new to for four, please help

[bumpkin]

hi everyone
i've just got myself an 05 smart for four pulse 1.3 semi automatic, and traded in my astra to get a saving on fuel. the car looks and feels fine, but the cabin noise over 50mph is pretty loud, almost like a zeppelin sort of noise. is this normal? apparently it had a new gearbox last year from mercedes and i wondered if i should get it checked out.
if i should get it checked out, does anyone know a reasonable priced garage near croydon who can give it the once over?

thanks in advance

rob

[wh666]

Re: new to for four, please help

Near enough what I did. I got rid of my everyday peugeot 1.6 (which got less than 30mpg) to get a reliable 51mpg out of the 1.1 2004 pulse, which just going to the shops, not even counting commutes, saves me £300 p/a on fuel.

The pulses do have a bit of road roar at higher speeds. Quite-ish at lower speeds, but once the revs get up, they can be a bit noisy. What did your rev counter say at the time and did decreasing revs below 3500 help? I've found once you go beyond that revving point, fuel efficiency and increased sound starts to become an issue.

You shouldn't have to pay at all to get it checked out. Just drive to the smart dealership and tell them you hear a noise and get them to "give you a quote". I did that and got a print out to shove in the car history. Any other garage should charge you less than £40 for doing a full check.


Have you crawled underneath by the way? Have you tried revving it in neutral at a standstill? If it still makes that sound then, I'd consider a blowing exhaust and check for leaks.

[bumpkin]

Re: new to for four, please help

thanks for the tip, i used to have an a class a couple of years ago and remember they would charge for diagnostics at silly £ per hour even just to check it out. i guess i'm just not used to it. i think the revs were fairly low but will keep an eye on it, and when i get the chance will poke about underneath. i was just worried about gearbox issues as it was replaced last year.
still a bit of a culture shock from the astra to be honest, no aircon, bit basic, but having to do it to save some money. i am sure i will grow used to it in due course

[wh666]

Re: new to for four, please help

thanks for the tip, i used to have an a class a couple of years ago and remember they would charge for diagnostics at silly £ per hour even just to check it out. i guess i'm just not used to it.

You might if you want a massive poke around or ecu interrogation. I suppose each dealership varies but I've found most OK at checking/quoting free of charge on a single concern, especially if they think they may get future custom.

i was just worried about gearbox issues as it was replaced last year.

I'd probably feel the same. Although I don't know a smart when the gearbox fails, I've seen/heard/felt it in other cars. Usually you get grinding/humming sounds, graunching/knocking even in neutral sometimes, vagueness and a lack of response or pulling when changing gears, etc etc.

still a bit of a culture shock from the astra to be honest, no aircon, bit basic, but having to do it to save some money. i am sure i will grow used to it in due course

Really? Mine has front electric windows and aircon. You know the heater control panel? The dial on the right should have a light in the middle, that comes on if you press the knob in.

[madDan]

Re: new to for four, please help

Don't forget tyres can make a hideous racket.

What make are they and how old etc

[J500ANT]

Re: new to for four, please help

and forfour wheel bearings are rubbish (and yet expensive)

[problemchild1976]

Re: new to for four, please help

Hello and welcome to forfour ownership.

The engines are a bit noisy as the 1.1 and 1.3 are 3cylinder.

The auto boxes can fail but if it has had a new one it should be ok.

Wheel bearing is the only other issue but these aren't common.

Tyres could be your issue.

If you have a pulse, it should have air con. Against the rest of the market, the forfours are quite well spec'd

Feel free to pm me if you have any questions

JJ

[J500ANT]

Re: new to for four, please help

Early Pulse models didn't have aircon, and all 1.3's had 4 cylinders.....

[problemchild1976]

Re: new to for four, please help

Sorry - I'm being thick!!

Sun stroke I think

JJ

[bumpkin]

Re: new to for four, please help

ive checked for aircon, and there really doesnt seem to be any, maybe its an early model. not the end of the world, 2 weeks sunshine a year with the windows open wont kill me, plus it lowers your mpg anyway. while i was there i checked the tyres. it had had 2 new front "triangle" for its mot in november, the back are low brand as well, but i may get the bearings checked at some point when i can afford to get it looked over.

does anyone self service theirs? not a tightwad, just careful with cash at the moment. back in the day i used to self service all my own cars and i was just thinking the basics, nothing fancy. but... there really doesnt seem to be a haynes manual for these. are they too complicated to work on?

and by the way, today is day 2 of my driving to work in it. yesterday i was still sulking a bit as the ride is quite different, and still getting used to it being so different. today however, i enjoyed it, its pretty nippy and goes where you point it. that and the fact that i have yet to see it knock a bar off the petrol gauge is a big help. so, unlike the a class i had a couple of years back (which i hated) i think i will enjoy this as time goes on

its appreciated, all the feedback and advise ive been getting, thanks to everyone

rob