Whining noise when engaging clutch.

[rodders]

Hi,
I'm hearing a whining noise when I first engage the clutch to pull away in the mornings & sometimes from work. (Usually after the car has been standing for hours.) This does not happen again once i've initially pulled away.
Is this the clutch release bearing? Also, would it be worth changing the clutch at the same time. Note: It's on the original clutch at 58k.

 

[pip.]

Nothing to worry about, mine does the same thing and has from new.
I took it back to Reno after a week or so and they weren't concerned.

IIRC, it is the power steering pump....I think.

 

[Gray]

Clutch release bearing... Very common problem!

IIRC new ones can fail after 100 miles or so :S

 

[pip.]

Clutch release bearing... Very common problem!

IIRC new ones can fail after 100 miles or so :S

Sorry but it isn't, not in this case anyway.
If it was the bearing, it would whine all the time.

 

[JON13S]

Sorry but it isn't, not in this case anyway.
If it was the bearing, it would whine all the time.

not necessarily all the time... as the clutch release bearing is only engaged when you press the clutch. also called thrust bearing sometimes, as said above very common fault. and i wouldnt listen to anything a reno employee says (no offence) but the only work from a build manual.

 

[Gray]

Sorry but it isn't, not in this case anyway.
If it was the bearing, it would whine all the time.

Sorry but it is... The bearing makes a rough whirling sound when the clutch is engadged or carrying load.

 

[pip.]

Sorry but it is... The bearing makes a rough whirling sound when the clutch is engadged or carrying load.

I think that you need to read what he wrote.

If he blows a sh*tload of cash on changing a serviceable clutch and bearing for it to still make the noise, I don't think he'll be very pleased.

 

[Gray]

LOL! I have read what the guy wrote..

He described the symtoms, I explained the possilbr cause.

 

[rodders]

The comment made about the power steering pump could be relevant. Never considered that one. Will start up in the morning & just turn the wheel before even using the clutch & have a listen.

 

[Harry_manback]

Gary is most right, the bearing is only used when the clutch is depressed. bear in mind the bearing isnt sealed in, so could get covered in dust etc.!

 

[pip.]

LOL! I have read what the guy wrote..

He described the symtoms, I explained the possilbr cause.

No you didn't.

He said that it doesn't happen again once he has initially pulled away ie. it happens once and not again. A knackered bearing would do it every time he used the clutch.

The reason that I know it is the power steering pump is because I have the exact same characteristic on my car and it has done it since it was brand new.
If it is a knackered bearing, I'm disappointed that Reno used it on a new car and it's now lasted for nearly 6 years.

P.s. If you have a copy of the Reno Dialogys, it's mentioned on there.
I think it says that it is the pump priming itself, so it is perfectly fine and doesn't need repair either.

Can someone who has Dialogys have a look 'cos my PC doesn't like it.

 

[Gray]

What does the power steering pump have too do with the clutch/bearings :S

 

[rodders]

OK. Lets say that it's the power steering pump then. If that's the case, how do you cure it?

 

[davebem]

The clutch release bearing problem is a common problem on all clios, it normally happens when releasing the clutch at high speed/changing gear 'hard' or when the clutch is not engaged. It could be the power steering pump but to be honest on the symptoms youve described I wouldnt worry about it at all.

Does it happen when you press the clutch down?
Does it happen when you release the clutch?
Does it happen when you start to move off?
Does the sound of the car idling change when the clutch is pressed?
Does the sound get any worse if you steer at the same time?
Does it happen more when its cold?

 

[rodders]

It always happens first thing in the morning or when leaving work at night.
I tried it this morning by turning the steering wheel after starting up & not depressing the clutch & it made the whining noise so it's pointing to the power steering pump.

 

[pip.]

I didn't expect this to turn into a epic lol.

When I first got my car new it made the same noise, every time I started it up and engaged first gear and started to pull away, it made a whining / grinding noise which sounded like a gearbox / clutch problem.

I returned it to the stealers and took a nut strangler for a drive.
He appreciated the noise and we went back to base.
They had a root on the system and told me it wasn't a problem.

Me being me, I wasn't satisfied with that so I had a look on a copy of a "friends" Dialogys disks and there it was in black and white in some appendix somewhere, that the noise was the power steering pump priming itself, which why it only does it when you initially pull away and not again.
If you turn off the engine and then restart it, it will do it again as the engine has been switched off and it is priming itself again.
It is a characteristic of the pump, not a problem, and doesn't need curing.
Mine has done it for nearly 6 years now and I don't even notice it anymore.
It is not something to worry about and is not the thrust bearing.
It is understandable that it could be mistaken for that considering when it happens and where the noise seems to come from.

If your car's symptoms match what I have just wrote, then don't worry about it. You DON'T need a new pump.

I'm just trying to stop you wasting a lot of cash for no reason.