new car reverse rattle

[Josh93]

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]

The car is a Ford Focus mk1

[Josh93]

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]

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?

[Josh93]

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.