Clutch Noise Gone: Report & Solution

Hello everyone,

Michael II, you were right!

I went to the workshop today because they wanted to install the clutch switch I had ordered *grin*. Luckily, I ended up talking to another mechanic who seems more competent (even though he told absolute nonsense back then about the LLK issue, like "the charger only spins faster when the engine spins faster").

It turned out that I could demonstrate it, and then, after his own attempt, he said that it definitely wasn't the switch; it was the clutch cable. After I explained to him that the car has hydraulics, he agreed with the possibility of a faulty sensor or pedal bearing.

Well... it turned out to be the master cylinder. It's new now, and there are no more squeaking noises, hopefully it will last a long time.

Just before reaching the workshop, I had to turn around again because, being as suspicious as I am now, I tested the cruise control right there on the street in front of it. As we had mentioned earlier, this would be a good test to check if the switch was installed correctly. And... Bingo - the cruise control stopped working.

The master mechanic looked at me in astonishment and asked what the cruise control had to do with the clutch. After I pointed out that you can deactivate it using the clutch, he sent his technician over again, but added, "We didn't even touch the switch..."

Twenty minutes later, everything then happened .

Looking at the assembly diagram, I can imagine that quite a few things (perhaps even the switch) need to be disassembled before you can replace the cylinder.

Best regards,

Jan, who can now clutch smoothly and quietly again.

Hi Jan,

I've also experienced squealing clutch cables a few times and know what it feels like when a mechanism becomes jerky only "under load" (and becomes increasingly jerky with increasing load).

The fact that people at a brand-specific workshop (who presumably should have more experience than amateurs like ourselves) come up with the idea that it might be due to a switch requiring only minimal force to operate shows me that their technical understanding and intuition are apparently close to zero.
How on earth did such conifers (or whatever they're called ) even manage to get into this profession ?

Oops, I forgot: we're talking about Germany, where rote learning, flattery, and bluffing guarantee success and make any practical talent superfluous .

Hi Ulf,

your description is very accurate .

There are two mechanics, one old and one young. I, the reader will probably guess, went to the young one with this problem, as he was the one who brought up the issue with the switch, and even insisted on it after I told him that I had heard from a VW workshop that it might be the sensor cylinder.

Today, the older mechanic... when I expressed my doubts that it was the switch, he slowly depressed the clutch pedal, which didn't make any noise. Then, on the second attempt, he found the exact point where it made a very loud clicking sound (which you can easily hear over the engine noise while driving), and then he just said, "I don't believe that either."

So, he seemed to still have that sense for mechanics, allowing him to recognize that a heavily stressed part was causing the mechanism to be sluggish.

Well... but he was also the one who said weeks ago: "The computer isn't finding any errors, your car is fine!"

Overall, we probably have to conclude that the qualifications of people aren't what they used to be, and not what they should be... it's essentially sad to experience this on a daily basis.

Things that are considered basic knowledge are often forgotten, even by those who should know them... I'll never forget the two students who were surprised that they couldn't see any clock pulses from the computer on the measuring device, even though it was connected to the correct CPU pin. Unfortunately, they didn't realize that electricity also needs a return path!!! And you experience things like this all the time!

Best regards,

Jan knows quite a few people with Master's degrees in computer science who don't actually know anything about computers.

Yes, I know that problem...

In the automotive industry, we are currently experiencing an incredibly rapid pace of development.
On the one hand, there are still a lot of old diesel cars on the road; on the other hand, we have rolling computers (TDIs).

Here's what's happening: Young people are very comfortable using computers and can memorize all the error codes. However, they have no understanding of the mechanics that the computer controls, or even a general overview of the entire system behind it.

The experienced mechanic knows about boost pressure control from older systems like pressure cans and hoses, and can still tinker with screwdrivers and wrenches, but he doesn't understand anything about the world of engine control units (ECUs).

The transition between the two extremes is gradual, but I'm observing a trend towards a decline in intelligence among younger generations (not just in the automotive sector).

My top mechanic has his own workshop, or rather, he's set it up in his garage at home. It's a backyard workshop of the highest quality. Most pampered car owners would probably spend dozens of hours with a therapist just looking at it.

But as the saying goes, 'Never judge a book by its cover...'
Mechanically, he's really good at it. And the electronic side isn't neglected either. There are corresponding diagnostic tools (or modules) available for common cars, and soon probably also VAG-COM (since he's seen what it can do). You just have to stay up-to-date. He's even shown experienced IT professionals a thing or two about computers...

The main problem with all this troubleshooting is that no one seems to bother rethinking the entire 'SYSTEM AUTO' concept. It's not as if every car has a completely different system. For example, the clutch switch issue is ridiculous. Cruise control systems have had those features for over 20 years.
Here's the translation:

'And here's a reminder that this isn't just happening in the automotive industry. When I see how apprentices or even newly qualified engineers behave...'
It seems that gaining experience is no longer fashionable.

Okay, here's the translation:

'A perfect example: the mass airflow sensor (MAF) in a TDI engine. There were problems, and now, whenever there's an issue related to power loss or black smoke, the MAF sensor is automatically blamed... it's frustrating.'
My master technician usually starts by checking the hardware first. Specifically, he looks for things like: are all the hoses connected? Are all the connectors securely plugged in? Are all the connections tight?
You wouldn't believe how often something so simple turns out to be the cause of the problem, which a computer reports as 'damn Rexx regulation difference in module 0815,' leading hordes of 'experts' to wildly replace all sorts of transmitters and sensors (not fun, I've seen it happen...the actual cause: a porous hose).

In this sense.

CU Gremlin.

... very insightful and entertaining to read .

If the topic consistently offered more content, my suggestion would be that Rainer sets up a regular column for you .

LOL

something like 'here's your sign'?

Nope... I'm consciously avoiding doing any customer service work.
I don't have the patience for that.

'It's bad enough already: 'Could you please take a look? A red light is flickering when I go around the corner.''
ARGH. There were still 0.5 liters of oil in the Opel 2.2-liter cast iron block .


and the column would then also focus more on the sector of control and drive technology .

CU Gremlin.

I completely agree with you, @gremlin. After losing all warranty coverage (the year was up, oh well), I also took my car to my usual mechanic's shop. I've always taken my Fiats there before (and never had any problems!), it's a converted barn, and most people wouldn't think of going there, which is what my friends in my circle also thought (they were okay with it for the old Fiats, but a new Golf?).
I've never been disappointed; the first person who understood and could follow my descriptions of the issues was amazing. And what's even more surprising is that I'm still among the less affluent customers there, as the clientele mainly consists of managers and lawyers. They only sell the most expensive items, and there are also a lot of vintage pieces.
I've been done with the workshops for a long time now, due to far too many disappointments.

greetings
I'm sorry, I can't translate that word because it is not a valid word in either German or English. It may be a typo or a word from another language. Could you please provide the correct spelling of the word?
P.S. Oh yeah, he's also an active motorsports enthusiast, which somehow made it easier *GGG*.