[Zobro]

Okay, when I got my Up! I had no problems with it whatsoever until about 2 weeks into driving it.


On more than one occasion I've been asked if my car is a diesel because it sounds like a tractor.

I took it into Volkswagen who said it could be my gearbox. I've now had a new gearbox and the noise is still there.

Has anyone else had this problem?

Thanks.

 

[Allybasher]

A rather rattly gearbox is a pretty common phenomenon on Ups, there are multiple threads on the subject on here. It is an annoyance rather than a problem really though and mainly down to a lack of soundproofing around the transmission tunnel. I would guess that 75% have this to some extent. I have got 2 and they both do it.

If this is the problem on yours I wouldn't worry too much, it doesn't get any worse and for me doesn't detract from what is a brilliant car.

 

[b82ry]

Up has 3-cylinder engine, which is pretty loud and yes - it sounds a bit like a diesel

 

[Zobro]

Thank you, I just guess I'll have to continue playing my music loud to drown the noise out haha!

 

[Upmeister]

From my experience the engine in the up! is not mechanically noisy other than the nice offbeat noise it makes above about 4,000rpm.

The main noise is from the transmission and seems to aflict most ups to some degree. One is the diesel-like chatter at idle - which disappears when you dip the clutch. The other, described in Autocar magazine as sounding like a buzzsaw, happens when you accelerate from the low engine speeds, particularly those encouraged by the Think Blue Trainer on M&M. They don't seem to have reliability implications, though.
My up! has now done over 12,000 miles and makes both the above noises, yet has been passed fit by my VW dealer. The noises are deemed to be a characteristic of the car by VW.

With 48,000 miles of warranty left, there's still plenty of time to see if this changes!

 

[wabbit1]

My up! has a unique sound too. When driving along at about 40mph in 4th or 5th gears there is a low rumble sound, similar to a blown exhaust or like a little diesel growl. It is more noticeable under acceleration and quietens down when I lift off the throttle.

I'm not at all bothered about it though as our little up! is such a cracking little car
Edited by: wabbit1

 

[Rickenbacker]

Yeah I'd agree with the diesel characteristics but luckily the economy is diesel like too ˜Š

 

[Allybasher]

It certainly doesn't sound like a diesel if you rev it over 4000. It sounds more like a mini 911
Edited by: Allybasher

 

[Rickenbacker]

Not sure if I've let rip to 4000 rpm yet, might try it now she's bedded on a bit ˜ƒ

 

[Allybasher]

Actually the noise is one of my favourite things about the car. I particularly like the noise it makes from the exhaust on the over - run when changing up at high revs, something like 'mwah'. Try it and you'll see what I mean.

 

[Night Owl]

Our Up only has 72 miles on it so far ,so will have to wait until I can take her over 4000rpm.Mini 911 sounds good.Never been in a 911 but the last Mini I had....when I was young....I blew the engine!
Happy days.

Go well.

 

[Allybasher]

I've done that to a mini......

 

[Mduffield]

To my mind my Up sounds like a Cessna 170 at low revs, part throttle - and a Porsche 911 on full throttle from about 3000 up - the rest of the time it's near silent. Both are wholly acceptable (music can drown out the Cessna - but thankfully not the Porsche). The gearbox zings and crunches merely make it sound a bit like a straight-cut race gearbox.

If you remember, the beetle had a unique, and well remembered sound - like a lot of pans falling from a cupboard!

 

[Allybasher]

You are bang on with the Cessna noise low down. I agree with you that a distinctive noise is part of the charm. When I was a kid I could recognise most cars by sound alone, not now though. Apart from the obvious ones like a Subaru, they all sound the same.

I was the sort of sad kid who could tell a Ford Escort from a Vauxhall Viva by the sound of the gearbox.

 

[Stetec]

I'm starting to think the noise is more than a noise. Because it seems to come and go, when the gearbox is in a noisy mood, the performance also seems to be sluggish, anyone else noticed this? Also, the gearbox seems to feel slightly more notchy now it has 10k on the clock. First service next week...

 

[Mduffield]

@Stetec - you might want to check your petrol - anything less than 95 RON is likely to cause pre-detonation (Dieseling!) which not only sounds, well, like a Diesel - but it also runs like its got asthma.

 

[mygodisdigital]

well im already back from my local service dealer (at firstvisit they said itsmuffler and replace one, but things goes worst .. noise was incredible - like cessna 170 i read about erlier), now they saidthose arevibrationsmade bynewexhaust andthey will be goneafter some miles ... and they maybe right, noise is already quieter engine goes better ride is smooth so far ... so finger cross.
btw. up! its really nice low-budget ride, great in city and quite spacious

 

[Melbie]

I had thought that it sounded like an old side-valve engine.
Maybe this shows my age.

 

[_1S_]

@Stetec - you might want to check your petrol - anything less than 95 RON is likely to cause pre-detonation (Dieseling!) which not only sounds, well, like a Diesel - but it also runs like its got asthma.

Fuel is likely OK though.

Even the CNG version sounds a bit like a diesel at high load and low revs.