Violet1956 Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Sorry to be a bore as I know there's lots already on the forum about clutches. but I haven't found what I am looking for. We are in the van on our first trip to France. Went from the Heathrow area to the tunnel and we did push it at 65+mph in fifth as we were short of time. All ok. On arrival and when leaving the tunnel in France the clutch started squealing when changing up at first in low gears and eventually in all gears. Decided to get it checked this morning in Dunkirk (really helpful people btw at Litteral in the St Pol area). Damn thing wasn't making a noise at all so mechanic who test drove it said nothing wrong. After travelling about 300kms today without any problems we stopped at a campsite and then when moving off to our pitch in first the damn thing started screaming again. So it seems it is an intermittent problem. Anyone any clue? Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Hi Violet, It sounds to me as though the release bearing has gone 'dry' and is squealing when under load. Does the noise only occur when your foot is on the clutch or at any other time? If only when pressing the clutch pedal then it will almost certainly be the release bearing. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
747 Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 It could also be a V belt slipping. The noise it makes can be similar to a worn thrust bearing in the Clutch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet1956 Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 Hi Keith the noise begins when clutch is depressed but carries on when the foot is off the clutch. It can be stopped if changing up to another gear says my OH. As it hasn't happened whilst I've been driving I am relying on his description of what is happening under foot as far as he can recollect. It is so kind of you to offer some advice. If it were to be the relase bearing going dry is it a diy or a specialist fix? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet1956 Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 Hi 747 now you are talking in a foreign language. I think I must get down to mechanics school quick. Is the v belt something to do with the gearbox? :$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
747 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Violet1956 - 2016-03-14 10:28 PM Hi 747 now you are talking in a foreign language. I think I must get down to mechanics school quick. Is the v belt something to do with the gearbox? :$ Hi Violet. Your later post (with a bit more info) is leaning towards a problem with the bearing .... unfortunately. However, the fact that it is noisy means it is on the way out. It does not necessarily mean the bearing will collapse tomorrow, it may work OK for some time (as long as you can put up with the noise). It is many years since I had this problem myself (with cars) so the same conditions may not apply to a big heavy motorhome. Sorry that I cannot be of more help. I will say however that I think your motorhome is a recent purchase? If so, what sort of warranty did you get? Will the supplying Dealer step up to the mark and offer some financial help if it needs repairing Overseas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebishbus Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 The OP says that the noise carries on when the foot is OFF THE CLUTCH, and can be stopped by changing up to a higher gear. Does that sound like the release bearing ? Brian B. ps The V belt mentioned would be one of the auxiliary drive belts. Just an after thought. . If the clutch was slipping slightly the bearing could still make a noise with the foot off the clutch, do you think ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Hi Violet, The 'V Belt' is what you used to call a 'Fan Belt'! It also drives the alternator so if it is slipping it will be affected by electrical load. eg having just started the engine or running with headlights, blower motor, etc turned on. Try idling the engine in Neutral at just over 1,000 rpm then turning on headlights, blower motor, wipers, etc and see if it squeals. This should help identify the source of your problem. Please let us know how you get on. Keith. PS If it is the clutch actually slipping you will see the engine revs rise without an increase in road speed, is this possibly what is happening? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebishbus Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 If the release bearing has become noisy ,and is still so with the foot off the clutch, check the free clearance at the top of the pedal stroke, insufficient clearance could lead to premature bearing failure . Brian B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet1956 Posted March 16, 2016 Author Share Posted March 16, 2016 Hi to all that have offered assistance. Have been off line for a while as we have been on the move south over the Brenner pass. We are now in Italy in the Dolomites with no recurrence except for a slight squeal this am when moving off site in Germany. Have only 1 hour wi fi to pick up all your messages. We have a six month warranty and only bought the van in January so we are lucky. I did phone the dealer when we were in Dunkirk and all he said was to contact him before any work is done abroad in case we are charged a silly amount. In his view a new clutch (if necessary) would be around the £500 mark. So far we haven't had any disasters. Will relay all your advice to my OH although he is no more mechanically minded than I am. We shall see how we get on tomorrow. Biggest shock of the day was getting into Italy and still finding the folk here these parts speak German! Thanks again. I hope we can manage to return to the UK (On Good Friday) able to speak to someone in detail about what might be the issue). That said we are in Fiat country. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet1956 Posted March 18, 2016 Author Share Posted March 18, 2016 Keithl - 2016-03-15 8:28 AM Hi Violet, The 'V Belt' is what you used to call a 'Fan Belt'! It also drives the alternator so if it is slipping it will be affected by electrical load. eg having just started the engine or running with headlights, blower motor, etc turned on. Try idling the engine in Neutral at just over 1,000 rpm then turning on headlights, blower motor, wipers, etc and see if it squeals. This should help identify the source of your problem. Please let us know how you get on. Keith. PS If it is the clutch actually slipping you will see the engine revs rise without an increase in road speed, is this possibly what is happening? Hi Keith. The OH did exactly what you advised and it seems it is the V belt. No noise at all when starting up and all the electrics switched off. Think we will leave it 'til we get back to the UK. Explaining the problem in Italian may prove difficult. That said if it is critical then we shall have a go. Many thanks. :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Violet, It should be pretty easy to explain. Open the bonnet, start the engine then turn on lights, etc until it squeals and simply point to the engine :D Any good engineer should know what you mean. Keith. PS It would be better if you could get it sorted rather than leave it and risk the belt breaking altogether. Probably best get a price and talk to your dealer before spending any money though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebishbus Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Useful stuff to have handy for slipping belts, is an aerosol of Belt dressing / Belt slip, from e-bay or Amazon. Brian B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will H Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Violet Added to Keith's finger pointing make a squealing sound ... it works wonders in all languages and will please the mechanics. Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 I agree with Keith that it would be wise to get it checked and not leave it. It is just possible that one of the pulleys has a bit of rust on it and that is causing the squeal. If so, the noise will subside with miles. However, as you are now in Italy, I would have thought that should have been enough miles to polish off any rust. If the belt is slipping and that is the source of the noise, it won't fix itself and, as no-one yet knows why it is slipping, or which belt is doing so, I think get it looked at soonest. One reason belts begin to slip is that they are beginning to fail, another is that they haven't been properly tensioned. If the belt fails, whatever it drives will cease working, with the likelihood that the van will break down - probably not just outside a large Fiat dealership! A replacement belt shouldn't be particularly expensive, and just re-tensioning a slack one even less so. Just breeze into the first decent Fiat dealership you find a say "parlo Inglese, per favore". Someone in the office will probably speak a bit even if the mechanics don't, but it is quite widely taught in Italy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet1956 Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 Hi everyone. We are so grateful for all the advice. We are now in Innsbruck, God love the Austrians. The campsite in Natter See (ACSI book 1 number 992) on the outskirts of Innsbruck is superb. We are going to chance it as far as the V belt is concerned-pray for us! We seem to have had no squealing for the past few days having taken Keith's advice. Back in Blighty on Good Friday. Our first trip in the "camping car" in Europe has been a blissful adventure. Almost running out of gas in Italy was a bit scary but here in Natters See they are so helpful and thankfully we have acquired the right connectors so they loaned us a 5kg gas bottle. Wish the fixed bed was a bit bigger as the dog insists on sleeping on it with us. Never thought I would contemplate sleeping in a bed with a dog on it. C'est la vie (I need to learn some German) :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet1956 Posted March 25, 2016 Author Share Posted March 25, 2016 Well we're home and will get the V belt looked at soon. I know we took a risk in not getting it checked while we were away but we are mavericks at heart. It was a great comfort to have all the advice we received on the forum so thank you all. Today we took in the Messines Ridge in Belgium before getting the tunnel back to the UK. It is where my grandfather fought and won his DCM in June 1917. He was in the 10th battalion Chesire Regiment and one of the few in his regiment to survive the battle for the ridge. The Commonwealth Cemetery in Messines is a poignant reminder of the tragic loss of life of so many young men, no wonder he could not speak about it afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aandncaravan Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Can we suggest you check out the habitation batteries as well? It is sometimes the load they place on the Alternator that causes the belt to slip. These days with modern multiple ridged Serpentine belts the load usually has to be pretty exceptional to make them slip, even on a worn belt. It may be that the load placed on the Alternator is not far off 'cooking' it? If anyone else has the same issue whilst touring, you can reduce the load on the belt by not running the Fridge on 12v while travelling and minimising Habitation battery use. Obviously in addition to the above advice on heater blower, Lights, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet1956 Posted March 26, 2016 Author Share Posted March 26, 2016 aandncaravan - 2016-03-26 8:36 PM Can we suggest you check out the habitation batteries as well? It is sometimes the load they place on the Alternator that causes the belt to slip. These days with modern multiple ridged Serpentine belts the load usually has to be pretty exceptional to make them slip, even on a worn belt. It may be that the load placed on the Alternator is not far off 'cooking' it? If anyone else has the same issue whilst touring, you can reduce the load on the belt by not running the Fridge on 12v while travelling and minimising Habitation battery use. Obviously in addition to the above advice on heater blower, Lights, etc. Many thanks, will use your info when taking the van to the garage. We made sure everything electric was switched off when driving off after the advice we received on the forum and found there was no problem. I don't pretend to understand the significance of all your advice but am most grateful. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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