Focus 1.6 mystery noise

[Blackpuddin]

Put this in the Ford thread but maybe this one is more appropriate. I've just bought an '03 Focus 1.6 manual as a runaround. Car feels generally great, it hasn't been driven much lately by the previous owner. i'm noticing a funny noise that I can only describe as a gentle howl, exactly like a noisy steering pump, which I thought it was at first, as i only noticed it when driving slowly in first. But it's not the steering pump. The noise only happens when you're pressing or releasing the clutch, ie while engaging or disengaging a gear or when you're creeping along slowly in first when the clutch is neither fully in or fully out. Once the gear is fully in and you're not touching the clutch, there's no noise. Nor is there any noise when you depress the clutch in neutral. The clutch action itself feels fine.

Any thoughts? All input very gratefully received.

That apart, what a great little car

[Krikkit]

Clutch release bearing by the sounds (that's the most likely anyway). How many miles has it done?

[Blackpuddin]

Only 50k. Funnily enough I just sold my BMW 320d that had a dicky CRB and this Focus is (partly) its replacement, it would be ironic if it turned out to have exactly the same problem. The noise is totally different with the Ford if that's what it is though. It's like a power steering pump whine rather than the gargling with rusty bolts noise that the BM made.

Edited by Blackpuddin on Monday 5th August 00:59