It is never pleasant to hear a sound on your car that you don’t know where it comes from. You may be questioning what to do when you detect a reversing gear noise that persists on your Citroen C1? Any gearbox problem can be serious, but before making sure, it is better to do a few inspections. Our team has made this content page to help you resolve it. First, we will see what the sources and the different gearbox noises can be on Citroen C1, and second, what are the solutions available to you.reverse-gear-noise-citroen-c1

Classical reverse Citroen C1 noises and some tips to maintain your gearbox

Why does the reversing of my Citroen C1 make a different noise from my other speeds?

De facto, integrating all gears, bearings and pinions into a gearbox is a difficult exercise. The sound caused by the reversing of your Citroen C1 is logical. It can be explained in a fairly simple way. Indeed, the gears used for conventional speeds (1st to 5th or 6th) are so-called “helical” gears (oblique gears) . The use of such a pinion makes the noise caused by the gears less important than with spur gears used for the reverse gear.

Tips to reduce wear on your clutch and gearbox

  • Don’t give a big boost:
    Indeed, if you kick the throttle hard when you are in reverse or when you put the car in the revs, you risk to burn your clutch or gnawing at the gearbox pinions.

  • Never reverse while the car is in motion or vice versa:
    Reversing the direction of operation of the gearbox during operation is a very bad plan. Indeed, the pressure you will apply on the gears will be monumental and you will create a premature wear and tear of the gears. You can even break the gears of your gearbox at speed by doing so. It will therefore be completely normal if you listen to a reverse noise on your Citroen C1 if you shift gear under these conditions.

Diverse Citroen C1 reversing noises and their origins

Finally in this section, we will move on to what you are probably most enthusiastic about in this page, to find out about the cause of reversing noise on Citroen C1. Here are the 3 typical sounds you may be victim of.

I notice a grinding noise when starting in reverse gear

If you hear a grinding noise when you start in reverse with your Citroen C1, it may be the engine mounts that are tired. Certainly, when the engine is in reverse gear, due to the pinions we saw above the vibrations produced by the gearbox are higher and it is therefore plausible that due to their wear the silentblocks no longer absorb the engine vibrations well. In this circumstance, do not hesitate to consult this article for more details about strut mount noises on Citroen C1.

An increased reverse knocking noise on Citroen C1X

If you are subject to a knocking noise when you are in reverse with your Citroen C1 and this noise tends to increase as you gain speed. It is plausible that you are experiencing a serious problem that needs to be solved quickly before wrecking your entire gearbox. Indeed, an intensifying rattling noise means that the gears are damaged. If they are, debris will spread to the rest of the box and damage other gears in short order. Take your car to your auto technician quickly or read this content page about gearbox noise on Citroen C1 for more information.

I discover a noise when I go in reverse

Finding out a noise when you shift into reverse is normal and related to the gears and sprockets used in the gearbox. If, on the other hand, you have the feeling that your Citroen C1 reverse gear makes more noise than before, it is plausible that filings have been produced and are moving around in it. It is therefore time to empty the box.