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I have a 2011 Peugeot 207 automatic transmission with just over 8000km on the clock and still under warranty.

When it is driven off from cold and first goes into 4th gear at 50-60km/h, a sound is heard from the engine bay. Most often, when cruising at 60km/h in 4th gear, and then depressing the accelerator, the sound appears again. Once the car has warmed up the problem goes away. It feels and sounds like something is 'straining' and the car doesn't change down a gear. Almost like accelerating with too low RPM in a particular gear.

The car is under warranty and has been back to the dealer twice for this problem. The technicians have driven the car from cold after an overnight stay (without me present) and have either not heard the sound or tell me that the sound is normal. I don't believe the sound is normal as it never happened when the car was new and has only developed over the last couple of months.

I have a soundclip of the sound in question but cannot attach it here... Perhaps an email addres can be supplied where I can forward the sound clip.

Thanks

You should leave your car at the dealer overnight and request the technician waits for you to arrive first thing in the morning to go on a test drive together. In this way you can point out the noise to him when the vehicle is cold. If they insist the noise is normal then it would be a good idea for them to show you this with another 207vehicle and put it in writing.

There are often mechanical sounds, on any vehicle, that the driver can hear coming from the engine or transmission that is the normal operating sound of the vehicle (The dealer can confirm this).

It is possible the technician is referring to another noise that is normal, maybe he hasn't heard the noise you are referring to. It makes sense to drive with him in this instance.