04 Fabia vRS

Before Christmas I got stuck in the car park from hell. 1 1/2 hours trying to get out. My leg was sore from using the clutch and ever since when changing down gears there has been a noticeable crunching noise.

The car went in for its service and MOT and mechanic couldn't hear the noise. It has since changed into a banging noise and is especially bad when changing down gears, going over speed bumps and boy did it clunk when I had to do an emergency stop.

It's now started to "pull" at the steering when engine breaking or going downhill with no throttle.

I am clueless with cars I just like to drive them so any ideas would be appreciated. If I can go back to the garage with an idea of what's wrong I might be able to get it sorted this time.

TIA

Sharon

I would be very surprised that one 90 minute stint in a car park queue would permanently damage a clutch, unless of course, your driving style includes ridng the clutch and this has just been the straw that broke the camel's back.

Clunking/grunching/banging sounds more like gearbox/suspension faults. The steering symptom also points to suspension.

It could be due to wear and tear from a previous owner's use of the car. It could point to some kind of previous accident damage. How do you normally drive the car? Gently? Sportily? Driving style can have a big effect on suspension, gears etc.

This could be expensive - this sort of thing shouldn't be happening on a four year old car. We had a car for ten years and covered 172,000 miles with the original clutch, gearbox, front suspension. It had some new bushes at about 120,000-140,00 miles and that's about it. Brakes lasted at least 40,000 miles between pad changes. It had just one set of replacement discs.

The car passed its MOT, so it's not dangerous yet, but it does need to get sorted.

Jo

As I am the only owner of the car from new I guess if it is driving style related I only have myself to blame.

My driving style is not smooth tbh. I have always changed up gears quick and it's not unusual for me to use engine braking slowing down.

I don't suppose I ride the clutch any more than most, moving up to round-a-bouts, sitting in traffic that kind of thing but I wouldn't say I was especially bad at it. That day in the car park was the worst.

Glad you've had better luck with your car. I swore I would never go back to my Skoda dealer after my 1st MOT where they said I needed new pads & discs all round on a car that had done, wait for it, 21,000 miles in 3 years!!! Otherwise they were going to fail it's MOT. They said I didn't use the brakes enough:eek:

I have to add that I can stop it doing it if I slow down to a much slower speed than I normally would before changing gear. I really think it is something to do with the engine not dissipating the energy when I slow down. Maybe Skoda were right, maybe I need to use the brakes some more!!!

Sharon

Hi Sharon

It's never too late to improve - I never got the chance to get into such habits as I took my advanced driving test just 12 months after shedding my L plates, then I married a real driving enthusiast who is also a qualified instructor!

Seriously though, some folk do think a sporty driving style is fun/fast but when my hubby and me are out and about, we're forever leaving boy racers behind through simply driving smoothly. Keeping the car balanced makes life a lot more comfortable and it will greatly extend the life of brakes, tyres and supsension as well as the engine/gearbox.

Why not look around for an advanced driving group run by the IAM or RoSPA and take a bit more interest in getting the best from your Vrs. I think you'll be amazed at what you'll get from it with a bit of guidance from another advanced driver. Passing the test will just be the icing on the cake.

Go for it girl!

Jo

SNIP

As I am the only owner of the car from new I guess if it is driving style related I only have myself to blame.

My driving style is not smooth tbh. I have always changed up gears quick and it's not unusual for me to use engine braking slowing down.

I have to add that I can stop it doing it if I slow down to a much slower speed than I normally would before changing gear. I really think it is something to do with the engine not dissipating the energy when I slow down. Maybe Skoda were right, maybe I need to use the brakes some more!!!

Sharon

END SNIP

Sharon, do not really know as not in your car,

But you really do have to be at the right engine revs to drop it down or pop it up a gear, otherwise you will knacker it all

Doing 50mph in 4th then banging it in 3rd to slow down will take out the clutch or engine Rather quickly Not using the brakes enough would suggest this is what you are doing

This is a wind up YES !

National aka Jimbo

Have you checked the bushes on the front? Before mine were replaced I got clunks going up, and down the gears as the power cuased the suspension to bang back and forth..

also, car would head left under acceleration and right under engine breaking..

After heavy breaking.. pulling off again would be accompanied with a loud thunk as everything settled into it's correct places again.

just a though.

04 Fabia vRS

Before Christmas I got stuck in the car park from hell. 1 1/2 hours trying to get out. My leg was sore from using the clutch and ever since when changing down gears there has been a noticeable crunching noise.

The car went in for its service and MOT and mechanic couldn't hear the noise. It has since changed into a banging noise and is especially bad when changing down gears, going over speed bumps and boy did it clunk when I had to do an emergency stop.

It's now started to "pull" at the steering when engine breaking or going downhill with no throttle.

I am clueless with cars I just like to drive them so any ideas would be appreciated. If I can go back to the garage with an idea of what's wrong I might be able to get it sorted this time.

TIA

Sharon

Reads like either the dogbone mount (or other engine/gearbox mount) - as you stated you aren't necessarily "smooth" with it. Especially as you mentioned it "doing it" on an emergency stop. Dogbone mount is the engine mount that stops the engine from swaying back and forth when coming on/off the power. They wear out....

Other options would be driveshaft or suspension related. TBH they should pick that up in 5 minutes if you've complained of a noise though.....

J.

Have you checked the bushes on the front? Before mine were replaced I got clunks going up, and down the gears as the power cuased the suspension to bang back and forth..

also, car would head left under acceleration and right under engine breaking..

After heavy breaking.. pulling off again would be accompanied with a loud thunk as everything settled into it's correct places again.

just a though.

Thanks for some constructive help. As it turned out after asking my question I had a read of the common problems thread and realised that it was probably the console bushes. I took it to the garage on the way home and they confirmed that this was a common problem and that the right front bush is knackered. He said it was so common that there was a 3 week waiting list from Skoda.

Anyway, I'm glad I'm not going daft and I'm also pretty sure that I don't drive that rough to break an engine or gear box.

Sharon