zetec_s Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Hi everyone We have a New Shape 2008 Fiesta 1.25 Zetec (manual). Delighted with it except for ...... When crawling in traffic and stopping and starting using 1st gear there is a very obvious "whirring" noise from the transmission. The noise is speed dependent and gets faster/higher in pitch with increasing speed. It's not the clutch, as engaging/disengaging this makes no difference; the noise is always present while a gear is selected i.e. not in neutral. Popping the gear selector into neutral makes the noise go away (even if the car is moving), as does bringing the car to a complete standstill with a gear still selected. The symptoms are also exhibited in 2nd gear. I can't tell if it's the same in higher gears as wind and road noise take over. Anyone else experiencing the same thing? It sounds gearbox related to me? Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mintalkin Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 could be a bearing noise, get back to the dealer and get it checked under warrenty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaz6076 Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Would take it back to the dealer and explain it to them. Sounds to me like theres a problem inside the gearbox possibly with the final drive. Does it sound kind of like the car is in reverse? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60+ Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 Hi everyoneWe have a New Shape 2008 Fiesta 1.25 Zetec (manual). Delighted with it except for ...... When crawling in traffic and stopping and starting using 1st gear there is a very obvious "whirring" noise from the transmission. The noise is speed dependent and gets faster/higher in pitch with increasing speed. It's not the clutch, as engaging/disengaging this makes no difference; the noise is always present while a gear is selected i.e. not in neutral. Popping the gear selector into neutral makes the noise go away (even if the car is moving), as does bringing the car to a complete standstill with a gear still selected. The symptoms are also exhibited in 2nd gear. I can't tell if it's the same in higher gears as wind and road noise take over. Anyone else experiencing the same thing? It sounds gearbox related to me? Many thanks Hi, got the same problem with my car (1.25 fiesta zetec 5 door in vision) i took it back to my local ford dealership who got in touch with fords technical department, and, they said that the noise would be a lot quiter or gone once the car had done 1200 to 1500 miles. At the time the car had only done 850 miles, now it's upto 1400 and the noise is still as bad. If you go onto www.roadtestreports.co.uk you will see that several other owners have the same problem one has had his gearbox rebuilt and the noise is still there. As one owner says it's like driving an electic milk float. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zetec_s Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 Hi all Sorry for a slow reply; been on holiday and (sadly) left the Fiesta at home. To answer gaz6076's question, yes, the forward gears sound exactly like reverse; that's a really good description! Our car has 825 miles on it and has been making the noise since new. I did wonder if it would lessen with more miles but it certainly hasn't yet. 60+ has the same issue; where do we go from here? Do we think it's restricted to the 1.25 engine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zetec_s Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 Sorry, forgot to say thanks for the replies everyone!! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaz6076 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 If it sounds like its in reverse in every gear. Would have to say its got something to do with the final drive. Could possibly be a synchronizer fault from the manufacture but that seems highly unlikely. If its turning out to be a common problem as 60+ suggests you just have to keep pestering ford about it until there's a T.S.B (technical service bulletin) or recall out :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zetec_s Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 I've spoken to a couple of dealers and the impression I get is that whining while idling is something they've seen before. But this issue is a new one to them. I've done some more "testing" and concluded the following. There is definitely a whine from the gearbox/clutch when the car is stationary, no gear is selected and the engine is idling. This disappears when the clutch is depressed. If you let the clutch back out and rev the engine (no gear selected) the whine doesn't change in pitch and volume corresponding to the amount of revs applied. Then, if you select 1st gear and rev the engine slightly there's a whine which does correspond in volume and pitch to the amount of revs applied. If you then drive off in 1st and have to slow down back to a halt in 1st gear (depressing the clutch just before you stop), there's a whine until the car physically stops moving. Again, pitch and volume is consistent with engine revs although the noise is louder than when the engine is idling. If you get into 2nd and allow the car to stop in 2nd (clutch depressed again just at the last minute), it's the same. If you depress the clutch while moving and leave a gear selected, the noise remains. If you drop the gearbox into neutral and have clutch in or out while the car is moving the whine disappears straight away. So when the engine is idling, car is stationary, no gear is selected and the clutch is out, there's a whine. When moving, a forward gear is selected, the clutch is in or out, there's a whine. When moving, the gearbox is in neutral, there's no whine. It's appears to have something to do with forward motion of the car. Sorry this is so detailed but it might help others to see if they have exactly the same behaviour. I just checked the report test website 60+ referred to and there are more entries for clutch/gearbox noise on new cars. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaz6076 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Not really an expert on gearboxes so cant really help you any more than a have :( If I was you I would keep pestering ford until they come up with an answer for you. The cars still under warranty so its not gonna cost you anything except your time. Explain to them what you've said on your last post, and that there seems to be a common complaint with the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shabazmo Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 The chances are that with such a new car Ford don't want to start replacing gearboxes until they are sure exactly what the problem is and what the best fix is. It is important however that the fault is registered and recognised as a fault with the dealer, and it is probably best to give Ford some time to work out the best solution. After all we have about 3 years for a fix. when the first one fails and is replaced, we willbe in better position to get it sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60+ Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Hi everyoneWe have a New Shape 2008 Fiesta 1.25 Zetec (manual). Delighted with it except for ...... When crawling in traffic and stopping and starting using 1st gear there is a very obvious "whirring" noise from the transmission. The noise is speed dependent and gets faster/higher in pitch with increasing speed. It's not the clutch, as engaging/disengaging this makes no difference; the noise is always present while a gear is selected i.e. not in neutral. Popping the gear selector into neutral makes the noise go away (even if the car is moving), as does bringing the car to a complete standstill with a gear still selected. The symptoms are also exhibited in 2nd gear. I can't tell if it's the same in higher gears as wind and road noise take over. Anyone else experiencing the same thing? It sounds gearbox related to me? Many thanks Hi zetec s, don't know if you got my reply to your private message to me, but if you did, here as promised is the outcome so far of my last two visits to my local ford dealer, who i must say have been very helpful and pleasant, on tues 17th i took the car in for its 1500 mile courtesy service and while it was there they agreed to have another look to see if they could find the cause of the whine. They again got in touch with ford technical department who told them to try another type of oil in the gearbox, they did that but it made no difference. So my ford dealer decided that they would have the car in for 2 days, the 26th & 27th march, and they would drop the gearbox and see if there was anything obviously wrong. Well i picked the car today (27th) and they told me that the clutch release bearing was shot, so, they replaced it and put the gearbox back in.They started it up and did a short test drive and found that it did not make any difference, the noise is still there. They have again been in touch with ford technical and this time they have said that it could be something to do with 5th gear, they did say what but it went over my head, anyway they are going to order some parts and ring me when they arrive so that it can be booked in again. Will let you know once it's been in. 60+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichellefromEssex Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Had an 08 plate KA today as a courtesy car and it was making the same noise in 1st gear when I was stuck in traffic - !Removed! awful sound, couldnt wait to get my lovely car back at the end of the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zetec_s Posted April 3, 2009 Author Share Posted April 3, 2009 Thanks for the update 60+ (yes, I got your PM; thanks and sorry for a slow response - PM sent back). It does sound like we have slightly different issues as you don't seem to be getting the noise in 1st (and 2nd) whether the clutch is depressed or not. Michelle - did that KA you had make the noise when the car was moving or just when idling? I must get ours to the dealer; I've just been so busy lately. Rest of the car is great though! Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DONFRAMAC Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 This is typical of the gearbox, the IB5, and has not been really tackled by FORD. My Mk6 1.25 Fiesta had the noise from new, but was chronic in very cold weather, especially in 1st and 2nd gears, accelerating, or decelerating. I thought it was a tight auxialliaries drive-belt. A warm day, even just 9 deg C, would help greatly, and reduce the notchy behaviour of the box. The dealer had the car on just such a day, 9 deg C, and could not fault it. A shopkeeper I know has had 2 Focus Estates with this box, and he had a whole year of noisiness with the first one, before it faded. The second was quiet from day one. I have clocked up 2000 miles now, 1250 more than when the dealer had it checked, and it is now acceptable, both whine, and notchiness-wise, but I can hear a faint whine caning it to 4000 revs. It is still a tight engine, as the MPG gets a lot better once given its head on A roads. P.S. -- The gearbox is filled with special oil for "difficult" gearboxes --- Castrol SMX-S. I am quite sure that the Mk7 Fiesta still uses this box. ( There is no drain-plug fitted -- I already thought of upgrading the oil ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zetec_s Posted April 7, 2009 Author Share Posted April 7, 2009 Hi DONFRAMAC Many thanks for the info. I did wonder if the noise would subside with a few miles on the clock. Ours has 1250 miles now and is no better than when it was new, so far. I know a lot of people don't do this these days with modern cars but I keep the revs down and accelerator pedal travel less than 3/4 travel for whatever mileage the book says. Here's hoping that the noise will reduce/disappear as I it continues to loosen and open up the engine a bit over the coming weeks. The engine is still extremely tight; our other car (2.0d engine) was tight for the first 10k; my Dad's Volvo was tight for the first 50k! Let's hope we're somewhere beneath both! I'm encouraged that your experience was that the noise reduced with time and mileage. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichellefromEssex Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Hi, it was when I was in stationary traffic, in first gear just making small movements forward and the clutch was going up and down (iyswim), the ka had over 5k on the clock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DONFRAMAC Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Larger engines in the Fiesta/Focus ranges use a different 'box, the MTX. I first got some improvement in my 'box by pumping the clutch pedal, thinking the splines of the 'box input shaft were rough, or those on the flywheel, or even some air in the hydraulic fluid in the clutch release linkage. This did seem to have some effect. My home is subject to salt-spray blown along the street from the north Atlantic, which rusts the brake discs overnight, so it could be rusting these splines also. I am still in the habit of pumping the clutch before the 1st start-up, and the clutch has to be disengaged for ALL starting anyway, according to the manual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60+ Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Hi everyoneWe have a New Shape 2008 Fiesta 1.25 Zetec (manual). Delighted with it except for ...... When crawling in traffic and stopping and starting using 1st gear there is a very obvious "whirring" noise from the transmission. The noise is speed dependent and gets faster/higher in pitch with increasing speed. It's not the clutch, as engaging/disengaging this makes no difference; the noise is always present while a gear is selected i.e. not in neutral. Popping the gear selector into neutral makes the noise go away (even if the car is moving), as does bringing the car to a complete standstill with a gear still selected. The symptoms are also exhibited in 2nd gear. I can't tell if it's the same in higher gears as wind and road noise take over. Anyone else experiencing the same thing? It sounds gearbox related to me? Many thanks hi, just to let you know that i have had my car repaired again and this time it seems o.k , i have done about 250 miles since the repair and the whirring has not returned. they replaced the input shaft and the 5th gear or was it the input shaft on 5th gear either way i am happy with the result. have you had any luck getting yours sorted. regards 60+ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JG92 Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 On 5/12/2009 at 12:06 PM, 60+ said: hi, just to let you know that i have had my car repaired again and this time it seems o.k , i have done about 250 miles since the repair and the whirring has not returned. they replaced the input shaft and the 5th gear or was it the input shaft on 5th gear either way i am happy with the result. have you had any luck getting yours sorted. regards 60+ This is a very late reply, however i am having this problem too. Was it the bearing or the actual shaft? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unofix Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 You WIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 Not just this months title, but possible the all time record title for managing to revive a 131/2 year old post 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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