new car reverse rattle

new car reverse rattle

Author
Discussion

Josh93

Original Poster:

258 posts

110 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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I purchased my first car a week or 2 ago and I have a seemingly serious problem, when I engage reverse sometimes it revs and doesn't move and just makes a rattling noise that sounds like peices are being flung around inside the engine so obviously I'm very worried. I only have 1 month engine and gearbox warranty with it too.

Any help massively appreciated.

Josh93

Original Poster:

258 posts

110 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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The car is a Ford Focus mk1

paintman

7,669 posts

189 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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Take it back. Before the warranty runs out.

Josh93

Original Poster:

258 posts

110 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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The car feels and drives well mostly apart from 2 issues: slight squeak when you ride the clutch and this problem with the reverse gear, is there not a possibility that it could be a minor problem?

Josh93

Original Poster:

258 posts

110 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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Okay so after trying to find out more about the problem myself it appears it's not actually the car it's more the driver (stupid me) what's happening is I'm not going completely over into reverse so I'm not quite in neutral but I'm not in reverse either. This does make a horrible noise (clutch plates rubbing together) but I assume this isn't actually a cause for concern that it originally looked like, is that right?

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
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Josh93 said:
I'm not going completely over into reverse so I'm not quite in neutral but I'm not in reverse either. This does make a horrible noise (clutch plates rubbing together) but I assume this isn't actually a cause for concern that it originally looked like, is that right?
We don't know, we can't hear it or test it.

It sounds like you're pressing the clutch, partially engaging reverse, and then when you lift the clutch all you get is the nasty grinding noise of unmeshed gears until you press the clutch back in again?

If that's what it is, you don't have a serious issue although reverse may be slightly difficult to engage due to the gear linkage being a bit worn and sloppy.

When selecting reverse it is extra important to ensure that the clutch pedal is on the boards and you give the lever a good shove.

If the car doesn't do it when the gear is properly selected then, yeah, your problem is the 'nut behind the wheel' and possibly some worn parts in the linkage.

FYI you won't hear 'clutch plates rubbing together' as your car only has one clutch plate.

paintman

7,669 posts

189 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
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If it doesn't go fully into reverse first go then put the gear lever back into neutral, lift foot off clutch pedal then depress clutch & try to engage reverse again.
If you are unsure as to what you are doing then get someone more experienced to try.
If the problem persists then you should raise it with the seller as there may be clutch issues. Do that before the warranty runs out.

Josh93

Original Poster:

258 posts

110 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
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HustleRussell said:
It sounds like you're pressing the clutch, partially engaging reverse, and then when you lift the clutch all you get is the nasty grinding noise of unmeshed gears until you press the clutch back in again?
Yes that's exactly right, it's a horrible sound. I do actually have a video of it but by the sounds of it you know what noise it is already. Is this something worth taking it into a garage to look at or is it just a case of working around it and knowing how to make it go into gear properly?

As I said its under warranty at the moment and I could even return the car if I felt the need but that's obviously an extreme solution and I do like the car.

If I do these steps (make sure clutch is absolutely 100% down, go from neutral to reverse etc) and it still does it, where do I go from there, is this more related to a worn clutch or a worn gearbox if it was to deteriorate?

Also the squeaking clutch is possibly a relevant factor.

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
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It's not a new car and all of the associated parts (clutch, clutch hydraulics, gear linkage) are probably all original. It's probably just not as tight as it was when it was new.

As such it's the sort of thing that'd come under "reasonable wear and tear" which you must expect when buying an older car.

Moreover, if it doesn't do it every time then there must be an element of driver error in there. This is the kind of thing that comes from just rushing, not getting the clutch all the way down and / or not quite pushing the gear stick home in reverse gear.

Check your floor mat isn't interfering with your clutch pedal and other than that just give yourself a chance to get used to the car and it'll probably cease to be a problem.

The squeak- often just a slightly dry rubber bushing or seal and sometimes the springs can be a bit graunchy. Probably not a cause for concern and again probably not the kind of thing you would expect a warranty on such an old car to cover.

By all means have somebody else look at the car / drive it to put your mind at ease and if you're getting this grinding noise every time then it could indicate a clutch issue.

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
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On second thoughts of the clutch squeaks all the time when you're touching the pedal then this'd suggest your clutch release bearing has had it, which'd also make selecting gears especially reverse and first a bit tricky. That's not a particularly cheap fix and if that is the problem it's be worth pursuing the warranty angle. Again, whether the warranty would cover this 'wear and tear' item is another matter- the devil is in the small print.

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Tuesday 28th April 2015
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I had a Mk.1 Focus that was awkward to engage reverse as well - never did any harm, you just had to give it plenty of time to mesh to reverse.

Don't worry about it.

justanother5tar

1,314 posts

124 months

Tuesday 5th May 2015
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My old Fiesta would crunch into reverse every single time.

My old Fiesta ST would crunch into reverse every single time.

My dads current Focus ST170 crunches into reverse every single time.

Fords are generally terrible at going into reverse. As one of the posters above said, depress clutch then release, and then depress and put in reverse. Worked for me in all 3 of the above, no crunch and straight into reverse.

Sheepshanks

32,538 posts

118 months

Tuesday 5th May 2015
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justanother5tar said:
My old Fiesta would crunch into reverse every single time.

My old Fiesta ST would crunch into reverse every single time.

My dads current Focus ST170 crunches into reverse every single time.

Fords are generally terrible at going into reverse. As one of the posters above said, depress clutch then release, and then depress and put in reverse. Worked for me in all 3 of the above, no crunch and straight into reverse.
It's only because there's no synchromesh on reverse. Either wait for a couple of seconds after pressing the clutch for the gearbox to stop spinning, or select 1st, and then reverse, without releasing the clutch.

justanother5tar

1,314 posts

124 months

Tuesday 5th May 2015
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Sheepshanks said:
It's only because there's no synchromesh on reverse. Either wait for a couple of seconds after pressing the clutch for the gearbox to stop spinning, or select 1st, and then reverse, without releasing the clutch.
Yeah, got told that, but it'd still be a harsh shift into reverse even when leaving it a couple of seconds. clutching twice seemed to reduce it.

Not bothered anymore cause i rarely drive my dads, and I've moved onto a BMW with broken detent pins. hehe