hello all my 2008 deisel fabia has started making an awful rattly scrapy noise when in gear. it changes gear fine and drives ok. i have been told it needs a new gearbox but surely it wouldnt change gears so well if it did. any ideas anybody. cheers, jp

May have a DMF thats failing. or a failed rattling release bearing. Does it judder at all when taking off and does the noise disappear when the clutch is pressed?

Alasdair

it doesnt judder but the noise goes when you press the clutch. excuse my dumbness but what is a DMF?

DMF is a dual mass flywheel.When they fail they can rattle and also cause vibration. If the noise goes when clutch is pressed then it could be a bad release bearing but also the gearbox. If you can hear it while driving then press clutch and freewheel. If its still there then I assume Gbox. if it disapears then I reckon its a clutch DMF issue

Alasdair 

ok thanks for that i will take it for a drive

If its the DMF failing you can get a rattle as well as vibration. I have had one that rattled on start up but gradually settled down when driving. You can also get a judder when at clutch biting point. What mileage has the clutch done? I have read its possible to remove starter and use an inspection camera to look inside the bell housing.

Alasdair

cars done 160 k

thanks for all the answers. i think its gearbox. not sure its worth doing on a car with this many miles on it

If its a DMF then when it goes completely can cause a fair bit of damage. If its a Solid flywheel your engine may have a balance shaft that is chain driven which also drives oil pump. It could be the chain thats stretched or worn causing the rattle. If I remember some of the 1.4tdi were prone to that. At160k then unless the car is in really good condition replacing gearbox would perhaps be too expensive even if you got a low mileage second hand one as you would be advised to do the clutch slave etc at the same time and if its a DMF that as well. Not sure how big a job the balance shaft chain/sprocket is. Found this on here 

 

Alasdair