Gear problems.... I think

[Spinal]

SOS PEOPLE!!! I... <panick> ok, let me start from scratch. I was driving home on the M4 about an hour ago, not many cars in sight, 5th gear, doing roughtly 90/95. I get off at my junction, start stepping down the gears, and the car wont enter 4rth, so I try 3rd, 2nd and first... none will go in. In panick I try them again, but now its goes into third... but now the clutch wont come back up!!! I drive a bit of the road in this condition, after which, I manage to pull the clutch back up. I try the other gears and they still don't work. After stopping a minute or so, (I was in neutral by now so couldn't do much) I start and manage to get into 1rst. Problem is, when the clutch is down its fine, when the clutch is up its fine, but when its halfway its... raspy... the car shudders a little, there is a sound similar to when you dont press the clutch down and try to put it in gear. The sound has become less pronounced as I got home, but I finally crawled home. Its WAY to dark to see anything, even with the garages lights on, but first thing tomorrow morning, I'm checking it out. Meanwhile, does anyone have any advice/ideas to throw my way? ANYTHING appreciated...
Michele
Quick addition, at a certain point there was a distinct smell of molten rubber...

 

[andy_k]

my guess would be your slave or master cylinder has failed. check if you can see a leak from either and how low the fluid is

Andy

 

[Spinal]

I checked the gear fluid the instant I got home fearing the worst. The fluid level seemed ok, but it was dark and the engine was hot... Sigh... I guess Ill find out tomorrow
Michele
Im back... I've been going through the fault finding section of my haynes manual... and have come up with alot of stuff (I certainly do hope its something that is stupid and inexpensive!)
Clutch fails to disengage (unable to select gears):
- Clutch disk sticking on gearbox input shaft splines
- Clutch dist sticking to flywheel or pressure plate
- Faulty pressure plate assembly
- Clutch release mechanism worn or incorrectly assembled

Judder as clutch is engaged:
- Clutch disk linings contaminated with oil or grease
- Clutch disc linings excessively worn
- Faulty or distorted pressure plate or diaphram spring
- Worn or loose enging or gearbox mountings
- Clutch disc hub or gearbox input shaft splines worn

Noise when depressing or releasing clutch pedal
- Worn clutch release bearing
- Worn or dry ckuth pedal bushes
- Faulty pressure plate assembly
- Pressure plate diaphram spring broken
- Broken clutch disc cushining springs

Why do I suddenly get scared at seeing so many "worn" in one page??? Could it be my clutch is generally "worn out"? (uh-oh) Any ideas? (and/or costs <cringes>)
Michele

 

[andy_k]

did you check the gearbox or the clutch hydraulic fluid?

start by checking the clutch fluid if it's low there's probably a leak which should be visible, if it's level is OK but the fluid is disrty then it's contaminated and one of the seals in the system is leaking.


Alternatively it could be the clutch itself giving up the ghost


Give us more to go on in the morning

Andy

 

[guydewdney]

sounds a bit like the clutch plate has given up the ghost to me - if the fluid / cylinders were dying it wouldnt disengage - as stated above - when its down its fine, when its up its fine - its the halfway point

sorry.. but check the easy bits first like the slave / master cylinders...

 

[Spinal]

Groan... I just ran home from the mechanic (ran/jogged... whatevr you call it... excercise im not used too!). I visually chaecked the clutch assembly from the top, I then ramped the car, and following haynes couldn't find hte slave cylinder. The hydraulic (clutch&brake) fluid leve is the same (2/3 between min and max); I havd left the car on a nice clean surface to check for leaks... none. So, I have passed it onto my mechanic; he told me (I'n his great Spanish accent) that he'll have breakfast, then check the car then call me and tell me what he thinks of it. So... fingers crossed!!! (Oh, and he thought I used my neons to lacate my car in a parking lot... hehe)
Michele

Im back from the mech! This is the verdict:
Not the slave cylinder (he checked that as I said I couldn't find it); nearly certainly not a hydraulic problem, as the hydraulics are fine. The soudn is "mecchanic" and from his experience he thinks that the friction pad is worn, a spring in the friction pad has lost its tension or a component in the main/master clutch assembly is worn. The AA brought him two cars yesterday, a vaxhall and a mg (both with identical problems, the timing belt went, and thus the pistons are gone... the driver pushed the cars until the AA needed to come around, and now most of the engine needs replacing). On that note, he said he was quite surprised I didn't "just drive on it" and see what happened. I was told most people my age do that... <shakes fist> OH well.. fingers still crossed; lets see what happens!
Spinal
p.s. its hard to type with my fingers crossed, so excuse my spelling

 

[Dieselman]

I agree with Guy. The clutch pressure plate has failed and the car needs a new clutch fitting.

 

[Will]

How many miles has the car done?

 

[Spinal]

The car has done precisely 72, 930 miles. Of while about 10,000 in my possession. I don't drive rough... fast,,, maybe... rough, no. Anyone know roughly how much of the student loan I'll be using to get her back on the road?
Michele