strange noise...

[aglio412]

i have a 1999 VW Jetta Wolfsburg Ed. (3rd generation style, not New Jetta style)...I've had a ton of work done lately, seems that once i hit 50k miles, everything started crapping out. well, it looks like my next headache is beginning.

i noticed that when i pull out in 1st gear (it's a 5spd) i hear a clunking noise...i know text is the worst way to describe a noise, but i'm gonna try. it feels and sounds like someone is taking a rubber mallet and hitting the area right beneath the e-brake/gear shift area. it thumps about 5-6times and then is fine. doesn't do it in any other gears, just when i'm stopped and pulling out in 1st.

anyone with a VW experience similar problems? just curious to see what kind of expense i'm in for.

[Ice-9]

Hmm, I've got a Porsche, not a VW, but a lot of the parts are similar. Do you know if you have a rubber-center clutch? Your problem sounds like something that crops up a lot in the early '90s and earlier Porsche clutches. The rubber center disintegrates gradually, especially if left sitting for a while or if it gets coolant or other corrosives on it, and makes the clutch stick when it disengages. I wouldn't think it would happen after only 50,000 miles, but that would be my first guess.

Or could be a synchro problem? Except that usually sounds more like a grinding than a thumping. Any other symptoms? How hard do you drive this car?

[aglio412]

thanks for the reply ice,

i do drive it pretty hard...i have some mods and i like to push it, but i'm not overly brutal on the clutch.

i'll check the bentley manual or look around online to see if i have a rubber center clutch...as for other symptoms, yeah now that i think of it. i thought i had a wheel bearing going bad, but i noticed that the (metallic sounding) grinding noise happened when i was stopped....with the clutch engaged...or while moving and disengaging the clutch....definitely not a wheel bearing.

man i just got sick to my stomach...friggin clutch crapped out at 50k? hope it's covered under the powertrain warranty.

thanks for the info

[shaggymatt]

Hey I've got a heavily modified B5 Passat (1.8T) and I'm pretty sure that the clutches are metallic all the way through. There was some talk about a possible recall, and many others have had clutch failures before 30k miles.

Have you seen vwvortex? If not you'll get a better answer there. Go to http://www.vwvortex.com and click on forums.

[Ice-9]

Yeah, I honestly would have been surprised if it was rubber center - most manufacturers stopped using those in the early '90s. It could be a number of other problems, though, now that I think about it. Your best bet is probably to check with vwvortex, cause those guys would know much better than me, but here's some ideas I came up with:

1) Throw-out bearing: This could explain the metallic and thumping noises, and make the clutch not disengage fully, especially in certain gears.

2) Stripped gear: It's possible to break/wear the teeth on just one or a few of your gears. This is more common in older cars, but if you drop the clutch pretty often, or just start hard in first, a stock clutch may not be made to take it.

3) Transmission oil: You may just be low on lubrication. This was the original problem on my car, and cleared up my synchro grind for a while. Check the levels and color of your manual transmission oil.

Don't know if any of those will help, but that's what I came up with. Good luck!

[Blu]

Originally posted by aglio412

man i just got sick to my stomach...friggin clutch crapped out at 50k? hope it's covered under the powertrain warranty.



...it's not. The VW warranty (and every other one I've come across) doesn't cover normal wear items. That includes wiper blades, clutches, and seals.

Blu