Clutch scraping/whining noise when cold

[silencer51]

Hello everyone,

apparently my Meggie gave me a new year's present in the form of an annoying whine/scraping noise (sounds like a slipping belt).

The noise can be heard when I press the clutch pedal on cold morning starts. It dissappears after a minute or so.

It happens under the following conditions:

-car has been left overnight (completely cooled down)
-after a cold start, pressing the clutch results in the whining/scraping noise, when I release the pedal the noise stops immediatelly
-in order for the noise to be heard clearly, I have to rev the car while pressing the clutch all the way down, apparently its related to engine revolutions

I'm tempted to say it's probably the clutch throw-out bearing. What do you think? Should I order a new clutch and bearing?

[IainMW]

Yep it does sound as though your clutch release bearing has become noisy.

[Deano16v]

agreed on i being the bearing, if you're gonna sort it then you might as well do the clutch at the same time.

How many miles has it lasted just out of interest?

[silencer51]

I recorded the screeching sound today:

http://www.geocities.com/themistocles51/screech2.mp3

You can hear it as I rev the engine after having just started the car (engine and transmission completely cold)

After a few presses of the clutch pedal (6-8) the noise dissappears and only reappears the next morning when the car has been left to cool down...

Of course if I'm going to replace the bearing I'll do the whole clutch...

What do you think? Does failure seem imminent or will the bearing last me a couple of months or so?

P.S. I only have around 65,000 kilometers on the car but it has seen a few track-days and some rough driving...

The clutch itsself feels and works perfectly though, apart from the bearing sound...

[silencer51]

Anyone?

[elgammal]

in order to get things back to normal, unfortunately, you have to change the whole clutch package...

[silencer51]

in order to get things back to normal, unfortunately, you have to change the whole clutch package...

I know that, but will the clutch bearing be able to last for a month or so until I can buy a new clutch kit?

As I said the noise can be heard only when cold for a couple of minutes... After that its ok...

[onlydiesels]

mine is exactly the same,has been for about 6 weeks now,clutch works perfectly etc.
as for how long it will last (mine or yours) is a guessing game really,sorry.
was planning on getting it in work to do it but now that it`s been scratched down both sides,i`m disillusioned with having a nice car now,so was thinking of getting rid + let someone else sort the clutch.

[elgammal]

don't think it will last for a month, however, it depends on your driving. i mean if are going smoothly on the clutch, it will last for a month or more. but u have to change it anyways.

[silencer51]

@onlydiesels: most mechanics tell me that when the clutch starts making the noise when warm, thats when I should be really worried...

So for now I'll wait and see... I'll probably put a new clutch kit in next month either way.

Thankfully here in Greece a clutch job is much cheaper than in the UK from what I can see (I remember reading something like 600 quid for a new clutch kit! )

[James_H]

Mines been making the same noise for the past 9 months and 12k miles.

Don't worry about waiting to get the kit to replace it.