1 small clunk/knock when pulling away? A common lowered A3/MK5 Golf issue?

TimG

TimG

Registered User
Joined
Feb 21, 2004
Messages
942
Reaction score
45
Points
28
Location
South Coast
I have had this issue before on my 2003 Polo, after installing coilovers and then doing a few thousand miles and now my A3 has developed it. As I'm pulling away from stationary (just as the clutch bites and the wheels start to pull the car along) I get a pop/ click noise which sounds like its coming from underneath the car somewhere, possibly footwell area or underneath the forward seating area. It is one click/clunk and thats it, until I stop and pull away again. It never happens at speed, just the initial load of pulling away and sometimes braking to a halt.

I've checked all the wheel nuts and they're fine, so its not that (although it kind sounds like it did when I had some loose ones of my previous car!).

I'm wondering if it is the chassis/subframe bolts not being tight enough and allowing some very slight movement when the chassis is placed under strain when pulling away... maybe?

Anyone else experienced this at all? I have heard the MK5 Golf lads complain of similar issue on lowered cars! Its definitely chassis/subframe suspension related I'm sure of that.
 
bounce hard on each corner of the car, see if it's related to a particular corner
 
I had this same problem on my last A3. Turned out to be worn engine/gearbox mounts. The clunk only happened when pulling away, nothing over bumps etc.
 
Am i right in thinking you have JOM coilovers?

Check your struts. I had this issue (amongst others) and I found that the blue shim that comes with the JOM's to change strut size from 50 to 55 doesn't lock properly when tightened.
 
Ads said:
I had this same problem on my last A3. Turned out to be worn engine/gearbox mounts. The clunk only happened when pulling away, nothing over bumps etc.
Click to expand...

Hmm. Its possible, but cars only done 60k!
 
wez3570 said:
Am i right in thinking you have JOM coilovers?

Check your struts. I had this issue (amongst others) and I found that the blue shim that comes with the JOM's to change strut size from 50 to 55 doesn't lock properly when tightened.
Click to expand...

Yes, JOM's. Could you explain how you found this please? I cant see how the clamping forces of the hub assembly when tightened around the bottom of the strut could leave any room for movement in there?
 
Mine clunks when changing from 1st to 2nd on pull off. Only does it once though and sounds like somethings engaging....I think its the clutch but audi can't find owt wrong:think:
 
My S3 has just started doing this after I had the winters fitted last Tuesday! Only does it occassionally, only when taking off from a standing start and only when reversing!!! Eh? Car is lowered on springs and has only done 16k. Is it to do with car having been jacked up recently? I thought I was imagining it until I read this.
 
TimG said:
Yes, JOM's. Could you explain how you found this please? I cant see how the clamping forces of the hub assembly when tightened around the bottom of the strut could leave any room for movement in there?
Click to expand...

On the side of the damper strut, there's a lug welded on. If yours is moving like mine was, you will see signs of damage on the lug.

Does yours knock once when pulling away in reverse also?
 
wez3570 said:
On the side of the damper strut, there's a lug welded on. If yours is moving like mine was, you will see signs of damage on the lug.

Does yours knock once when pulling away in reverse also?
Click to expand...

Yes sometimes, pulling away forwards and backwards, just as the car starts to pull as the clutch is engaged. I know the locating lug you mean (it sticks through the gap in the blue part) but I still cant imagine how anything in that area can move unless the pinch bolt that clamps the bottom of the shock in the hub isn't tight!? How did you rectify the issue in case that is the cause?
 
Mine was making a similar noise recently, thought it was mounts or struts etc. Tuned out to be something to do with the dump valve hose.... does it make the noise if you dont actually pull away and just rev in neutral? try it and let me know...:readit:
 
i too have a small click / clunk when the drive is being taken up recently when i was cleaning my engine bay i thought i would try and see wtf it was i shook the engine (when it was off) and there is movement on the gearbox side of the engine I'm assuming engine/gearbox mount has gone , its done this for ages but the strange thing was when i had the clutch replaced it didn't make a sound for a good few weeks then it came back exactly the same noise as before , I'm guessing when it was put back together it was nice and tight again and has loosened over time , one way to see if its a engine mount like think mine has got is to literly shake the engine with your hand if its a lot then it could be the cause
 
Denty said:
does it make the noise if you dont actually pull away and just rev in neutral?
Click to expand...

No. Its definitely chassis related, you can tell by the feel of it/noise/ when it happens etc.

Ads said:
Mine had only done 40k. It's more common if the engine has been disturbed i.e. moved for a cambelt change etc.
Had anything like that done recently?
Click to expand...

Cambelt was done like 6k ago, but it has only developed in the last 1k or so. My Polo developed exactly the same noise after having coilovers on for a while, which I why I thinks its chassis related. Might be coincidence obv.

I found a link to this on E38 & a MK5 forum which might be something.

ECS Tuning: VW MKV Subframe Spacer Plates Install - YouTube
 
audi upgrades
this happened when my a3 was brand new. only when pulling away and mostly after reversing. i.e reverse into a spot and when pulling away i would hear a clunk.

stopped by itself, never happened since
 
TimG said:
Cambelt was done like 6k ago, but it has only developed in the last 1k or so. My Polo developed exactly the same noise after having coilovers on for a while, which I why I thinks its chassis related. Might be coincidence obv.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't rule out the mounts mate. Symptoms are exactly like mine, and seeing that you've had your cambelt changed not too long ago it could well be the cause. They don't necessarily have to start failing straight away, they can take a while.

Something to consider anyway.
 
TimG said:
but I still cant imagine how anything in that area can move unless the pinch bolt that clamps the bottom of the shock in the hub isn't tight!? How did you rectify the issue in case that is the cause?
Click to expand...

Believe me it was tight! The mechanic was swinging from an extension bar to get it moving.

I sent the coilovers back and bought ones that don't require a shim. I thought it must be due to the weight of the 3.2 lump but just thought I'd mention it to you so u can rule it out.

I am interested to find out what's the cause of your knocking, let us know how u get on.
 
FranA3 said:
i too have a small click / clunk when the drive is being taken up recently when i was cleaning my engine bay i thought i would try and see wtf it was i shook the engine (when it was off) and there is movement on the gearbox side of the engine I'm assuming engine/gearbox mount has gone , its done this for ages but the strange thing was when i had the clutch replaced it didn't make a sound for a good few weeks then it came back exactly the same noise as before , I'm guessing when it was put back together it was nice and tight again and has loosened over time , one way to see if its a engine mount like think mine has got is to literly shake the engine with your hand if its a lot then it could be the cause
Click to expand...
does sound like the sound I've got ADS what do you recon matey sound like the same issue you had , read my issue
 
FranA3 said:
does sound like the sound I've got ADS what do you recon matey sound like the same issue you had , read my issue
Click to expand...

Could well be Fran. If I heard it I'd know almost for sure because of the feel and sound's location.
Thing is, A3 engines flap about quite a lot even when the mounts are in good condition, so just being able to move the engine isn't always a good indicator.

The click starts off just in first gear when pulling off, and as time goes on and it gets worse sometimes you can hear it when changing to 2nd too.

I was getting no clicking or clunking when going over bumps at all, only when putting drive to the wheels. This is when most force is suddenly put on the engine and the mounts.
 
well i can hear it when take up drive also when changing gear and if say I'm on and off the throttle , but when i shook the engine i could hear a very small clicking coming from the gearbox area mounting gone ??? , also i get no noise when going over bumps or anything like that its when drive is taken up
 
FranA3 said:
well i can hear it when take up drive also when changing gear and if say I'm on and off the throttle , but when i shook the engine i could hear a very small clicking coming from the gearbox area mounting gone ??? , also i get no noise when going over bumps or anything like that its when drive is taken up
Click to expand...

Yep, forgot about that, as mine got worse it would also click when on and off of the throttle.
I needed two mounts changed... the gearbox mount and one of the engine mounts. Once changed there was no more clicking or clunking.

Yours definitely sounds like its the mounts mate.
 
Ads said:
Yep, forgot about that, as mine got worse it would also click when on and off of the throttle.
I needed two mounts changed... the gearbox mount and one of the engine mounts. Once changed there was no more clicking or clunking.

Yours definitely sounds like its the mounts mate.
Click to expand...
i sure do hope so its been driving me nuts for ages lol , that could explain why when the clutch was changed it stopped for a while tho then came back lol , off hand can you remember how much the mounts were
soz for the thread hijack OP lol:wub:
 
FranA3 said:
i sure do hope so its been driving me nuts for ages lol , that could explain why when the clutch was changed it stopped for a while tho then came back lol , off hand can you remember how much the mounts were
soz for the thread hijack OP lol:wub:
Click to expand...

No worries, I think everyones got a clunk/click/knock somewhere on their car to resolve. Seems to come standard with modifying your VAG car
laugh.gif
 
audi upgrades
FranA3 said:
i sure do hope so its been driving me nuts for ages lol , that could explain why when the clutch was changed it stopped for a while tho then came back lol , off hand can you remember how much the mounts were
soz for the thread hijack OP lol:wub:
Click to expand...

I think the mounts cost about £75 each, but the labour for Audi to fit them took the total price to over £500!!
Luckily they did the work just for the cost of the parts in the end.
 
Ads said:
I think the mounts cost about £75 each, but the labour for Audi to fit them took the total price to over £500!!
Luckily they did the work just for the cost of the parts in the end.
Click to expand...
well i won't be paying audi to fit them i can get my mate to do them but £75 I'm guessing thats retail price i'll go to TPS and get trade price so hope it should be a bit cheaper than that lol
 
Well I've tried tightening up the 4 chassis bolts shown in that video above. I don't have a torque wrench, but all 4 had room to be a little tighter than they were.

Just moving the car around after I washed it and no noise at all, but I'll give it a few days and some mileage to see for sure.
 
i found removing the traffic warden under mine stopped the clunking and banging
 
  • Like
Reactions: FranA3
TimG said:
Well I've tried tightening up the 4 chassis bolts shown in that video above. I don't have a torque wrench, but all 4 had room to be a little tighter than they were.

Just moving the car around after I washed it and no noise at all, but I'll give it a few days and some mileage to see for sure.
Click to expand...
let us know how it goes buddy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
pulling away issue
Replies
1
Views
590
a3tony
A
A
A3 Juddering when pulling away...
Replies
2
Views
2K
Audi-girl
A
DarkBunny
BMN 'pulling away' issue
Replies
2
Views
633
c_w
C
M
girding/scraping when pulling away
Replies
1
Views
822
A3Bash
A
S
clutch noise when pulling away
Replies
14
Views
6K
AudiLad
AudiLad
Top
Back