Engine clatter / DMF / release bearing question

zedwunare

Active Member
Dec 4, 2008
9
1
Hi

My '08 Leon Cupra 1P has started demonstrating some symptoms which I'm struggling to interpret. It has been intermittently making loud clattery sounds which seem synonymous with a failing DMF, but without the slight background grinding sound. Sort of like the clatter you hear around 01m50 in a video on youtube titled "VW JETTA TDI DMF NOISE | TDI BAD DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL DMF DSG".

However - this afternoon when I started the car and it started making the clatter it only lasted for a few seconds before there was a CLUNK and a CLICK and a slight shudder felt before the sound just disappeared and the car felt and sounded fine.

Thoughts? Am I in for clutch and DMF replacement? If the DMF was the issue, could the sound just miraculously disappear after a clunk? A buddy suggested it could be a clutch release bearing - does that make sense and fit with the fact that when it WAS making a sound at one stage that it went quieter after pressing the clutch pedal in?

If it is the clutch release bearing, would that require just as much work as replacing a clutch but without the cost of the clutch and flywheel kit?

I am a little anxious because my local VW dealer (here in South Africa) threw around the equivalent of 1300gbp for a clutch kit and flywheel which I'd like to avoid if it isn't strictly necessary given the car has only covered ~85 000km and the clutch feels fine.

Thanks,
Peter