Hi I have TD4 2003 5 door 110,000 miles. It has been fine for many miles. Last Thursday drove on gravel track for a couple of miles (a regular journey for me and up to now uneventful). When back on road I could hear a metallic, rhythmical rattle (not a knock, clonk or whine), pretty much constantly. Also there in neutral when moving. No noise when at rest. I am listening with drivers window open and it seems to come from underneath, somewhere in line with the rear doors but I am aware that trying to locate where sounds come from is difficult. It is present at low speed as well as normal road speed when going straight - no change in noise when cornering. It can be heard just reversing a few yards and then going forward a few yards on smooth ground. Got my wife to listen outside while doing this but she could not pin down the noise any better.
I have checked the following:
1. Exhaust, rubber hangers are a little worn but with a strong agitation by hand I can't reproduce the sound, I also tapped each section starting at CAT with a rubber mallet, no rattles.
I also checked for stones in the protection plate at either end of middle box - nothing there.
2. I looked at IRD heatshield (horizontal above IRD) seems firmly attached
3. propshaft, VCU and bearings look OK nothing obviously movable and rubber looks OK, I can't feel any obvious motion in any of the universal joints. I plan to change VCU and bearings next year at 120,000 miles (this was done at 63,000 so I will do again to avoid troubles) but this noise does not sound indicative of VCU issues.
4. Checked front and rear brakes for stones - seems OK
5. Removed Engine undertray and removed a small screw that had fallen there but it wasn't the cause of the problem. Undertray is firmly in place and secure.
6. General look at underneath looks OK
7. Engine compartment bulkhead does not seem to have anything loose on it (pipes etc are well located)
The nature of the noise makes it seem impossible that I can't see where its coming from but I can't.
Can anyone shed any light on possibilities?
I have checked the following:
1. Exhaust, rubber hangers are a little worn but with a strong agitation by hand I can't reproduce the sound, I also tapped each section starting at CAT with a rubber mallet, no rattles.
I also checked for stones in the protection plate at either end of middle box - nothing there.
2. I looked at IRD heatshield (horizontal above IRD) seems firmly attached
3. propshaft, VCU and bearings look OK nothing obviously movable and rubber looks OK, I can't feel any obvious motion in any of the universal joints. I plan to change VCU and bearings next year at 120,000 miles (this was done at 63,000 so I will do again to avoid troubles) but this noise does not sound indicative of VCU issues.
4. Checked front and rear brakes for stones - seems OK
5. Removed Engine undertray and removed a small screw that had fallen there but it wasn't the cause of the problem. Undertray is firmly in place and secure.
6. General look at underneath looks OK
7. Engine compartment bulkhead does not seem to have anything loose on it (pipes etc are well located)
The nature of the noise makes it seem impossible that I can't see where its coming from but I can't.
Can anyone shed any light on possibilities?
