the pedal is released with the engine is running, but I've never come across this before.

 

Personally I'd be happier if I had a reasonable explanation of what it actually was.

Edited 14 August, 20178 yr by ettlz

Might be the spring on the pedal. You could try coating it with a bit of grease or Vaseline and see if that helps.

I've had squeaky clutch pedals in the past and this usually helps.

11 minutes ago, glosrich said:

Might be the spring on the pedal. You could try coating it with a bit of grease or Vaseline and see if that helps.

I've had squeaky clutch pedals in the past and this usually helps.

 

No, it's definitely coming from the engine bay.

On 14/08/2017 at 11:27, rum4mo said:

I ask this as on my wife's Polo, it is only audible when on the move and under normal use of the throttle, ie "correct" and "too little" and "too much" throttle at clutch release time. So, I'm thinking that what I heard is either movement of the engine+gearbox or within the clutch/flywheel assembly, which might be concerning - model trait/quirk or not!

 

If you can get the optimal throttle. The gas pedal response has a brain-dead design: whacking great dead zone at the top of its travel, and then it's so sensitive the slightest movement throws it off by 100-200 rpm. This includes normal body movement when operating the clutch, so making the whole thing challenging to command. The near-constant back pressure from the gas pedal makes it impossible to judge its position by touch alone. Then there's the stupid 200rpm rev boost as you lift the clutch pedal (no, this is not anti-stall. It's some pointless programmed ECU tomfoolery that happens before load at any RPM).

 

I can achieve better by listening closely, but that's no good with music on the stereo and takes too much time.

 

Add to that the vibrations make idle manoeuvring in this car really nasty (though I rarely do it anyway), and it's not a technique I'd ever use to move off. If I do manage to get the gas set around 1100rpm and manoeuvre the vibrations are still unrefined, even compared to my old 3-cylinder Citigo. Given the amount of backlash this one still has I think one or more of the engine mounts is going, too.

 

Or maybe I just have a much stricter definition of smooth than most people? (I had a DSG courtesy car recently. Really not impressed, its shift policies would be best described in one word as 'moronic', and I change gear more smoothly in a manual than it did.)

 

But yeah this is concerning. The Fabia's powertrain does not live up to the quality or refinement I expect and being told that there exists one other copy like it (I didn't examine the other car myself) really isn't good enough. From just this awful bit of the drive quality I can't recommend the Fabia or its siblings, and if this is never sorted out I'll be going non-VAG next time.

Edited 17 August, 20178 yr by ettlz

My wife's August 2015 Polo 1.2TSI 110PS does not make any noises when the engine is not running, well maybe a very quiet "chuck" as you would expect when the clutch is released again.

This was my first turbo charged car that I have driven, and except for the obvious but maybe initially unexpected lack of power at low revs in a throttle off, slow down, throttle back on, situation without dropping a gear, it drives very well.

One thing that I've noticed, though maybe this is due to me driving it more as the late 2009 Ibiza 1.4 85PS has been sold back to "returned to UK" daughter, is that I have stalled it a few times by not using enough throttle - though that, I suspect is only happening since it had its "year 2" service - though no comments have been recorded as regards any S/W revisions! (it is now loaded up with Quantum 5W-40 engine oil, when asked at the "year 1" service, I was told that it was filled back up with 5W-30 LL engine oil, though if that was true or an off hand guess, who knows)

On 19/08/2017 at 10:50, rum4mo said:

My wife's August 2015 Polo 1.2TSI 110PS does not make any noises when the engine is not running, well maybe a very quiet "chuck" as you would expect when the clutch is released again.

 

Thanks. It seems like we're still at a sample size of at most two cars. The fault phenomenon has at least been logged on the Skoda system so for now I shall have to keep wary of it. This is always trouble with marginal issues that require sensitivity to perceive. Maybe I should moan wider.

 

Comparing to other cars is not what I would consider a good diagnostic procedure. Skoda should have thorough documentation and technical support to be used as the first ports-of-call. Known quirks should be in the user manual since this saves me time and them money.

 

(And narked-off as I seem, there is still much I like about the car, and I'm always glad to be back in it after experiencing a loan vehicle.)

Edited 20 August, 20178 yr by ettlz