Squeaky clutch pedal...Is there anything I can do?

W

White95Max

New member
Once in a while, my clutch pedal squeaks as I push it to the floor. Is there a way I can lubricate it to make the squeak go away, or is the squeak likely to be coming from a non-accessible component?

If I were to try to lubricate it, is there a certain type of oil/grease that would be best for this application?
 
Hydraulic clutch right? Spray/squirt some lubricating oil up underneath the footwell and dash (well, be sure look under there and you should see what's binding).
 
OK all I have is WD-40, but I'd be willing to go out and buy some lithium grease if I have to. I'll take a look under there tomorrow and see if I can see anything.

Yes it's a hydraulic clutch.
 
I could also be either the slave or master clutch cylinders amoungst other things. Try depressing the peddle with the engine bay exposed to locate the sound
 
OK I was mistaken. The clutch pedal is not the problem. I pushed the clutch in by hand a few dozen times with the car turned off, and it did not make the sound. The sound IS...



Something in the exhaust system, probably a heat shield vibrating. It always happens at around 4K RPM, which is often my shift point, particularly from 1-2. So that's why I thought it was clutch-related. I'm often shifting at the same time as the vibration rattle occurs. I can reproduce the noise now in any gear (at that RPM) or even when I'm stopped and in Neutral. I found out from the Protege forums that vibrating heat shields are very common on all the trim levels, with both engines. So I tapped the upper heat shield a few times with my hand, and sure enough, something was vibrating just from me tapping the metal.

This is a heat shield right?

ValveCover2_-_circled.jpg
 
Thanks for the quick confirmation guys :)



Setec - the other Protege owners have either tightened the bolts to fix the rattle, or removed the shield completely. I'll tighten them first and then take it for a spin (or just rev it in the garage I guess) and see if that got rid of the problem.
 
I ended up taking the upper shield (the one in the pic above) mostly off, and looking behind it. I didn't see anything that could be rattling, so I decided to clean the rust off of the screws and the shield where it contacts the screws, and then take a look at the lower shield.

I took the lower shield off, and left it off. I then took it for a drive, and after going through every gear, and driving up to about 5500RPM a few times, I didn't hear the rattle even once, not the slightest bit. So it was indeed caused by either rust/corrosion on the upper shield screws, or the lower shield itself. More likely the lower shield.



I'm so glad I got rid of that awful noise. I can just concentrate on finishing up my engine polishing!
 
The lower heat shield is a barrier between the catalytic converter and the ground. I'd guess it's to keep your hot exhaust from burning the tall grass if you park over it. I don't park or drive on much grass or gravel. Just pavement for me thanks. :)
 
Be careful over leaves in the fall! We have had plenty of cars go up around here when leaves are swept to the curb for collection. Sometimes those lower heat shields also protect the starter; don't know if that's the case for you.
 
I don't like to park on the street anyway, and I pull my car in the garage anytime I'm at home. And I always keep my garage well-swept and clean :)

I'm even going to ask the landlord if I can paint the inside walls of the garage white, so that it's a little brighter in there, instead of looking at the bare plywood. The brighter walls would help when I'm working on my car, detailing or otherwise.
 
hello i have a citroen xarra picasso and i also have this annoying squeaking creaking noise and ive also found out that it was the heat shield around my cat converter. but before i found out it was that heat shield, i had taken off the heatshield from the steering colum. do i need the steering heat shield back on or will i be fine without it?
 
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