Car has started making a strange noise after about an hour of driving. There's a knock at low speeds with a rumble that comes and goes and seems worse over certain types of road surface.

 

It's been in two different garages over the past three days. First garage thinks it's a gearbox problem so he sent it to a clutch and gearbox specialist who said they think it's a suspension issue.

 

However, on the motorway the rumble comes and goes but always starts when the clutch pedal is depressed.

 

As the car is a taxi it has done high miles (190k) and I can't carry passengers with that noise.

 

If anyone has any ideas I'd be grateful.

My best guess would be worn rear engine mount.

2 hours ago, Ecomatt said:

My best guess would be worn rear engine mount.

Thanks. That was my first thought. Got the dogbone gearbox mount checked and it was okay. Had the suspension checked and nothing amiss. It just doesn’t sound like the gearbox but the noise when depressing the clutch at speed is worrying. 

my 2 cents:

I had the same problem like yours.
My car is a former taxi turned private with 210k Km on the clock.

When pressing the clutch, there was a rumble that came and gone but started always when i pressed the clutch. The clutch was acting ok.

2 days ago the clutch pedal suddenly stuck down.

The mechaic replaced both master and slave cylinders and bled the air from the system.

Today he bled the air again and i was off. 20 minutes later, i got stuck on the highway without any clutch response, no gears were engaged. 

The clutch smelled burned.

 

If your car has the original clutch i suggest you start with replacing it. If it's fairly new (less than 60k Km), then replace both master and slave cylinders (including bleeding out the air). 

 

 

 

On 20/04/2021 at 19:08, Matanfr said:

my 2 cents:

I had the same problem like yours.
My car is a former taxi turned private with 210k Km on the clock.

When pressing the clutch, there was a rumble that came and gone but started always when i pressed the clutch. The clutch was acting ok.

2 days ago the clutch pedal suddenly stuck down.

The mechaic replaced both master and slave cylinders and bled the air from the system.

Today he bled the air again and i was off. 20 minutes later, i got stuck on the highway without any clutch response, no gears were engaged. 

The clutch smelled burned.

 

If your car has the original clutch i suggest you start with replacing it. If it's fairly new (less than 60k Km), then replace both master and slave cylinders (including bleeding out the air). 

 

 

 

The noise has vanished and hasn't returned after three days. It has been replaced by a different noise, the steering is creaking when turning at low speeds. I don't even care anymore, I'm replacing the car next week.