1.4 tsi 160 noise at idle

[Ryanforsyth91]

Hi I have 1.4 tsi 160 bhp 6 speed manual and when the car is at idle with the clutch out I get a chattering noise almost like a duel mass fly wheel chatter. When I press the clutch down the noise disappears and then returns when I release the clutch. No vibrations or poor gear selection when driving and noise does disappear if I increase rpm. Has anyone else had this problem? Does the 1.4 tsi 6 speed manual even have a dmf? I'm certain the noise is coming from the gear box area and I can feel a very slight vibration on the gear stick when it is making the noise. Any help would be apreaciated. Thanks Ryan

[Humphries92]

Hi Ryanforsyth91, I have a similar issue on my Roc (also 1.4 160 bhp). Same thing you are describing, rattle noise at idle but goes away when the clutch was pressed down, didn't happen all the time and wasn't dependent on temperature. I took it to a German specialist garage who informed me that it sounded like a cassette bearing in the gear box, however the only way to know was for the gearbox to be taken out and stripped. I gave my approval for the work and the gear box was taken out and stripped by a gear box specialist, i was told that there was some wear to the bearings located on 5th and 6th and they were both changed, the rest of the gear box was in good shape and fresh oil was put in. Whilst the gear box was off a new clutch kit was put in just to make sure as i had read about possible release bearing and springs being a potential cause. Fast forward a few days and the noise was still there, not as loud and not as often but still there. I rang the garage up (guy I trust) and he told me that everything that needed to be changed had been changed and everything else was fine.

I started doing my own research and found that the smaller engines don't have a dual mass flywheel but rather a single mass, this was linked to something called neutral gear rattle which as it states causes a slight rattle when in neutral but is completely harmless (apparently dual mass stops this ? correct me if i am wrong). Unfortunately, it appears that nothing can be done about this and it is something i have to learn to ignore, as stated the noise is slightly better with all the work and is easily hidden by the radio at a perfectly normal volume.

I am no mechanic and i am simple sharing my experience, i found comfort in the fact that everything that needed to me replaced was and everything that wasn't was fine so i have put the issue to bed. Please seek out the advice of a mechanic as i would hate for you to ignore something which could be a different issue to mine and cause damage.

On a side note the warranty company (warranty wise) supplied with the car covered most of the cost (pesky dealer setting the labor rate to £35 and hour including VAT), so i was arguably lucky and mostly had good experiences with that company.

Hope this helps and sorry for the long reply.

[Ryanforsyth91]

Thanks for the reply I did read something about neutral gear roll over but I've been a mechanic for the past 8 years and have never heard of this thought it could be a vw fob off aha. I'll do some more investigation and see what I can find. Was yours a solid state flywheel?