Chattering C4

[philmac41]

Hello again, My 2015 blue HDI 120 has started to make a "chattering" metallic noise when running, it sounds worse if it echoes from a wall or passing vehicle I want to take it to my local Citroen garage but perhaps it is a normal noise from this particular engine?. has anyone else had this noise?

[Rookie2]

Hi

It's a bit difficult to diagnose a noise being explained over the internet, however, on a car of that age, I would hazard a guess that you should not be hearing any sort of "Chattering noises".

 

On these HDI engines, simple problems such as noisey fan belt tensioners can lead to catastrophic (did I spell that correctly) and expensive repairs. My advice would be to get it to someone with knowledge ASAP.

 

If you think it doesn't sound right, then it probably isn't, better safe then sorry.

 

Cheers

 

Steve

[paul.h]

Being under warranty it will not cost anything either to have it checked and fixed if needed. It will also give you a chance to see how good your dealer is. I would also check the oil level - the latest 1.6 hdi engines do not all have a level measurement and rely on using the dip stick - our C4 is like this.

[philmac41]

Hello, My car is going to my local citroen garage next week  the instrument panel apparantly is quite a well known problem and has to be replaced from France the "chattering"is to be investigated .

[Rookie2]

I dont know what it is about French Cars and their Dash Boards.  I have 2 renault scenics and both of them have had their dashboards changed free of charge by Renault.

 

Apparently they develop a problem where they flash on and off, every time they flash off the mileometer reduces by 1 mile. Thats why there are so many second hand Renaults for sale with really low mileage, they either have the dash problem and the mileage is reducing, or, they have had their dash boards changed and renault start them from zero or they have obtained a dash from a scrap car with less mileage. Surprisinly, the remedy for the renault fault is on the internet and is a simple dry joint in the circuit board.

 

Good luck at the garae.

[MikeLane]

When I bought my 2005 C5 from new it had several problems (rear wiper inoperative, loose trim) but the most serious was that the aux. belt was too tight. This resulted in the tensioner and bearings and the Alternator all needed to be replaced within 4 months.

About 5 months ago it started "chattering" and this turned out to be the DMF - so .......

[Rookie2]

I still do not believe that DMF is neede for passenger cars. I can understand their use in HGV's as they take up the torque of the large engines as they pull away with 44 tons to haul. But surely not necessarry on a family car.

 

Anyway, there are plenty of low cost DMF conversions kits available to take them back to solid flywheel (which makes changing the clutch far cheaper in future), I do not believe that any ressonance created by todays diesel engines have any affect on a gearbox.

Every time I do a clutch, if it has got DMF it is ripped out and replaced (in the last 12 months I have done about 20 clutches in total) not all DMF probably about 50/50.

 

By the way, if you have an inspection hole on your gearbox (or someway to get a camera in) you can use a small cheap boroscope (stanley make a cracking one very cheap) and see an indicator on the DMF which tells you how much life is left in the DMF.

 

I'll see if I can dig out a photo of the wear indicator on most DMF's

[philmac41]

Hello again, I have just returned from my local Citroen dealer, my car is perfectly normal! the noise is normal the instrument panel is normal and I feel a bit foolish! however it is all ready for winter and I can just enjoy driving my car. I have joined the service scheme and hopefully I will go till next october for my next Garage visit, my dealer is the excellent Croxdale Citroen. :P .

[paul.h]

It is good to know there is nothing wrong with the car but just keep an eye/ear on it. We had the service scheme on our C4, used it for its first service but then moved to a different town and got the balance of the money back.