Hi I'm new to the site - I've got a black 06 plate ST it's done 42000 miles, bought it a yr old with 6000 on clock.
I've been getting lots of info from the site and think my ST has/is suffering from all the common problems!

I love my car but need some advice - are these things usual with the ST and can anyone tell me if they have had the same things and what it was.

1. Gear box gets really stiff when engine is warm - garage greased the shaft (no rude comments!) and it seems better, but still not 100%
2. Metallic clicking noise from off side front/mid when I pull away, not constant...driving me crazy!
3. whining noise when engine's warm gets louder on steering..?? power steering pump?

it's booked into the garage this week, scared they will try and rip me off with doing things that aren't necessary.
Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks

Welcome Sara,

Someone more technical than myself will advise u better shortly im sure.

In the mean time head to the Noobs section and introduce urself properly, we won't bite, well not too hard anyway

Thanks Rob - will do.

Welcome! Not too sure on 1 or 2 but I have a suggestion about the whining. Have a look at your power steering fluid, it should be cheery red. If it is black it can cause the steering to whine

Thanks Duncan I'll check it.

Alot of fast driving will cause the power steering to boil and go black, reminds me I need to change mine

I need to do mine as well

It will be the bushes inside the gearbox which are getting hot when the engine has got warmed up, go in the garage and tell them that it's a really easy fix when you tell them what it is.

Ok.. thanks very much.

Errrrrrm, I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT ANYTHING TECHNICAL!


But welcome to the site!

Hi and welcome, gear linkage for 1 check your exhaust flexi joint when pulling away, if its damaged it may make a clicking noise, my car had a metalic knocking noise traced to a faulty auxillary belt tensioner and it only knocked under load ie pulling away in first or reverse, does it make a noise over uneven ground ie any knocking noises, or only when you pull away, and 3, power steering pump as already mentioned, change the fluid.

Thanks Tez, that info's really helpful. The noise is only when I pull away, uneven ground doesn't make a difference and it's definitely a metallic sound, click click click when pulling away. No noise when car in motion. Car booked in tomorrow morning, so I'll mention the above to the bloke when I get there. Hope he's a new man!!! some mechanics get very pissed off when a 'girl' might know something about an engine!! I'll have to be very diplomatic!

Well.... clicking noise diagnosed, you will never guess what it was!!
inside the rear offside tyre there was a valve and a balance weight that must have been left there by the person who put my new tyres on!!
Needs a new power steering pump too... but at least I know now and it can be sorted. phew!

Pleased you got it sorted, not that bad at the end of the day.

Thats good news