Focus TDCi metallic rattle ...

[NST]

maybe nothing but then again could be DMF/starter motor

starting from cold i get a metallic rattle which lasts about 5 secs, this morning the rattle was louder then normal and its its first time i heard it for since last week.

I have had the aux belt and tensioner replaced, could it be the tensioner not working properly or do i have a mnore serious issue with the starter motor/DMF?

please help!

NST

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andy_quantum said:

Is it a ping or a sustained rattle?

I've had both, the ping was the gearbox mount, the rattle was the DMF

sustained rattle..

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Damian S said:

does it go after blipping the throttle momentarily?

yes!

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Damian S said:

Hmm...my car does this ocassionally. I dont know what it is, but it hasnt got any worse over the last 8 months or so.
If it happened more often I would start to worry. how frequent is yours doing it?

well that makes me feel alittle better! the rattle occurs probably once a week, but sometimes i get it couple of days in a row and only in the morning when the car is cold.

have you had the aux belt and tensioner replaced?

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andy_quantum said:

You'll start getting whirring/grinding noises off the starter if it's the DMF, so if you havent got those I wouldnt worry just yet

I'm sure Ford said to me idle pulley for what I described to them. Whether it's a figment of their imagination is something altogether different though

thanks, if my car makes it out for another couple of months that would be perfect.

NST

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Damian S said:

yes, it only happens when its a cold morning and the car has been sat overnight. Ive also had it a few days in a row, but not at all since before xmas.

Ive had tensioners (idlers etc) go on cars before. The symptoms are not far off but definately not the same, although that metallic noise does sound a bit like a dry bearing or something (metal hitting metal). A momentary blip of the throttle has never cured it on other cars. Its always taken several minutes of running for the noise to slowly dissappear.

rattle today or yesterday.
your description is spot on, a metallic noise that sounds like a dry bearing.
if doesn't get any worse then i can kepe the car for another month or so!

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J.J.McClure said:

Hi
Best way to test the DMF is when its rattling,put it in 1st with hand brake on,and lift clutch slightly to allow it to drag,if rattle stops quite probably DMS.
Ford changed the DMS in 04,but only changed it in production and those that failed under warranty.
When it gets really bad it can effect starting.
Mine rattles like crazy,but as I do long journeys I've not yet changed it.

cheers, I'll give that a go when it makes the rattle next. my focus is a late 2004 model year (54 plate). i would assume it has the revised DMF.

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i haven't had the metallic rattle for 4 weeks.. completely disappeared! but i have another problem a flat spot at 1900-2100rpm in 5th gear, doesn't always occur though and sometimes the engines drops power (like the turbo isn't isn't blowing hard enough) between 3000-3500rpm in second gear, then suddenly regains full power.

NST

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andy_quantum said:

There's an ECU update for that I believe, mine used to do it at 50 in 5th until I took it in to the dealers for a few other things

thanks, the car has been in and out of dealers with ECU updates!

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Damian S said:

do you give the car a bit of a thrashing after its had the ecu updated? if not you should, from almost a standing start through the entire rev range for as many gears as possible, with the foot to the deck. The ecu is one of these adaptive jobbies and it takes time for it to figure everything out again.
I find it takes my car around 150 miles or so to fully recover from a reset (after disconnecting the battery) or flash update. Until then, it feels pretty flat and unresponsive, although it does steadily improve from the outset. Driving it harder than normal and taking it through the gears definately helps the process quite a lot though.

i pretty much drive the car hard can't remember if i gave the car a good seeing to on its last ECU update.

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Rattle is back..
also the timing cover is leaking small amounts of oil don't know why i didn't noticed it earlier! probably been like that for months.

i also have a creaking sound coming from the front driver side suspension when turning left. sound like a dry damper or steering arm bush. anyone know how i could fix it?

cheers
NST

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Zad said:

If it is anything like the Mondeo suspension arms (I dunno if it is) then they replace the entire arm because it costs peanuts. Easily done by your local garage.

thanks, i will get it checked out!

first i'm going to try and spray some silicon lube to the various bushes/mounts on the front suspension and damper to see if it stops the creaking.

Edited by NST on Thursday 24th April 09:34