Strange clicking from gearbox area

[Mr-C]

My new to me CLK 270 CDI W209 with 65k miles is making a strange clicking noise from the gear box area when its under load. The clicking speeds up with the speed of the car, at first I was thinking something touching the prop shaft but its been up on the ramps and nothing to be seen. The noise seems a little less obvious when the car is cold and if you go around a left hand bend it stops! I have had all 4 wheels checked to see if there is obvious but again nothing.
Its defo coming from the gear box area because if I open the ash tray or centre arm rest the noise becomes a little louder.
The specialist I took it to was flummoxed, there are no faults with the way it drives and the noise can not be hear when the car drives pass as I got Mrs C to drive past me. Just revving the car in neutral does not make the click.

 

[BlackC55]

I expect it will be the parking brake cable rubbing on the prop. 15 min fix when up in the air

 

[Mr-C]

I expect it will be the parking brake cable rubbing on the prop. 15 min fix when up in the air

Id have thought the same but it would make the noise constantly but it only clicks when under load.

Foot down accelerating click click click. Foot off so effectively freewheeling and no clicking!

 

[Stratman]

Rubber engine mounts, gearbox mounts and suspension mounts will be in slightly different positions depending on whether they're transmitting power or on overrun.

As soon as I saw the thread title I thought "Parking brake cable".

 

[Mr-C]

I was down at the garage earlier as my S4 I in for a few jobs and they didn't check the parking brake cable so Im taking it in for an early service. So fingers crossed this will be the culprit
Will update once I know

 

[seymansey]

Happened to me the other day. See the thread I started, with pics. I'll say that it's a reasonably alarming noise for such a trivial issue.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engi...tional-noise-coming-my-clks-gearbox-area.html

 

[Mr-C]

Happened to me the other day. See the thread I started, with pics. I'll say that it's a reasonably alarming noise for such a trivial issue.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engi...tional-noise-coming-my-clks-gearbox-area.html

I came across you post last night. Was it easy enough to get the heat shield removed?

 

[seymansey]

Best to raise the car, as I attempted it with drive on ramps at first, but didn't have enough clearance. You really need a lift. The heat shield just need 8mm sockets and some WD. They are delicate.

 

[RichardF]

Worth checking the flex disc while you're under there. Mine started clicking under load then failed.

 

[Mr-C]

Tried a little experiment, gave it a inch or so of parking brake while driving and low and behold clicking stopped. Dash board went red and starting beeping but defo points to parking cable rubbing.
Job for this week

 

[kennyclk]

Tried a little experiment, gave it a inch or so of parking brake while driving and low and behold clicking stopped. Dash board went red and starting beeping but defo points to parking cable rubbing. Job for this week

most annoying noise I was ready to sell mine then found the broken clip aaarrgghh

 

[fwd]

this forum steered me in the right direction... definitely handbrake cable clip - as below
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/interior/175468-ticking-noise-c270-estate-auto.html

 

[moosehead]

Had the same problem with my 2005 W203 a couple of years ago. One of the parking braking cable clips broke and the cable was rubbing on the prop. My indie fixed it with a strong cable tie as the clips are pretty flimsy and go brittle after a while. A pig to do unless you have a ramp as some of the heat shields need to come off.