Thought it was a loose belt

[callahan]

Evening
Took the mx5 out for a quick spin this evening and what I thought was a loose belt (replaced a couple of months ago and re-tightened since) now seems to only happen when disengaging the clutch and going back into gear, if you know what I mean. As in, it happens when I take my foot off the clutch.
Anything to look for, is it likely to need a new clutch or a skim or what? It was bloody cold with the roof down

[callahan]

Note to self: don't post on forums with my iPod. Nobber.

[hornetrider]

This isn't squeaky clutch slave syndrome is it?

[MX-5 Lazza]

hornetrider said:

This isn't squeaky clutch slave syndrome is it?

Isn't that more of a rattle?

[hornetrider]

Nah. I had to grease up the clutch slave in behind the OSF wheel cos it would squeak when depressing the clutch. I think its a pretty common problem - sounds like a mouse squeaking, so I'm probably barking up the wrong tree...

[MX-5 Lazza]

So is Callahan's squeak while releasing the clutch i.e. only when the pedal is moving or when the clutch is engaged i.e. only when the pedal is fully up?

[callahan]

MX-5 Lazza said:

So is Callahan's squeak while releasing the clutch i.e. only when the pedal is moving or when the clutch is engaged i.e. only when the pedal is fully up?

When releasing, it's pretty much the biting point and it sounds like a screeching fan belt, which confused me for a while.

[freddytin]

Sounds like a noisy clutch release bearing.

[Munter]

Mine used to do this. As you were letting the clutch up it'd squeek.

Main seal on the engine leaking oil on to the fly/clutch appeared to be the problem. Although we did change the bearings while in there so could have been one of them.

Did it for about 3 years before I got it fixed....

[callahan]

It's more of a shriek than a squeal though, it sounds just like the fan belt is about to disintegrate - enough to get heads turning in the high street!

[Firefox1]

I had something similar with mine, thought it was the thrust bearing. When we pulled the gearbox off to replace the clutch(Sachs from MX5 Parts) it turned out to be the spigot bearing, fortunately I'd brought one as while you replace the clutch you may as well spend another £6 and not have to take the gearbox out again.

[MX-5 Lazza]

My wife's Megane makes exactly that noise when engaging the clutch - sounds just like a squealing belt. It's a bearing (not sure which one). It doesn't seem to cause a problem other than the noise and as she'd going to get rid of the next spring it's going to stay that way.

[Firefox1]

Not sure about the Megane but if you leave it too long on an inline engine eventually it will wear the gearbox main shaft, then it will get expensive.

[callahan]

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like I need the gearbox taken apart and bearings checked fairly soon. My C36 is going in for some work on Monday that may be expensive, but I'll get the mini beast checked out once I get paid. I need to make sure it's in fine fettle for Brands Hatch on December 3rd.....

Any recommendation for specialists in the north Essex / Cambs area, or should any decent garage be able to do it?

Cheers

[Firefox1]

It's a straight forward job which any competent garage should be able to do. I used an independent non specialist close to Silverstone and they did the work in 3.5hrs. I supplied the parts. The only reason that I let a garage do it is that I could not be bothered to spend 3-4 hrs laying on my back on the drive in the middle of January. I work around Huntingdon so I'll ask around on Monday.

[callahan]

Thanks, my office is in Huntingdon so that area would be handy too. Assuming the car would make it there....

[Firefox1]

I've been working at RAF Wyton but I also know a few local guys at Brampton so I'll have a word on Monday. When I had the problem with mine I was travelling from MK to Henlow every day and I did use the car for a couple of months before I had the clutch changed so I think it should be okay for a while. If you see an R Ltd Mk1 with a Silverstone Marshals Team badge the windscreen that will he me.

[callahan]

Strangely enough, when I took it for a blast or two on sunday there were no untoward noises at all.... the only different factor was the heavy rain last time it made the noise, which suggests water getting to the belts - would the extra demand on the alternator when engaging gear have caused it?

I'll try again next time it rains.

[ironictwist]

Apologies for the thread resurrection chaps...But, having read the above, it could be my situation but I figured it's worth asking anyway!

The current squealing I get is moving off in 1st, normally at junctions/roundabouts, sometimes in 2nd & what totally threw me was I even had one incident where It was squealing. Hit it into neutral, clutch up, then dabbed the loud pedal & the squealing increased with the level of pressure applied!

Aside from that one incident however it's remained an intermittent but regular occurence daily when creeping about at slow speeds.

What do we think?

[carreauchompeur]

Bump again- Mine has started doing this, mainly from cold, expensive to fix?