Toyota Yaris (1999 - 2005) - 2005 1.3 Clutch grinding

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Fri 13 Feb 2009 07:59
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
I've recently bought a new Yaris from a dealer. Only occasionally, the clutch will grind after changing gear. I also hear a similar noise when trying to accelerate at low speed.

I thought this was a clutch problem but I have a tendency (due to my old car being high geared) to change gear too early, thus possibly labouring the car.

Could changing gears too early be the cause? I have just driven the car, taking longer to change gears, and it was fine.

Maybe it's just a case of getting used to the longer gearing?

I bought the car from a Toyota dealer 60 miles away and I have contacted them about it. They are coming to an agreement with my local dealer to have the car looked at.

As I say, this is not something that happens all the time.

Thanks.

Edited by CarNovice28 on 13/02/2009 at 08:00

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Fri 13 Feb 2009 09:01
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - RichardW
Are you getting a sort of deep 'tinkling' noise as you put the power on? Can you replicate it by trying to accelerate at say 30 in 4th gear? It does sound like you are working the engine too hard a low revs and it is pinking. Isn't this a VVti engine - and therefore needs to be revved to get the best out of it. Changing up at low revs is NOT the most economical way to drive!
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Fri 13 Feb 2009 12:48
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
Doesn't happen at higher gears, as far I can remember.

The sound is like a grinding noise, a bit like a growled crunch - like metal grinding.


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Fri 13 Feb 2009 13:09
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - oilrag
Are you letting the gear lever momentarily pause when cold and encountering pressure on the synchromesh cones?

A lot of people these days use the gear lever as though its a big electrical switch - with a chopping wood motion...
I`m sure that`s not you - but I blame lack of mechanical sympathy in driving lessons

Edited by oilrag on 13/02/2009 at 13:13

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Fri 13 Feb 2009 17:45
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
Hi Oilrag

Thanks. Not really sure what you mean by pausing the gear lever? you mean not changing gears quickly enough? Or should I change slowly and smoothly?

It wa sa bit strange driving at 30 in 3rd earlier though the engine sounded like it wanted to change, so I tend to change to 4th between 30 and 35.

It just means a lot of changing on the way down.

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Fri 13 Feb 2009 20:25
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
Happened again earlier after going round a corner in 2nd off a main road. Accelerated and heard grinding.

Also, I can get to a certain speed at it happens i.e as if the car wants me to change gear even though I'm only at 2000rpm.

It's spoiling the enjoyment of driving the car at the moment and it's disappointing.

:-(
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Fri 13 Feb 2009 20:38
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - oilrag
Hi Carnovice, I mean changing gear without `forcing` it. That said, it seems like something else is going on - but not sure what from your description.

Edited by oilrag on 13/02/2009 at 20:40

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Fri 13 Feb 2009 20:42
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
I am having the car checked at local Toyota dealer tomorrow so we'll soon find out!

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Sun 15 Feb 2009 19:45
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
Nothing found. Didn't happen at the dealership when either I, or the serviceman, drove it, and the serviceman also inspected the car and couldn't find anything untoward.

I have started to change gears more slowly and it seems to be helping. I think it's just getting used to driving it.

Any tips?

Thanks.

Edited by CarNovice28 on 15/02/2009 at 19:45

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Sun 15 Feb 2009 20:26
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - oilrag
CarNovice (if you really are ;-)

It`s worth looking into what`s going on in the gearbox.


quote
"as you change gear, you consider what is going on in the gearbox, you'll remember to be polite but firm with your gear stick, not rush the synchro and make it baulk, and not change so slowly that the whole thing grinds to a halt.
You will remember that if your engine is labouring up a long hill and you want a really fast change to a lower gear, you need to drop out of gear into neutral, lift the clutch pedal, blip the throttle quickly, down with the clutch and quickly into the lower gear. With practice this will give you faster, slicker changes and prolong the life of your gearbox."

tinyurl.com/ao9rcq

(last paragraph)

All the best ;-)

Edited by oilrag on 15/02/2009 at 20:28

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Sun 15 Feb 2009 20:40
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - oilrag
Just to add, after re-reading the above, it`s not necessary with a modern car to blip the throttle *clutch up* between gears on a modern car. But if you look into what synchromesh cones do when moving the lever - you can see where the writer is coming from - it had to be done years ago in the pre synchro era..

Understanding the operation of the synchromesh cones leads to a better technique when moving the lever - due to mechanical sympathy through knowledge IMHO.

Apologies if you are already aware - but you asked !
;-)
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Mon 16 Feb 2009 15:11
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
Nope - wasn't aware. Thanks.

Just didn't have the same problem with my old Fiesta!

It's a totally different gearbox! Tends to happen when cold though now, I've noticed.

I'm getting better but it still feels strange.

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Fri 20 Feb 2009 22:53
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
Started happening again!

This also occasionally happens when I accelerate. It sounds mechanical, though I don't know if it's gearbox whine?

I've had a diesel fitter for Toyota test the car and he thought it drove very well - he suggested the gearbox was fine, so I'm assuming it's the way I'm driving it!



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Sat 21 Feb 2009 07:28
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - oilrag
Perhaps if you took an experienced driver out with you and drove until the noise occured. Did the Toyota tech observe the way you drove the car? I mean to say, did he ask you to recreate the noise?

That`s the way forward I think - there is still a possibility it actually is the car and the noise is intermittent. You need to exclude that possibility.


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Sat 21 Feb 2009 13:14
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
The Toyota tech told me to be slower with my gearchanges and smoother - I think he thought I was rushing the lever.

Mum has just been out in it and can't find a problem other than the wing mirrors - which need replacing (found last week) - as they cause excessive wind noise.

For me, it happens too regularly to be nothing.

Booked in again for a week on Tuesday when I'm off work. Frustrating.

I'll get someone to come out with me for a drive and see if they can hear anything.

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Sun 22 Feb 2009 00:20
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
Does anyone know the speeds at which you should optimally change gear in a 1.3 Yaris?

I think I might be changing gear too early.

Ta.

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Sun 22 Feb 2009 11:28
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - Aretas
If you think it is your technique that is at fault an hour with a driving instructor may be your best solution.
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Sun 22 Feb 2009 13:13
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
I've been out with an experienced driver today who has said the car drives really well.

I used to have a Fiesta where I changed up quite early and the new car is totally different. I think it's just getting used to driving at a higher speed in a lower gear.

The experienced driver even said I should be driving in 3rd at 30mph which surprised me!

Is that right?
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Sun 22 Feb 2009 15:38
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - jc2
I'm confused;is it a new car or a "new" secondhand car?-2005 is not a new car but if it is a new car dealer should sort it.
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Sun 22 Feb 2009 17:15
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
New 2nd-hand (had for 4 weeks) with just over 32000 miles on the clock.

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Wed 11 Mar 2009 08:04
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
Been back to Toyota with this who had a transmission specialist drive the car.

He also noticed the noise but it was intermittent, as I had said.

He suggested that the transmission fluid be changed to a different type but this is trial-and-error and if this doesn't cure the problem, they'll have to look inside the gearbox.

I'm trying to get the dealership from where I bought the car to pay for this, because I've only had the car 6 weeks! I wrote a letter to them over the weekend and I'm awaiting a reply.

I could have the change done at a Bosch approved garage (as I believe this doesn't impact on extended warranties) - the replacement of fluid isn't covered by the warranty anyway - but I want to see what Toyota say first.
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Fri 3 Apr 2009 14:08
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
No luck with Toyota. Didn't even reply to my letter.

Had a mechanic friend drive it and he said it was normal transmission feedback. There's a vibrating point on the accelerator, for some reason. He said it was nothing to worry about.

One other friend thought that there was a loose nut/screw on the exhaust which was causing it to rattle at a certain speed.

It is intermittent which suggests that it isn't a big deal. It's just weird!

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Sat 16 Jan 2010 23:46
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - CarNovice28
For information - this noise turned out to be the air filter box pipe that was slightly loose and resonating at certain speeds.

Now fixed thanks to service from trusted independent!

SQ

Edited by Dynamic Dave on 17/01/2010 at 03:25

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Fri 21 Dec 2018 19:59
2005 1.3 Clutch grinding - levhathi

Very late post but the same thing happened to me. And I Googled it when I came across this helpful post.

Except in my case, I recently had the clutch plate replaced, as well as the water filter which was apparently leaking. All this cost me R12500 (about £680). It's a 2010 Yaris T3 Spirit with 210 000 km on the clock, and I had it for about 5 years now. I fetched the car from the Toyota dealership last week and about 2 days ago, it started making a metallic grinding noice just as you described. I'm taking it back tomorrow to have it checked. I'll ask them to have a look at the air filter pipe. Thanks.

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