Clutch Scream/Screech when pulling away?

[tomlondonmagic]

Hi guys,

I have a 2012 1.6 THP sport and have this rather concerning problem.

At about 12,000 miles I started to get this screech/screaming noise from the bottom left of the engine (area) when pulling away from first at biting point.
It only happens every now and then, on bad days every-time I pull away. It seems to happen more if I am puling away whilst on a slope.

I took it in to the garage and they couldn't make it create the same noise, despite me showing them (Taking their tech guy out for a spin) which really pissed me off. I then went in again and showed them. They told me it would be around £500 to look at it, if it's a warranty issue then no cost.

The car is now at 19,000 and drives fine, new tyres, discs and a sensor for the ESP (after a rat chewed through it!).

My problem is that the car drives fine, however I will need a new clutch eventually and that's £700. I will be rather annoyed if I have to pay out £500 to fix this problem, and then another £700 for the clutch after just spending close to a grand on tyres/brakes.

Any ideas/suggestions?

[DS3man STEVE]

slack fanbelt is usualy connectet to high pitch screetch when taking away
all it needs is tightened if this is the case
also ? a new clutch after only 19,000 miles omg average life of a clutch is 60,000 + depending on driving style

[Bryn]

I agree with slack fanbelt as a possibility. I had the problem with my old Saxo some years ago. It sounded scarily expensive but a new fanbelt cured the problem (the old one had become glazed on its surface by the slipping and wouldn't stop slipping even when re-tightened).

Possible alternative = cam belt follower? (Cam belt is a rather more drastic problem if it fails, as I also know to my cost on the same old Saxo!!)

[DaveB]

Possible alternative = cam belt follower? (Cam belt is a rather more drastic problem if it fails, as I also know to my cost on the same old Saxo!!)

A cam belt failure on a THP would be drastic!

. . . and impossible!














. . . the camshafts are chain driven.

[Bryn]

Ah... OK..

Thanks for that!

(I thought the modern thing was belt driven camshafts because chains get rattly when they wear)

[lfcrule1972]

Does anyone know if the chain is only fitted to the THP DS3s ? I have the 115 eHDI DSport+.....

[DaveB]

Does anyone know if the chain is only fitted to the THP DS3s ? I have the 115 eHDI DSport+.....

Petrol engines use chains, diesels use belts.

[lfcrule1972]

Bastards ! lol

Thanks though...

[cyclone]

Bastards ! lol

Bastards? bet all those people with THP timing chain/tensioner issues would have liked a belt that worked instead

[lfcrule1972]

Yeah fair enough cyclone

[Chris]

Hi I had this exact problem on my Mini Cooper S turbo (same basic engine as the THP). The problem on my Mini turned out to be a faulty dual-mass flywheel, which caused this awful roaring/screaming noise when pulling away in first gear. It would only happen if I had been using the car in heavy stop-start traffic, and once it had made the noise once, it carried on for the rest of the journey.

My advise would be to definately hassle your Citroen dealer. I was told I would have to cover the cost of stripping the car down and investigating the clutch, should it be diagnosed as 'wear and tear'. However I was informed that there was lateral movement from the flywheel which caused premature damage to the clutch. Both were replaced under warranty.

Hope this helps

[Chris]

P.s the above happened after 25k miles

[lfcrule1972]

Thanks for the additional info

[Fieldwater]

Hi did you ever get this problem fixed? I have exactly the same issue with my citroen Ds3 1.6 petrol 64 plate. Going to book in garage end of week.

[Chris_Blue]

Hi did you ever get this problem fixed? I have exactly the same issue with my citroen Ds3 1.6 petrol 64 plate. Going to book in garage end of week.

Unfortunatley I doubt you will get an answer to your question as all the contributors posted up just under 7 years ago

Then again, I had a bad case of clutch squeal on one of my THP's and it turned out to be the clutch release bearing