The undiagnosed noise

Exhaust touching the gear linkage? The bit about a touch on the accelerator making the sound stop made me think of it.

Si

Thanks for your reply Si.

I won't eliminate anything at this stage, but I think the noise is too 'perfect' and 'clinical' to be an exhaust contact. Based on what I hear alone, I'd say it sounds like gear teeth. As it's forward of the gearlever, I'm assuming it must be something that the gear level connects to. The clutch seems to play no part in it.

accelerator

I only just noticed that it's a...

Strangely enough, I've seen two of those (well, Puntos anyway) with their boxes out recently.

says there have been reports of gearbox and clutch problems but nothing specific.

Si

It's a Fiat Punto. There will be undiagnosed noises...

Steve Gibbs ( snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Yep, that'd slow it down.

It's your exhaust resonating, look at the rev counter when it makes the noise in each gear.

Update to orginal post: A mechanic has partially diagnosed it. It's the diff. I say partially as it is yet to be taken apart.