Hi, I wonder if anyone can help - I've just bought a new Z about 2 weeks ago (1995 TT manual Jap import, with about 50000 miles on the clock) and everything has been ok until this morning when I engaged the clutch to reverse out from my drive after about five seconds a VERY loud screeching noise came from the engine/gearbox area. I put her into neutral and when I disengaged the clutch the noise stopped. I Gingerly drove down the road in 1st gear and when I went to change up to 2nd the noise appeared again and as soon as I took my foot off the clutch the noise stopped again.

 

Aside from all this noise, clutch was not slipping and it seemed to drive fine.

 

Needless to say that I turned back and drove my Metro to work instead! :(

 

The car is totally stock (as far as I know) and there didn't seem to be any warning that this was going to happen last night, although it was the first time I have really driven it hard since I bought it. :)

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

 

Also, does anyone know of any decent specialists around the Basingstoke/South East area??

 

Thanks, Nick.

Hi Nick - well done on the purchase :)

 

The screeching sounds very much like a loose belt eg the alternator belt.

 

Have a search - I'm sure there's a write up on how to tighten it :) Its probably just a case of getting a spanner down to a tensioner somewhere.

 

Another one of my cars used to do that, very embarassing isn't it!! That turned out to be the fan belt - wasn't q tight enough.

 

Pete

Super loud metal plate clutch?

If it was a belt would'nt it of been even noisier in neutral instead of stopping?

Clutch release bearing - has the car been stood for a while? Mine did the same after being stood for a year but soon went away after using the thing....

 

Kind of like erm.... a very difficult to describe sound.... LOL

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

Hi Guys, thanks for your replies. I don't think it is any of the belts as I can feel a vibration coming through the cluth pedal when the noise happens.

 

Andy, thanks for the reply - the car has not been stood as far as I know (definitely not in the last two weeks anyway).

The noise seems intermittent - not on every gear change. I can definitely feel some 'feedback' through the clutch pedal when the noise occurs.

Would you know how to fix this? Is it an engine out job?

 

I plan to take it to Millway Sport in Andover next week, see what they can reccomend but any help prior to that will be appreciated, especially if it saves me money!

 

Thanks, Nick.

I agree with Andy, but it sounds like the bearing is worn and on it's last legs/ balls/ rollers-- well u know what I mean

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pete

Certainly NOT an engine out job - just gearbox off. Most places should be able to turn the job round in about 3-4hours depending on experience with the car. If I was you I'd just leave it as it is and see if it goes away - no damage can be done so.... If you get the release bearing changed, do the clutch while you're at it - false economy not to.

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

You're right Andy, the noise has gradually started to go away! I drove it into work this morning and it didn't do it once, so I think I was getting worried about nothing (can't really blame me though, can you?!!)

 

Pretty sure it was to do with me driving hard the night before because it hadn't done it before then and it has stopped now.

 

Ah well, I can breathe easy again now...for now anyway!

 

Thanks for all your help guys.