182 knocking noise (but not the usual?)

[Noodle999]

I've never suffered from the infamous 182 top mount knock, but a couple of days ago my Trophy started making a knocking noise when maneuvering at slow speeds. I assumed this was the knock, and thought nothing of it, but it has been getting progressively worse since then.

The knock was then joined by a steering creak (when turning the wheel right but not left), and it then started happening at higher speeds (initially 5mph or less, then 15mph slowing down at junctions etc)

Today it was more noticable than normal when I went over to see the gf, culminating with it starting to knock at 30-40mph on the final part of my drive to work this evening... it became pretty much constant and audible over the stereo noise of the radio, at most it was silent for maybe 1.5 seconds between bouts of knocking.

It got so bad I was considering pulling over in case I had a wheel about to fall off or something, but I was only half a mile from work so I carried on and arrived ok. Does anyone have any idea what this might be? The fact it's so bad, the top mount knock has always been described as a "low speed" phenomenon and that it seems to be getting worse leads me to believe it's not the usual problem that people have, but something worse / more sinister!

I've rocked the car back and forth in the yard at work, and bounced it up and down, and the noise seems to be coming from the vacinity of the front right... My initial thought was "Oh s**t it's a driveshaft" but I can definately replicate the knocking and the steering creak whilst stationary.

 

[edde]

Check the wheel bolts are on tight and then check the arb bar bushes and check there attached to the wishbone.

 

[Noodle999]

Cheers edde, I've already checked the wheels are on tight and can't check the rest without a jack but will check it in the morning!

Any further suggestions on what to check while I've got it off the ground? It's under warranty and will be going into the garage anyway, I'd just like to diagnose it myself first if possible, you know what stealerships are like!!!

 

[edde]

Any further suggestions on what to check while I've got it off the ground? It's under warranty and will be going into the garage anyway, I'd just like to diagnose it myself first if possible, you know what stealerships are like!!!

Ball joint and stearing arms

 

[agil]

Hi, I have the same TOC at the front right end, I already checked all and seems ok, I have to check the engine mounts and dampers top mounts & ARB bushes, mine also is geeting worst every day

Regards

 

[Tom]

Check the mount under the battery.

 

[Danith]

mate i have had this irritating noise for ages!
tried the ARB bushes, wasnt top mount, wasnt CV, wasnt engine mounts, was just simple ball joint. gettin it done now at national tyres for £40.
well thats what mine was anyway.

 

[Noodle999]

Cheers for the tips guys. It was fine for half of my 12 mile drive home from work this morning... so seems to start when the part involved has warmed up?

When I got home I jacked it up, had the wheel off and inspected everything I could, checked the bushes on the ARB, wishbone and steering arm, had a good feel around the top mount, also checked the driveshaft CV boots, no sign of damage or leakage of grease... also no real play in any of the parts. I then checked the front left as well and also found nothing.

I'm booking it into the garage and we'll see what they find! I just hoped identify it myself first so as to give them some pointers. Fingers crossed! Cheers once again for all the advice guys

 

[Noodle999]

Just had another look with my old man and he spotted something... should the strut top mounts turn as you turn the steering? With the bonnet lifted you can watch them turn all the way lock-to-lock... should they not swivel on a ball joint at the bottom?

 

[agil]

Good point..

I have been checking under the car looking for something loose or wear, I saw the steering rack bushes wear, deformed and toasted (due proximity to headres I think), I will book an appoiment with the dealer

 

[Ulle]

What is "headres" ???

 

[G_F]

Just had another look with my old man and he spotted something... should the strut top mounts turn as you turn the steering? With the bonnet lifted you can watch them turn all the way lock-to-lock... should they not swivel on a ball joint at the bottom?

Yes, dont worry.

As for the knock, if you have checked everything and it looks ok, i would assume engine mounts and/or possibly balljoints, they can look ok, but still knock, had the same thing as this on the cup

 

[agil]

What is "headres" ???

Sorry.. Headers (Exaust manifold)

 

[Ulle]

Okay. Thanks. I will replace shocks arsorbers soon and I will also check the different bushes

 

[Noodle999]

Yes, dont worry.

As for the knock, if you have checked everything and it looks ok, i would assume engine mounts and/or possibly balljoints, they can look ok, but still knock, had the same thing as this on the cup

Cheers Gav. I bumped into DaveLiquid182 when I was out and about last night and he clarified that they do turn round as you turn the steering, and "then go on the p**s".

Would this be the cause of the knocking problem on the Clio RSes in the first place? Metal part that moves sitting inside a hole in another piece of metal, that it seems to get a lot closer to when steering...

 

[G_F]

Could be, wasnt on mine, have you put washers under the top caps yet? seemed to help sort a load of heads out..

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=184661

 

[Noodle999]

Could be, wasnt on mine, have you put washers under the top caps yet? seemed to help sort a load of heads out..

Nope because my car has never suffered from the infamous "182 knock"... which leads me to believe the currently problem isn't that but something else. However if it is possible for the knock to suddenly start occuring, I'll gladly give the washers a try?

I made a fresh discovery today when poking around checking various suggestions people have made etc. If I grab the engine and pull it back and forth, the rear-facing rubber pad inside the driver-side mount is hitting the outside of the mount and making noise when it does so as it seems the rubber is decomposing and has become tacky.. however it's not humanly possible to make the front-facing rubber pad touch the outside of the mount. Does this mean something has happened to the bush in there, or that the mount might need moving? I don't think this is the source of the knock, and certainly isn't the cause of the steering creak, but it just concerned me...

 

[Hawk]

Mine is in dealer today with similar problem, they just phoned to let me know they fixed it by cleaning and lubricating the strut top mount.

I was sure it was a cv / ball joint, what do you think?

I will be test driving it before I accept it back from them!

 

[domtheone]

Cheers for the tips guys. It was fine for half of my 12 mile drive home from work this morning... so seems to start when the part involved has warmed up?

Hmm.

That bit about when warming up rings a bell with me.

I posted a while back

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=220549

but i'm going to leave it a while as it comes and goes. Hardly ever hear it on the way to work and back (only 4 miles each way) but on the few long runs of late, I get some noises.

Have checked a few things but I still can;t be sure wherfe the sond comes from.:S

Only thing I can do is see if it comes back more often then get it booked in.

If I do it now, Renault will never find anything as something has to be glaringly wrong for them to spot anything, from my experiences.:dapprove:

 

[hkka]

Yes, exactly like mine. It is more serious when warm up (same when the weather is warmer, approx. 20c).

As I said to my garage friend, he guess if these can caused by the shocks.

Can people who have this problem try to full load your Clio with people and test drive? From my experience, it is get very serious when the car is full loaded.

 

[domtheone]

Yes, exactly like mine. It is more serious when warm up (same when the weather is warmer, approx. 20c).

As I said to my garage friend, he guess if these can caused by the shocks.

Can people who have this problem try to full load your Clio with people and test drive? From my experience, it is get very serious when the car is full loaded.

Well I first noticed knocking when I had a big Dutchman in the passenger seat lol.

Then, later that day it was doing it with an 8stone female in the car.

Then, a week later whilst coming back from Manchester, it was doing it with me alone (10 stone) in the car.

I dread to think what it could be like with a full car lol.

 

[172cupwizard]

Mmm have you checked the dogbone mount! they can fail and knock.

 

[hkka]

hahaha!!

BTW, would love to know if the LHD Clio do have the same problem. If yes, on which side?

 

[hkka]

Mmm have you checked the dogbone mount! they can fail and knock.

But the noise is from front right buttom??

 

[agil]

hahaha!!

BTW, would love to know if the LHD Clio do have the same problem. If yes, on which side?

My Rs is a LHD and the knocking came from the right side (wheel)

 

[Hawk]

Just to let you know that I got the car back tonight and all seemed well for 30 minutes, then the creaking and knocking started again just as bad as before.

Thats my 3rd trip to Renault with this problem, I really dont know what to do, the car is only 19 months old and I expect it fixing under warranty, but am getting desperate now and might pay for somewhere else to look at it. The Renault boys dont seem to have a clue.

 

[domtheone]

Just to let you know that I got the car back tonight and all seemed well for 30 minutes, then the creaking and knocking started again just as bad as before.

Thats my 3rd trip to Renault with this problem, I really dont know what to do, the car is only 19 months old and I expect it fixing under warranty, but am getting desperate now and might pay for somewhere else to look at it. The Renault boys dont seem to have a clue.

That's why I'm going to have to leave mine till it does it 100% of the time. Renault are just incapable of sorting anything remotely strange/wired/not obvious.

Something has to be practically falling off in order for them to find and sort (or attempt to sort) anything.

 

[hkka]

hahaha!!

BTW, would love to know if the LHD Clio do have the same problem. If yes, on which side?

My Rs is a LHD and the knocking came from the right side (wheel)

It seems this car have same problem no matter which side we drive. BTW, does anyone what is the balance of weight between left and right? Weird question huh? But would be great to know other than front and rear.

 

[hkka]

Just to let you know that I got the car back tonight and all seemed well for 30 minutes, then the creaking and knocking started again just as bad as before.

Thats my 3rd trip to Renault with this problem, I really dont know what to do, the car is only 19 months old and I expect it fixing under warranty, but am getting desperate now and might pay for somewhere else to look at it. The Renault boys dont seem to have a clue.

Did u asked them what I they did to your Clio?
Plus if I am u, I will keep complain cos it is under warranty.

 

[Hawk]

Following my 3rd trip to Reno with no success, I called in at the local fast fit place where they also do suspension, brakes and stuff, and 10 minutes later they showed me a lot of loose play in a ball joint and also the dogbone mount, I then mentioned the blowing exhaust which Reno could not find and they showed me a leak between the manifold and cat.

So long as the price is reasonable I will now let them repair my 19 month old Clio, and then send strong letters and copies of the bill to Reno HQ and the 2 local dealers who were incapable of finding never mind fixing the faults.

As I mentioned earlier, I even told the Reno dealers it was the ball joint or cv joint, and i also queried the engine mounts cos of all the vibration i was getting through the pedals. I will wait for the repairs to be completed and then if the car is right, I will write the mother of all complaint letters to Reno.

 

[agil]

I tought that only Mexico Renault dealers are not capable of solve a problem in a car, here go to a renault dealer is a nightmare and an assault

Regards

 

[breo1984]

my 182 ff with cup pack is exactly the same. its going to the dealer on 3rd may with the same issue! there seems to be more and more threads on this same issue. and more and more people are not getting this resolved.

 

[Hawk]

I will let you know the outcome of changing the ball joint and dogbone. hope to get it done this weekend if Reno can supply the parts to the fast fit place!

 

[Noodle999]

Update!

Gave the car to Tony (Service Manager at Jaybee) last night and he took the fault description "loud knocking sound from front right in straight line and loud creaking noise when steering, at speeds up to approx 30mph" and told him I thought it was the bottom ball joint... his mechanics got hold of the jobsheet and dug out the Renault "Technical Note" for the top strut knock which reads something like "muffled knocking sound from axle on extremes of steering lock when maneuvering at slow speed" and pre-emptively ordered.... drumroll.... TWO WASHERS! YAY! :lolup:

Just picked it up from his house and he said to me "It's not fixed but the part's on order... go on, have a guess what it was...", I said "Bottom ball joint?"... "Spot on."

Bless the Renault monkeys and their cotton socks :S I'm taking it in on Tuesday morning and having a while-u-wait (maybe 2 hours apparently) job on it because the next time I'll be around two evenings on the trot is next Thursday, due to work :dapprove:

So nearly sorted, thanks for all the advice folks!

Those of you that are local to me who have been having problems with dealers might want to take it to Jaybee Motors in Bodicote (outskirts of Banbury) because they've always been very good for me... the chap who worked on my car is apparently the son of a Trophy owner, and found the fault almost immediately!

Edit: also had the polarity of my ultransonics swapped while it was in the garage to solve the alarm problem, and they also did an "alarm siren modification" which is dictated by a Renault Technical Note... anyone know what that is?

 

[G_F]

Glad its sorted mate, same thing with mine then, ive got a creaking now, it never stops!!

 

[Hawk]

Well done Noodle, they've had my car for 3 full days and not got that far even tho i told them each time that it was either the ball or cv joint.

I have no more time for them to sort it under warranty for me, its gonna cost me money to fix it, and its gonna cost them their reputation to me and everyone i ever meet and discuss cars with. (a few people every day!)

 

[Noodle999]

Well done Noodle, they've had my car for 3 full days and not got that far even tho i told them each time that it was either the ball or cv joint.

I have no more time for them to sort it under warranty for me, its gonna cost me money to fix it, and its gonna cost them their reputation to me and everyone i ever meet and discuss cars with. (a few people every day!)

What garage is it and whereabouts? If you need some advice on how to get the repair costs back out of Renault I can ask some questions for you...

Hope you get it sorted soon mate!

 

[Hawk]

I will be writing to Renault UK and hoping for a good will gesture, i dont really expect them to pay, but unfortunately the only way to get my car roadworthy is to pay an independent garage.

 

[agil]

Re: Update!

Gave the car to Tony (Service Manager at Jaybee) last night and he took the fault description "loud knocking sound from front right in straight line and loud creaking noise when steering, at speeds up to approx 30mph" and told him I thought it was the bottom ball joint... his mechanics got hold of the jobsheet and dug out the Renault "Technical Note" for the top strut knock which reads something like "muffled knocking sound from axle on extremes of steering lock when maneuvering at slow speed" and pre-emptively ordered.... drumroll.... TWO WASHERS! YAY! :lolup:

Just picked it up from his house and he said to me "It's not fixed but the part's on order... go on, have a guess what it was...", I said "Bottom ball joint?"... "Spot on."

Bless the Renault monkeys and their cotton socks :S I'm taking it in on Tuesday morning and having a while-u-wait (maybe 2 hours apparently) job on it because the next time I'll be around two evenings on the trot is next Thursday, due to work :dapprove:

So nearly sorted, thanks for all the advice folks!

Those of you that are local to me who have been having problems with dealers might want to take it to Jaybee Motors in Bodicote (outskirts of Banbury) because they've always been very good for me... the chap who worked on my car is apparently the son of a Trophy owner, and found the fault almost immediately!

Edit: also had the polarity of my ultransonics swapped while it was in the garage to solve the alarm problem, and they also did an "alarm siren modification" which is dictated by a Renault Technical Note... anyone know what that is?

So the problem was a damage lower arm Ball Joint?, I will go to check if the dealer has ball joints

 

[Ollie82.]

Took the Cup out tonight for the first time in 3 days and backing it out of the cul-de-sac i live in i could hear a knocking noise....yet another sodding knocking noise at that!

Interesting to hear that there are so many cases of it as im beginning to suspect its simply a characteristic of the model as there aren't any adverse effects on the handling.