07 man5gr 1.4 5dr petrol suddenly sounds like a motorbike?!

Black 5door 2007 C3 1.4 Manual Petrol Hatchback

I accidentally knocked the underneath of the car on a very high speed bump (6mph when I shoulda being doing 3) and also got stuck on a little embankment earlier in an off road area (not like I'm pretending it's a Range Rover, I was just at a nature reserve! ) and now I'm hearing a shocking noise, like the growl of a motorbike or as if I've a muffler attached to the exhaust.

The exhaust seems to have dislodged a little and is now wonky from getting stuck, but it's still firmly attached - it's the noise I'm most concerned about I can hear it when driving as well as stationary - and have established it's only when the clutch is depressed, changing gear etc... parked up in neutral and it doesn't even sound like the engine's running!

When I was trying to free myself from the embankment, the dash warned me that the oil pressure was low and I promptly stalled. I re-started and was free with a little extra force on the accelerator.

Is this the result of it taking a bit of a whack or is it an underlying problem that's been building for a while? Most of all, how serious/detrimental is this noise? Because I'll only have time to get it to a garage mid-late week at best

Any assistance is kindly appreciated; tia!

Luke

Hello Luke

luketurner wrote:I accidentally knocked the underneath of the car on a very high speed bump (6mph when I shoulda being doing 3) and also got stuck on a little embankment earlier in an off road area (not like I'm pretending it's a Range Rover, I was just at a nature reserve! ) and now I'm hearing a shocking noise, like the growl of a motorbike or as if I've a muffler attached to the exhaust.

This would usually be due to the exhaust system now having an hole it. The exhaust is quite exposed under the car and a whack can break a weld on the exhaust. This makes it sound a lot louder with the engine running. Like a 2 stroke motorbike or like the exhaust has fallen off.

luketurner wrote:have established it's only when the clutch is depressed,

This bit doesn't match up with a damaged exhaust though.

If it was the exhaust, you can hear it all the time the engine is running, irrespective of the clutch.

I would suggest getting it up on a ramp soonish and explain what happened and look for bits of mud or grass wedged in somewhere or even something bent that shouldn't be. A full check of the exhaust system while its in the air would also be useful.

Many thanks for your reply!

The noise became gradually worse as I drove to work this morning and when I arrived the exhaust was practically hanging on by a thread. I had the exhaust replaced over lunch

In terms of the clutch, it transpires that was more the vibrations being suppressed when the clutch was depressed - you were right, I could hear it regardless. No longer an issue of course now it's been replaced.

All the best,

Luke.

luketurner wrote:Black 5door 2007 C3 1.4 Manual Petrol Hatchback

I accidentally knocked the underneath of the car on a very high speed bump (6mph when I shoulda being doing 3) and also got stuck on a little embankment earlier in an off road area (not like I'm pretending it's a Range Rover, I was just at a nature reserve! ) and now I'm hearing a shocking noise, like the growl of a motorbike or as if I've a muffler attached to the exhaust.

The exhaust seems to have dislodged a little and is now wonky from getting stuck, but it's still firmly attached - it's the noise I'm most concerned about I can hear it when driving as well as stationary - and have established it's only when the clutch is depressed, changing gear etc... parked up in neutral and it doesn't even sound like the engine's running!

When I was trying to free myself from the embankment, the dash warned me that the oil pressure was low and I promptly stalled. I re-started and was free with a little extra force on the accelerator.

Is this the result of it taking a bit of a whack or is it an underlying problem that's been building for a while? Most of all, how serious/detrimental is this noise? Because I'll only have time to get it to a garage mid-late week at best

Any assistance is kindly appreciated; tia!

Luke

Thanks for the update