When I start to release my clutch in First gear it squeaks and I haven't figured out what it is. I hope it's not bad or a problem.

 

Does it sound like a groan? Or a squeak? Groaning noise is common and is caused by glazing on the flywheel.

 

It's squeaky. Like when your shoes are wet and the rubber rubs together..

 

Clutch pedal is Hydraulic....
so you might be hearing the seals in the plastic sleeve of the master/slave cylinder...
If you can hear the noise with the engine off...pretty safe to say that is it...

 

If it sounds like a Chewbacca growl then it most likely is the dual mass flywheel. It is annoying but won’t harm anything. It’s a known issue and very common.

How many miles on the clutch? Is it slipping at all?

Rich

 

It's not slipping and I just purchased my car so I don't know how many miles are on the clutch but 104k on the car..

I will have to see if it still makes that sound with the car off. Thank you

 

Does the noise go away after the first few stops/starts of the day? And is worse the colder it is? If so, then you probably just have the Chewbacca growl that many of us have. If it happens all the time, probably more serious.

- Mark

 

It only happens in first gear and not very often only sometimes

 

Yes I had the exact same noise. Like a squealing taking off in first. Mainly in the morning. I had it for two years. My throw-up bearing finally exploded and I put in a new PP, bearing, etc. The good news was that at 160k my dual mass flywheel looked perfect so I left it. My bets are the noise is the precursor to a throwout bearing going south on you.

 

Okay I'll check into that

 

I'd just drive it and monitor. Mine's been doing a squeal now and then on the first shift or two of the day for nearly seven years. Hasn't gotten better or worse. You're not going to want to spend the money to open it up and go inside on a fishing expedition. If it is going S, it will likely give you some further warning.

- Mark

 

Okay well thank you for the advice!

 

Mine intermittently squeaked since day one.

Dean.

 

I agree with the other posters as well. Don't go on a fishing expedition. My throw out bearing gave me a two month warning noise before it self destructed..... actually failed when I was pulling up to my garage to start the tear down. It had more of a death rattle than a squeal several days before it quit.

 

Sooooo I have a confession.. All I had to do was add more brake fluid and I haven't heard the squeak since.. I guess that probably should have been the first thing I checked anyways, I got to learn something new. Thanks guys!

 

Great news, I hope that was all it was!

 

that Chewbacca growl is the best way to describe it...I have wondered what it was since I got my car, it only does it in first gear, usually on an incline and when the car is warm...glad to know it is not a problem...it sounds like hell...

 

I've had the Chewbacca growl for about a month and a half now, 2009 with 47k miles. The Chewbacca growl occurs going into first and reverse, hills or high power takeoff, worse when the engine is warm or a hot day. Took it to the dealer and they did a "free diagnostic" which probably consisted of a guy driving the car around and looking up the transmission inspection/peep hole (yeah probably not the right term).

Dealer gave me a $3200 estimate for a clutch and flywheel replacement. I told them I've never heard of a clutch/flywheel issue happening this early in a car's life and have only had clutch issues as I approach 200k miles. They told me to wait until the flywheel breaks in the next year that the car is still covered, have the car towed to the shop, then they will drop the transmission, take clutch run out measurements and if it is out of spec, replace for free.

Called MINI NA the next day and talked to them about this, customer service rep wanted to put me on hold to call the dealership after they closed. I told her to call me back tomorrow with an update and she said "We aren't allowed to do that. The dealership will call you tomorrow." Sketchy.

I don't want to complain about the dealership, they've been pretty awesome thus far servicewise, but "wait until it breaks" is something I try to avoid. But MINI NA is not winning any popularity awards with me right now.