Maybe it has caused a problem, this problem, and the puddle had nothing to do with it?
Smart Fortwo DCT Mechanical Problem
- Thread starter nlel1975
- Start date
No I've been putting it into neutral and letting it roll back a few metres for 3.5 years and used to do the same with my old Smart. Never had a problem, its definitely to do with the big puddle splash.Maybe it has caused a problem, this problem, and the puddle had nothing to do with it?
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Why does everyone hate main dealers so much, yes they charge double per hour labour what other garages charge but apart from that they can't be any worse can they?
Lowest labour charge I've had is £50 per hour, the main dealer is around £90 IIRC.
Lowest labour charge I've had is £50 per hour, the main dealer is around £90 IIRC.
Lets give them a chance first.
Don
Other than possible bodywork damage, I can't think of anything that a puddle could affect that would cause a noise. And even if it was, why would it do only when rolling backwards in Neutral?
Presumably you've tried reversing down the same slope to see if it makes a noise still?
They aren't necessarily any worse, but they aren't necessarily any better either.
The downside can be that main dealers are constrained by their diagnostic process, so even if you get an experienced mechanic rather than a "fitter", they often aren't allowed to do anything off script to try and resolve an issue.
Independents usually don't have such problems, and in some cases come up with better ways of doing certain jobs (e.g. fixing a component rather than replacing a whole assembly as a dealer would), or have certain "shortcuts" they have learned whilst doing the same repair that a workshop manual does not tell you.
I struggle to get a decent diagnostic job from anyone these days - most places just want you to tell them what to replace
I presume you didn't read the results of my google search?
https://www.google.com/search
Plenty of accounts of strange noises after going through water.
Man of Honour
Edit: already mentioned, I didn't refresh quick enough.
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I highly doubt it’s just a coincidence. I did get a rough sound immediately after driving through the puddle but that went away the next time I drove it. Now it only does when in neutral and rolling backwards.Apart from the fact it's now making a funny noiseHitting the puddle may have had nothing to do with it and it's just finally worn/damaged something enough to make noise.
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Don
Most of which have nothing to do with either DCT equipped vehicles, or owners who insist on rolling back down a slope in Neutral?
Does it make the noise when actually reversing down the slope?
If you want to play the google game, then I suggest you google "DCT rolling in neutral" and see how many negative responses you find
Last time I drove it I went into a big car park and put it into reverse a few times, the noise was either not present or not as bad.
At the end of the day I’m paying them to figure out where that noise is coming from as I sure as hell can’t. I am not making it up, I can only hear it when I put it in neutral and let the car roll back down a slope.
Up until that incident with the big puddle which I went through at speed causing a big splash it never used to make that noise but it did make a similar sound immediately after going through the puddle.
When I next drove it a week later there was no noise and I didn’t notice any noise when I let it roll back but then again I wasn’t expecting any. I only drive once a week so have only driven four or five times since the puddle incident and I first took notice of the noise when rolling back in neutral nearly two weeks ago.
I confirmed it this last Sunday when I took it seriously and purposefully drove into my parking space two or three times letting it roll back in neutral confirming I had a serious problem on my hands.
I have accepted it’s going to cost me money and I just want it fixed. Hopefully they are competent enough to figure it out. We shall see.
Up until that incident with the big puddle which I went through at speed causing a big splash it never used to make that noise but it did make a similar sound immediately after going through the puddle.
When I next drove it a week later there was no noise and I didn’t notice any noise when I let it roll back but then again I wasn’t expecting any. I only drive once a week so have only driven four or five times since the puddle incident and I first took notice of the noise when rolling back in neutral nearly two weeks ago.
I confirmed it this last Sunday when I took it seriously and purposefully drove into my parking space two or three times letting it roll back in neutral confirming I had a serious problem on my hands.
I have accepted it’s going to cost me money and I just want it fixed. Hopefully they are competent enough to figure it out. We shall see.
Don
Let us know how you get on
Soldato
Rolling it in neutral a few meters will do absolutely no harm whatsoever to it. The only harm that would come doing that is towing it in neutral as the gearbox oil pump won’t be running to provide oil to where it’s needed, assuming that gearbox in particular is set up like that.
The manual saying only shift into neutral while stationary means exactly that, shifting into neutral. Does not mean you can’t roll whilst in neutral.
The manual saying only shift into neutral while stationary means exactly that, shifting into neutral. Does not mean you can’t roll whilst in neutral.
Well they collected it this afternoon instead of tomorrow, I put it into neutral and let it roll back to make sure the noise was still there and it was. Now the anxious wait.
You were spot on, a piece of the plastic under tray has broken off and is causing the rubbing. They are delivering the car back to me and ordering a replacement part. They’ve temporarily removed it so it doesn’t make the noise.
No way I could have figured this out by myself and no way I would know what part to order or how to fit it. Seems it was an easy one for them to diagnose after all. They will let me know how much it’s going to cost in due course.
Don
Yep easiest £86 they've ever earnt I should think
I'm sure you could. Likely if you'd have lay down on the ground with a torch and looked underneath the car you would have seen some damaged plastic.
Granted if you're not confident to do anything else e.g. Jack the car up, you probably couldn't have done anything about it.
A quick look suggests the undertray comes in 3 parts and is just held on with screws - only a matter of knowing the age of your car as to what to order. In this day and age there are youtube videos showing you how to do easier jobs like this.
You could have temporarily (or even permanently) removed it yourself, or given it's underneath the car and out of sight, probably repaired it with cable ties or similar
I'd imagine at main dealer prices, probably around £200-£300
I blame that damn puddle and the fact that I didn't see it until I'd gone through it like a river.Yep easiest £86 they've ever earnt I should think