A Clunk From Under Car After Starting And Reching 12 Mph

[jg321]

Hi,

I have a 2008 Mk 2.5 1.6 TDCI Focus, with around 18k on the clock, and came across this thread on a Google search. My car does exactly the same; very slight clunking noise when first driving forward after engine has started. Incidentally, I reverse out of a parking space and it doesn't do it until I drive forward. Can also be replicated by turning the engine off and back on again, then as soon as I start driving forward, there it is.

Just called two local Ford dealers (Manchester) and they haven't heard of, or experienced this at all! Wanted to see what they said, as the warranty on the car ends in December so want to make sure I get anything potentially dodgy sorted before then!

Not too concerned about this noise though, from what I've read on sites such as this.

JG

[shaunyg]

i feel left out, i have a 2010 focus and mine doesn't clunk at any time

[Sara Fiesta]

Mine does to at 12mph ABS engagement / test I was told by Ford 

[K8TB]

same as above happens on mine too, been told by my local dealership its a known problem due to EU safety regulations, having to test a valve linked to ABS that it can release. hope this helps? let us know if you get evidence that they are going to be re-called

[peteq]

Hi all - my Focus does this too. It could be coincidence but whilst on my private property i forgot to put my seatbelt on. When the clunk happened, it set off the red light/beep to say seatbelt not on. Could be coincidence or could be a check to see if seatbelt is on (tho this doesnt explain why it happens on some and not others!). Pete

[Lenny]

Hi all - my Focus does this too. It could be coincidence but whilst on my private property i forgot to put my seatbelt on. When the clunk happened, it set off the red light/beep to say seatbelt not on. Could be coincidence or could be a check to see if seatbelt is on (tho this doesnt explain why it happens on some and not others!). Pete

Its on all focus cars mate, it's the abs brake's checking them selves if you start the car and wait a second then drive off you wont feel the clunk, happens on every focus every time.;)

[peteq]

Interesting - thx for reply however, you can wait ages in mine but clunk will still happen at approx 12 mph even if waited ages. Pete

[Lenny]

Interesting - thx for reply however, you can wait ages in mine but clunk will still happen at approx 12 mph even if waited ages. Pete

mine happens when im parked and start the engine, or if im reversing from the drive way i can feel and hear it, most speed id be reversing from the drive would be 5mph tops :)

unless one of the neighbours kids are standing in the way looking at me :P then the speed would be greater

[nickotdci]

Mine has the same clunk 1.8 2009 focus.

[alkyz89]

iv got a 1.8 zetec S and have only herd this 'clunk' twice, and once herd a 'boing' lol but from reading this thread am hoping all is well!!

[Chutney]

B5.5 VW Passats also suffer with this, but at around 9mph (probably other variants as well).

It may well be that all cars do this, but what people define as a clunk will differ enormously. I have very sensitive hearing and can spot unusual noises even when others cannot hear them.

It is interesting that Ford are looking to do a recall, or more likely a field service so they don't have to deal with the negative press and cost of getting details of all current owners (from the DVLA) and then organising the letters being created, sent and posted.

[alz]

My 05 doesn't clunk,disks all round, it also as abs, i would take a look at the rear engine mount

[Bassman01]

Hello,

I've recently bought a 2008 C-Max 1.8tdci and have also noticed this 'clunk'.

@belknap, did you ever get a letter from Ford confirming whether this was in fact a 'normal' sound.

I've never come across anything like this on any previous cars that I have owned (this is my first Ford) and I'm not totally convinced that it's normal.

[Preee]

Happen's on mine every time i pull away , i'm not worried by it , now if it did not clunk i might be worried lol

[Bassman01]

@Preee

Good point, I'll start to worry when I can't hear it anymore!

[mitch84]

clunk noise here too!

1.6tdci mk 2.5

I get a clunk when pulling away , normally when changing from 1st to 2nd and at lower speeds when changing gear, the problem with me is that it happens more than once while driving but its only noticeable really when pulling away.

[artscot79]

same noise here on the first touch of the brakes ive been told by a mechanic that since the disks get surface rust when you touch the brakes and they scrape that rust off the abs will do a check all i can say is every ford ive driven with abs does it

[jgriff]

I've got the noise on my mk2.5 1.6 petrol. Have to say it never really bothered me as its not that loud and doesn't feel like its not supposed to be there.

[jg321]

58 reg 1.6 TDCi Focus here - makes the clunking noise every time I start and pull off, and always has done!

[MooreMaster]

Same here!

Brought my Focus (1.6 TDCI) week and half ago, notcied this noise about 4 days ago, its a clonk/spring noise coming from what sounds like the middle of the rear of the car, this is again at about 12mph regardless what gear i am in.

As i am covered with dealer warranty i am taking it back for someone to look at to me on the safe side...

I see this post is a little old, has anyone been able to find a definative answer to this clonking noise? it just do not sound right.... and if i can i do not really want to look like a numpty in front of the dealer!!!!

Cheers Ryan

[jg321]

Haha, quite an old thread that I've already commented on twice! Well, over a year and 11,000 miles on, I can safely say that mine has clunked every single time I've first driven forward after starting.

Interestingly, I've moved home since my last post, and now park in an underground car park, where I reverse out then drive around at low speed. No clunk till I hit the road outside and reach 12mph!

Sometimes its louder than others, especially when turning at the same time.

Nothing's fallen off yet (not even the DPF!!).

[Stoney871]

It sounds like the ABS clunk that some get.

Nothing to worry about, it's a test thing.

[artscot79]

Abs all fords do it ide be worried if it didnt

[cragger89]

My mk2.5 1.6 zetec does this as did my mk1 1.8 LX.

My brothers mk1.5 zetec does this too, nothing to worry about as explained earlier.

[Goody]

Just traded my 07 C max 2.0L petrol Auto Zetec in for 10 reg the same model. Bought from non Ford dealer who specialises in ex Motability cars.

Took it back after 2 weeks with a fluid leak which turned out to be a pin hole in the radiator expansion tank which they replaced.

I also asked them to investigate a clunk from under the car after starting off and I wondered if it was a brake pad sticking and then releasing.

They checked and cleaned the brakes and road tested it and said they couldn't hear it now, I had taken mechanic out before to let him hear the noise.

When I collected it the noise was still there so listened carefully and it sounded a little like a solenoid operating so I thought it might be child safety locks or something coming on and I thought it happened at 15 mph.

Just did the google search and came upon the topic on this forum.

Had the 07 C Max for 4 years and it did not happen on that.

Wondering whether to tell the mechanic what I have found so that he could consider it if it happened again or would he be upset at having wasted his time stripping the brakes looking for the problem.