Rattling Mk1

[mmertens]

Hi all,
Whilst having a nice long drive at what may be the last nice weekend in the year here in Holland, we noticed a rattling coming from below the car (or so it seemed). This only occured on bumpy roads, cobblestones etc., nothing (yet) on smooth roads. A tad worrysome, it disappears when I declutch.

The car is a Mk1 1.8 Miata (US import by one of the previous owners). Any of you experts have any idea what it might be, in layman's terms if possible?

Many thanks in advance!
Maarten

[Pete Franklin]

maybe the clutch spigot bearing? was it kind of a metallic rattle almost like the sound of a tin can being dragged along on a piece of string? if so then thats what i would say it is especially as it goes away when you declutch.

Mine has been doing this since i got it and has covered 30k miles with no probs except the noise- I had it diagnosed by an mx5 expert that had experienced and fixed the same thing. I never bothered fixing it because you need to remove the clutch and thats a relatively big job.

Any help?

[mmertens]

Pete Franklin said:

maybe the clutch spigot bearing? was it kind of a metallic rattle almost like the sound of a tin can being dragged along on a piece of string? if so then thats what i would say it is especially as it goes away when you declutch.

Mine has been doing this since i got it and has covered 30k miles with no probs except the noise- I had it diagnosed by an mx5 expert that had experienced and fixed the same thing. I never bothered fixing it because you need to remove the clutch and thats a relatively big job.

Any help?

Hi Pete,
That could well be. With some imagination you could compare the sound to a rattling tin. It is however inaudible on smooth roads - does that fit the diagnosis as well?
Removing the clutch is indeed a bit pricey, I'd like to avoid that if I can, but the noise is a bit distracting... If this "clutch spigot bearing" isn't indicative or predictive of larger problems, I might leave it for a while.
Thanks for the quick response!
Maarten

[Altrezia]

Not an exhaust heat sheild?

[Pete Franklin]

Yeah it doesn't sound exactly like a tin can but thats as good as i can think of at the moment its like a hollow rattly tinny noise.

I'm not sure about the bumpy road thing- it may be more apparent over bumpy bits-

my noise occurs under decelleration in gear (never when the the accelerator is applied) and dissapears when the clutch is depressed or when i accelerate. If that is the same with yours then i would imagine it to be the same problem. If not then it may be something else, but it does suggest clutch related as it goes away when you operate the clutch right?

[mmertens]

Altrezia said:

Not an exhaust heat sheild?

That might fit the bumpy road thing, but could the noise of a rattling heatshield be influenced by depressing the clutch?

[snotrag]

Yes, because the clutch action would tend to coincide with a change of rpm and a change in the movements/motion going through the gearbox/exhaust etc, all of which are the bits that's reverberate against bits of loose heatshield.


There a bloody nightmare and I'm forever getting new noises, have to jack the car ip and literally poke and pull it about a bit, usually cures it for a while then a sneaky speedbump or pothole starts a new noise at a new rpm.

[skinny]

Pete Franklin said:

maybe the clutch spigot bearing? was it kind of a metallic rattle almost like the sound of a tin can being dragged along on a piece of string? if so then thats what i would say it is especially as it goes away when you declutch.

Mine has been doing this since i got it and has covered 30k miles with no probs except the noise- I had it diagnosed by an mx5 expert that had experienced and fixed the same thing. I never bothered fixing it because you need to remove the clutch and thats a relatively big job.

Any help?

i have this too - i replaced the clutch (well, Mr clutch did, the least said about that, probably the better ) with no results, but it's been doing it for 40k miles with no ill effects. don't think it's the OP's problem tho as it is not dependant on road condition...

[OllieWinchester]

Broken down cat?

[mmertens]

Thanks for the rapid feedback all. Sounds like it could be multiple things and not something I myself, with limited technical skills & possibilities, could quickly try to diagnose & cure. So off to a specialist it will have to be I'm afraid... I could leave it but there'd always be that niggling doubt it is something serious.... Well at least I can impress the specialist by making a few of the token suggestions you gave me!! Just have to find the translation of "clutch bearing spigot" in Dutch...

Thanks again.
Maarten

[Pete Franklin]

skinny said:

i have this too - i replaced the clutch (well, Mr clutch did, the least said about that, probably the better ) with no results, but it's been doing it for 40k miles with no ill effects. don't think it's the OP's problem tho as it is not dependant on road condition...

Did they definately replace the spiggot bearing at the same time? The reason I ask is that im not sure that it is something that is always changed with a clutch replacement (i believe its actually connected to the flywheel).

To the OP

Be careful what you suggest to the specialist, if you suggest something and its completely wrong they may go ahead and investigate and replace only to find that it hasnt solved the problem. if i were you i would allow them to diagnose first and only give our suggestions if they can't figure it out. that way their failings remain their responsibility.

[pmanson]

OllieWinchester said:

Broken down cat?

That was my first thought as well

[skinny]

Pete Franklin said:

skinny said:

i have this too - i replaced the clutch (well, Mr clutch did, the least said about that, probably the better ) with no results, but it's been doing it for 40k miles with no ill effects. don't think it's the OP's problem tho as it is not dependant on road condition...

Did they definately replace the spiggot bearing at the same time? The reason I ask is that im not sure that it is something that is always changed with a clutch replacement (i believe its actually connected to the flywheel).

I bought the full complement of replacement bearings when i had the clutch changed (as i supplied my own parts). whether the monkey at Mr clutch actually used them or not is a different matter. all i know is that the bellhousing bolts were not tight when i checked them the next day...