Transit judders when pulling away - engine vibration at idle

A rattle at idle that quietens when the clutch is pressed, judder when pulling away and a clear shake when switching the engine off are symptoms of a worn dual-mass flywheel. In heavily loaded RWD 2.4 Transits, the DMF rarely lasts beyond 200,000 km. Replacement is always done together with the clutch: disc, pressure plate and release bearing, because the labour for lowering the gearbox is the same.

Starter grinds and does not catch - check the flywheel ring gear

A characteristic grinding or free-spinning starter noise during starting, appearing only at some crankshaft positions, is often not the starter motor but missing teeth on the flywheel ring gear. The Bendix then hits a gap and slips. Because access to the ring gear requires lowering the gearbox, it is best to replace it during clutch or DMF work; doing it separately doubles the labour cost.