My trusty Mondeo has now done 220,000 miles and I want to keep it. I mean, after 15 years I've got used to it! Everything is ok but I'm worried about the rattle on tickover that dissapears if I dip the clutch. It had the dual mass flywheel replaced with a Transit Connect one about five years ago so it's not a dual mass rattle. (That in fact is why it the flywheel was replaced before). It's been suggested it could be a first motion shaft related noise because it stops when the clutch is down but that would mean another gearbox and I'd be ok with that if I knew a used replacement gearbox was better than the one I have. So, any diagnosis offered? Could it be something other than the gearbox first motion shaft? And I'm also wondering what the mode of failure would be if the noise changes to an actual failure. Loss of drive or a bang and oil on the road? Any ideas on that too?

 

Sounds like could be the clutch release bearing on its way out perhaps?