Car problem

[Peevemor]

Madame Peeve drives a Renault Kangoo (do they exist in the UK?) diesel - knocking on for 10 years old. At the weekend she told me the car was making a noise but couldn't tell me what sort of noise or where it was coming from, only that it seems to happen when she drives a bit further than normal (20 mile round trips are the maximum it usually does).

Anyway, I took it to work today as I had a bit of driving about to do afterward, and right enough after 20 or so miles the noise started.

I was going downhill at about 60mph sitting in 5th, so I was giving little or no gas, when a low but fairly loud humming sound came either from the engine itself or toward the nearside front wheel. I pressed the clutch to check and the noise stopped immediately. I tried it again a few times and every time the noise stopped when I pressed the clutch.

However, the clutch doesn't seem to have any problems otherwise. I hammered the car to see what it was up to, and when accelerating both normally and sharply the clutch seems fine - no noise/squeals and no slippage. Even a pretty steep hill start and then accelerating from 40 to 60 going up a steep slope - no noise, but cruising down the other side of the hill - noise.

I don't like going to a mechanic/garage without first having an idea of what the problem is.

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks in advance.

[lord bunberry]

I'm not a mechanic but it sounds like a belt or pulley that needs to be changed, I think that when you engage the clutch certain belts stop moving so that could be the reason that the noise stops, the flywheel is also connected to the clutch so it might be something to do with that. As I said I'm not a mechanic so hopefully someone with a bit more expertise might be able to help you more.

[Gaz]

Sounds the same as I had on my laguna which I was told is tbe start of the drive shaft going and r ight enough 2 weeks later the clicking started and it was the cv joint in tthe drive shaft. Car now gone