clutch noise 2011 c3 hdi executive picasso

[peggysue]

Hi
We bought a used C3 last week and have been very happy with her, however after doing 400 miles total to work and back in that time, she has developed a noise. It began as a chattering sound which gets louder and faster if you rev the engine, is worse when she is in neutral gear but can still be heard when driving in gear. The weird thing is that as soon as you just rest your foot against the clutch pedal, not depressing it more than a couple of mm, the noise stops. The clutch seems to be working fine, not dragging or creeping, gears change smoothly etc. She has done 72,000 miles. We have no service history except for 2 stamps saying cambelt was done a couple of years ago and oil & filter done this summer after last mot passed. We will be using her as daily commuter and also to tow light 790kg caravan within UK for weekends away once a month or so. Colleague at work suggested thrust bearing might be worn...however local garage said that would cause noise when pedal is pressed, not when pedal is not being touched at all. Any suggestions? We are not mechanically knowledgeable and will have to take her to a garage for any repairs to be done. Thanks. Seller has offered to refund our money but we really like the car, she is ideal size for our needs and body is sound, but scared if clutch is on way out, what will happen when it fails and will that kill the car or cost a fortune to fix?

[mickthemaverick]

As the noise is worse when in neutral, ie no load on the engine then it may be a rattling gear/clutch linkage which quietens as you take the play out of it. However there are many C3's out there and my advice would be accept the seller's offer and find one with a warranty.

[peggysue]

Hi Mick, unfortunately we have a limited budget (£2500) and having spent many hours on t'internet this was the best car we could find, everything else was older and had corrosion advisories and gunk hiding the condition of the brake pipes... haven't really got the time to go looking all over again and with no mechanical knowledge ourselves we are going by the MOT history and any service history available. we hoped it was a rattly linkage but we can't see any way to adjust the pedal play to stop this.

[shtu]

as soon as you just rest your foot against the clutch pedal, not depressing it more than a couple of mm, the noise stops.

Colleague at work suggested thrust bearing might be worn...however local garage said that would cause noise when pedal is pressed, not when pedal is not being touched at all. Any suggestions?

Release bearing, or input shaft bearing on the gearbox. Most likely release bearing, they're far too small on these.

We are not mechanically knowledgeable and will have to take her to a garage for any repairs to be done.

That's a £1000+ bill in the making.

Seller has offered to refund our money.

Take it.

[mickthemaverick]

Hi Mick, unfortunately we have a limited budget (£2500) and having spent many hours on t'internet this was the best car we could find, everything else was older and had corrosion advisories and gunk hiding the condition of the brake pipes... haven't really got the time to go looking all over again and with no mechanical knowledge ourselves we are going by the MOT history and any service history available. we hoped it was a rattly linkage but we can't see any way to adjust the pedal play to stop this.

I would suggest this is a viable alternative if you get your money back, just need them to check the steering rack gaiter and fit new front tyres before you buy it to clear the MOT advisories. Then you get a car with warranty inside your budget and relatively low mileage.:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/357594437282 ... R4Kq1L26Zg

and this one if you prefer petrol: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226989280892 ... R4Sq1L26Zg

[PaulC5]

Has the seller also offered to fix the noise or were they just trying to offload the car due to high expected bills ? If they pay it could be another way to keep the car without a large bill for you paying for a clutch/dmf replacement or gear box repair. At this mileage you will also be looking at topping up the exhaust dpf fluid which also needs a diagnostic to tell the car it has been done - at a dealer can be a few £100. Replacing the exhaust dpf is probably not due yet.