Newbie not mechanically minded query

Hi there, firstly if I could ask you to be patient with me for not being mechanically minded, I know how to drive my Frontera and where the basics go, engine oil, water, petrol. My frontera has recently started making some strange noises and I'm not sure how serious it is. Firstly this does not happen constantly, I get the odd kind of clunk or grind type of noise, a low whining kind of noise almost like interference on a radio. The car drives fine and I do not have any problems changing gear. I have tried changing from 2 wheel to 4 wheel drive and back again to make sure I hadn't inadvertently knocked it between drives and the noises still continue. At present I can't afford to take the car to a garage for them to investigate what the problem might be. Has anyone experienced this previously and are you able to offer any advice?? The Frontera is a Petrol, 3dr, 2.0i Transglobe on a 98 S plate, not sure if its an A or a B as I'm not sure what the differences are between the 2.

Hi mate, welcome along. Firstly there is absolutely no reason to be sorry about your lack of mechanical knowledge, as thats what we are all about, so dont worry there.
Can you give us any idea on the area where this noise is coming from?
Gearbox, under bonnet, suspension.?

The grinding noise could be worn Brake Pads, when there is that type of sound get it looked preety quick and dont chance it ........

Or it might turn out very costly !!

Thanks for the responses, the brakes shouldn't be an issue as I have heard the noises without the car moving at all. I don't think the noise is coming from the engine as when I have heard it from inside the car it seems to be coming from underneath rather than infront of me which is making me think it is maybe coming from the gearbox or driveshaft area. Not sure if it would be an oil issue as I wouldn't have a clue where to check for that. I haven't had the car for that long so I have rarely had reason to drive it in 4 wheel drive. One thing I've just remembered is that the click that you hear when you first put the car into 4 wheel and move forward isn't as noticeable as when I put it back into 2 wheel and reverse, putting it back into 2 wheel sounds more like a double click almost like a spring being over-stretched. Since I've noticed this problem I'm only using the car to do a 2 mile round trip to take my dog out for his daily run in local fields as I don't want to drive it too far in case it breaks down on me. Have to use the wife's MGF the rest of the time which could prove interesting if this weather gets any worse.

Ian

it could possible be the clutch release bearing grumbling

if it does it again try putting the clutch down to see if it stops or starts the noise

Clutch release bearing, alternator bearings, idler pulley bearings, water pump, wobbly timing pulleys, gearbox.

Does the click you hear when you put the truck into 4wd only happen when you start to move? If so it could be just the hubs locking. I'm told there is an audible click when that happens, although I've never heard it myself. Might need a bit of grease in them...?

Thanks again for all the responses, I'll see what happens with the clutch suggestion a little later today and let you know. The click when changing to and from 4 wheel drive is normally very faint but at the moment it is quite loud when going back into 2 wheel drive.

Regards

Ian

Sorry for not getting back to you yesterday. I tried the clutch suggestion and it did seem to make a difference but then again the car didn't make the noises as often yesterday.

Ian

Hi all, I haven't been driving the car so much over the last few days as me and the wife have had some time off and vegged out at home to celebrate our 15th anniversary and her **th birthday, I don't know if I'm just getting used to the noise now or if it was just me, I still keep on hearing something from underneath rather than in front and it sounds metallic but the car does drive OK and I don't have any problems changing into any of the gears. Guess I'll just have to see how it goes for the time being.

Regards

Ian

When the engine is running, if you put your clutch pedal down, is there any vibration coming through to your feet?
If so, deffo release bearing.
It could also be the diaphram springs on the clutch cover.

Hi Keith,

I'll try the clutch tomorrow to see what it feels like, I know when I first started hearing the sounds I felt sure the clutch did feel different in some way but I couldn't put it down to anything specific so figured it was just me imagining things.

Regards

Ian

OK, here's one for ya.

The gearboxes are quite noisy on these things. Where the gearstick comes up through the tunnel there is a rubber boot which seals the hole. Sometimes this boot can come loose allowing (more) noise to enter the cabin. There is also a sound deadening layer which fits over the tunnel.

Could explain the coming and going of the noise as the boot shifts when you change gear?

Just a thought.

Thanks again for the responses, much appreciated,

I have done as suggested and depressed the clutch and I can feel some slight vibration but not sure if the is just from the engine running, I did notice that with the clutch depressed the noise did fade and when released the noise seemed to be louder, not sure if that helps you at all, I know its difficult without hearing what I'm on about, I do think though that if it was the gearbox as my wife initially thought then I would be having problems with at least some of the gear selections.

Regards

Ian

Hi all,

completely off the subject, kind of, of my potentially broken Frontera. Had to take my dog to the vets a couple of days ago as he seemed not quite his normal bouncy self, he's normally very bouncy and noisy which is one of the reasons we got the Frontera in the first place so he has enough room to be stupid in the back, took the rear seats out and fitted and old Volvo dog guard to stop him trying to help with the driving. Turns out he had a tumour on his spleen which meant he had to be opened up and have his spleen and tumour removed, I'm fairly sure he can do without both. Even though the Frontera doesn't sound well at times recently its not quite the same without Remy being noisily excited in the back about going out for a wander round the local countryside to chase rabbits (he's never actually caught one and I'm not sure he'd know what to do if he did). Even the cats are missing what they probably think is a big stupid black cat that can't jump as well as them.

Regards

Ian