Steering column rattle

[steve_earwig]

Is that a normal groaning noise or a "power steering pump on its last legs" groaning noise?

[Captain Jack]

Dunno - what's the difference? It's been doing it for years, though...

[steve_earwig]

Well, how noisy is it compared to the 2,1td?

[Captain Jack]

Hello again....

Steve, not sure how noisy it is vs 2.1TD but it's getting worse.

In fact, the whole cabin now shakes at idle, especially when the engine is cold. The rear view mirror shakes visibly. At cold, the engine is also quite rattly and the aux belt auto-tensioner moves up and down quite a lot but calms down once the engine warms up or the engine is revving above idle, when all vibrations stop. In fact... Jasper5... when you did my cam-belt, you even mentioned that the engine sounded a bit loud and you thought it was due to the cam-belt touching the housing from the inside but the noise went away after a few minutes as the engine warmed up. I am sure it's the usual diesel clatter but it seems too clattery.

The bottom mount was replaced but this didn't help. The top mount is fine and so is the gearbox mount. I have no idea what to do now and it's getting a little too annoying. Doubt the poly bushes will help - will probably make it worse, if anything.

What else can it be? Can the engine itself be producing too much vibration and get worse? If so, what can be the cause of it? I also notice that the engine is a little "burbly", as if I have a hole in the exhaust somewhere. A recent MOT didn't flag any advisories in that area though......

[steve_earwig]

I reckon you need to look further afield with that as I don't think it sounds like it's only something rattling in the steering column now. Has the car ever had a clutch/flywheeel? Is it possible that something is misaligned and making the engine vibrate a lot, which is setting up sympathetic oscillations in other stuff?

[steve_earwig]

Or is it running on 3 perhaps? [/longshot]

[Captain Jack]

Clutch and flywheel have both been replaced in October and the vibration hasn't changed. Doubt it's running on 3 as the power is still fine and the vibration isn't as bad once warmed up.

I was thinking the crankshaft pulley but it has been inspected several times and it seems OK. It's the "later" type, without the notches in there....

Mind you, the car has ticked over 151000 miles now so it's to be expected - sort of. But it should still be possible to "fix" it, right?

[jasper5]

I reckon you need to look further afield with that as I don't think it sounds like it's only something rattling in the steering column now. Has the car ever had a clutch/flywheeel? Is it possible that something is misaligned and making the engine vibrate a lot, which is setting up sympathetic oscillations in other stuff?

The car has had a new clutch and flywheel, my mate and I fitted it, I fitted a new lower mount.

My van vibrates when my exhaust comes loose now and then, maybe the front flexi is causing it?

[Captain Jack]

Flexi could be causing it. The one I have on there is non "type-approved" But, didn't we tighten everything up when we changed the mid-section anyway?

What I need is warmer weather, so I can climb under the thing with the engine running and someone blipping the throttle for me.

[jasper5]

Flexi could be causing it. The one I have on there is non "type-approved" But, didn't we tighten everything up when we changed the mid-section anyway?

What I need is warmer weather, so I can climb under the thing with the engine running and someone blipping the throttle for me.

Yes we did, i forgot.

Pity we didn't get time to have a good look on the ramp....hope for better weather now

[Captain Jack]

And that what's annoying - the fact that there is nothing obvious in this. I should maybe try it without the aux belt and see if it's as rattly (when cold). Without the belt it's driving less stuff = less strain... although, not sure what it will point to if the rattle/vibrations disappear.

[Captain Jack]

Still haven't gotten the aux belt off - no time just yet.

I've been thinking about the crankshaft pulley. Mine is the original one - nearly 11 years old at 151000 miles but I think it's the newer type, like the one here http://www.autopartoo.com/oem/peugeot/0515s4s1ysa.html You can see that it doesn't have the notches. Does that mean mine isn't the dampening type? Would that introduce more vibrations?

[grasmere59]

I didn't think they fitted the solid type (0515S4) untill the really late models,my old 52 plate had the dampened type fitted.

[Captain Jack]

Hm, I punched in my VIN number into ServicePox and ....

[grasmere59]

Thats dead confusing,i remember when i checked up on service box on my old 52 rapier it came up with 0515V6. My 53 plate comes up with the same as yours.Just to put another fly in the mix,my 53 plate has the dampended type fitted at the moment but to be honest i don't know the full history of the car although it was main dealer serviced up to 88k and an indy after that.