Strange Noise - Girl Needs Help Please

[lucydci]

Hi
In need of a little expert advice please.
I have recently purchased a Megane 1.5dci, manual, 2004, 55k miles 3 door dynamique and after driving it for a few weeks I have notice a strange noise that sounds like a wheel bearing. I have asked a friend to listen and this is what we can determine.

1. Noise sounds like a front wheel bearing and is only present whilst the car is moving.
2. Noise starts at about 1800 rpm and does not get any worse or less as the revs / car speeds up. (engine revs dependant not speed dependant)
3. Noise goes if you press the clutch or take the car out of gear whilst moving
4. Noise comes back if you rev the engine whilst moving even with clutch in, or out of gear as above (worse if you hold revs at just over 2000rpm)
5. Noise is worse from the drivers seat, can hardly detect it from the passenger seat
6. By reving the engine whilst parked the noise in not present.
I have tried to explain it as best I can, hope some one on here can shed some light on what it may be and if its normal or not.
Thanks
Lucy

[IainMW]

Welcome to the forum

Hopefully, Webcode will be along to answer this question (ex Renault Techy) or somebody who has plenty of experience with clutches/gearboxes as the noise is probably originating from one of them.

[nickbell69]

Nice subtitle for the post. Got my attention but i see IainMW was quicker. As Iain i can't help too but i'm sure there'll be more guys out there coming along to help.

[lucydci]

Anyone

[lucydci]

Time for an update. Took car back to the dealer who supplied it (TC Harrisons) and they said that nothing was wrong, after 2 hours of pushing I got the service manager to go out in the car with me and he picked up on the bearing rumble noise. The car had also started to make a clunking noise from the steering at low speeds and a springy / clicking noise fron the steering wheel. Anyway they booked the car in to my local Renault dealer (Sutton Park, Coventry). They had the car for a few days and concluded that the engine mounting was gone, this was replaced. The steering clock spring was also replaced. Went to get the car back and the steering clunk was still present, finaly delivered the car back 8 days later, they had replaced strut top mounts and steering wheel clock spring. A master tech had checked the car over and I was told that everything was fixed. I drove the car the following day and guess what, bearing noise still present as was the clicking noise from the steering. Also they had left some nice finger prints on the b pillar trim and oil stains on the front over mats, my average fuel consumption had gone down to 47mpg and they had used over 1/4 of a tank of diesel (I live 2 miles from the garage). So back to the dealer again, another tech drove it and said that the steering column needed replacing and that he could hear the bearing noise and that it was probably a pulley somewhere and would need investigating so its back in again next Monday. As I bought the car from a main dealer I assume that they will have to pay for the work, it also has a 3 month warranty so fingers crossed.
Are all Megane's like this, my old Puma did 85k miles and only had new brakes.....

[markren2004]

sounds like your warranty has come to the rescue, and it appears the dealer is doing all possible, which is a lot more that a lot of dealers would do, I'm sure they will sort it out..it does sound like the grinding noise is a belt pulley or water pump.
unfortunately the Megane does suffer from a lot of common issues due to poor build quality and use of cheap components. some of which your already familiar with (steerring column and suspension top mounts).

Renault cars in general have got a very poor reputation at the moment...you only need to look at all the car surveys (e.g. what car, JD Power) done in the last couple of years...Renault say theyve sorted out all the build quality issues now, but the new laguna still has issues !!

In saying all that it is "pot luck" whether you get a good car without any issues or a complete lemon..they are many good reliable megane's out there...but also a lot of lemons

If your planning on keeping the car for some time i would ask santa for a decent extended warranty for it...it will come in very useful.

[AlexB]

This is how dealers make money. They do unnecessary jobs and claim warranty money from Renault. My apology, of course, to those who are genuinely incompetent. Reject the car under the Sale of Goods and Services Act -- this is my advice.

No, not all Meganes are like this, but my dealer (Benfield) is equally useless.

[lucydci]

Update......car is fixed at last, bearing noise was the alternator and the steering column was replaced as well. Saw the invoice for these two jobs......a few pounds under a £1000. So altogether they have spent nearly £2000 fixing my car, new engine mounting, new wheel bearing, new top strut mounts, new steering column, new alternator. I also got a new set of discs and pads all round, four new tyres and a service before a picked it up. Hopefully the next big spend will be the cam belt at 5 years old, how much should i expect to pay to have one fitted?

[nickbell69]

Update......car is fixed at last, bearing noise was the alternator and the steering column was replaced as well. Saw the invoice for these two jobs......a few pounds under a £1000. So altogether they have spent nearly £2000 fixing my car, new engine mounting, new wheel bearing, new top strut mounts, new steering column, new alternator. I also got a new set of discs and pads all round, four new tyres and a service before a picked it up. Hopefully the next big spend will be the cam belt at 5 years old, how much should i expect to pay to have one fitted?

Get water pump done at same time as cam belt as belt has to come out to change pump. Seen various prices but dealers will be dearer approx £450-500 good independant will be approx £300 but other posts on here from people getting it cheaper. Think its luck depending on where you live.
Avoid a dealer and you should be ok.

[sav0]

I bought cambelt kit, aux belt and water pump off ebay for £50 stealership wanted nearly £200
I then got an independent garage to fit them for £120