Hi I have a ford mondeo mk4, recently my car has started to vibrate slightly lately and there is what I can only describe as a crunchy sound when I'm pressing the clutch half way in. Sometimes when I'm turning right at low speeds say on a roundabout it has the same noise. I think I'm unknowingly pressing the clutch in. Any ideas on what it is before I hit the mechanic? I can't offer any other info as I'm in no way mechanicaly minded except that the battery is probably on the point of knackered

1 hour ago, Derek5179 said:

recently my car has started to vibrate slightly lately and there is what I can only describe as a crunchy sound when I'm pressing the clutch half way in.

It could be the Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF). But when they go badly wrong, they usually make a lot of nasty noises, like clanking at idle, rattling & clanking when starting & stopping the engine, in particular.

Listening to the engine idling with your ear near the passenger side front wheel will show up any DMF noise, compare it to the other side, or under the bonnet, to check for general engine noises.

If the symptoms are only minor, and there is any uncertainty as to the cause, I advise leaving it for a while, changing a clutch/flywheel that does not need changing is a very expensive experiment!

 

It only seems to be when I'm pressing the clutch in. Car vibrates when I'm idling. And as I said sometimes when I turning right it makes the same noise, like something is grinding which probably doesn't describe it best. I'm hoping it's not the flywheel,  just gotta get it through the next week and I can leave it in. Would a weak battery have anything to do with it as some things seem ro be starting to stop....like radio will take ages to switch back on after I start the car up and Air con is weak as a kitten. Thanks for your reply though.

Also there is no funny noises when starting or stopping the car.  It starts and stops fine sound wise 

5 hours ago, Derek5179 said:

Would a weak battery have anything to do with it as some things seem ro be starting to stop....like radio will take ages to switch back on after I start the car up and Air con is weak as a kitten.

I very much doubt if a low capacity battery will make it vibrate, and certainly can't see it affecting a/c or grinding noises from the clutch. Once the engine is running, the alternator almost completely takes over from the battery, raising the voltage into the normal levels. If you have or can borrow a multimeter, checking the voltage rises quickly to between 13.4v and 14.9v, and stays steady would give some indication that the alternator was ok.

Vibration at idle could be engine mounts or some part of the engine control system, the latter would take a lot of diagnosis work to track down. But if there are no symptoms under load or while cruising, it is not worth worrying about.

Nothing there really points to a flywheel problem, they clank, thump & rattle rather than grind, even if it is it could stay stable for a long time. I have had a few little problems in the clutch area for years now. One is a not nice noise if I apply appreciable power and rpm while releasing the clutch during a gear change, I just have to be a bit more gentle with gear changes. Also there is often a rhythmic clank and very slight variation in idle speed sometimes while idling after a run. But both have been stable for several years, I just note but ignore them.

Weak aircon is most likely low on refrigerant, cars do lose gas slowly through the compressor shaft seal, so if if has never been re-gassed, it may well be low by now.

Radio could just be low battery, if it is losing its settings while the engine is off, it might take more time to start up. But engine starting performance is the main indicator of weak battery. You will know next Autumn, on the 1st really cold morning! Keep the jump leads handy.