Something just went kaput? Gearbox or clutch?

11th May 2013, 13:53

So, for a little while now(maybe a month or two) I'd started to notice that my Saxo whines/grinds a bit when I start the car and the clutch is engaged(even in neutral), when I pushed the pedal down it went away; and didn't seem noticeable when driving(maybe gears felt a bit...sticky? stiff?) - I mentioned it to my brother(also my mechanic) and he didn't seem too bothered by it, but suddenly now things seem to have gone wrong. Not noticed any problems with the car whilst driving, even at higher speeds on motorway(fastest I've driven is 90, but that's rare, I'm usually about 60-70mph) - though I have felt like it 'missed' gears when I shifted sometimes, like it was hard to shift in but literally as if the stick got stuck(not as if there was resistance, just as if I hit the spot between the two).

Anyhow, just as I reversing into my driveway(luckily), after what felt like a stranger drive than usual(just local); it sort of 'popped' whilst I was in reverse. Seems somewhat stuck in it? I heard squealing and started seeing smoke of some sort, wondered if my tires were spinning or something. Needless to say, I turned the engine off - it feels stuck in gear of sorts and now the pedal is down to the floor/not coming back up. I tried started again, it's making a noise as if it's somewhat engaged; so I've turned it off again sharpish. Leaving it til my brother can come and have a look.

Does anyone know what we're most likely looking at here? Clutch? Linkage? Worse? Whole gearbox?

I'm not tiptop on cars myself btw, tend to learn more when things go wrong like this!! Any help/insight is appreciated.

11th May 2013, 13:55

Woops, forgot to mention it's an 1998 1.1i

11th May 2013, 13:56

Release bearing mate.

Worse case you are looking is about £300 for a decent l.u.k or valeo clutch kit fitted.

May as well change the clutch at the same time as the bearing as its not the nicest of jobs.

11th May 2013, 14:02

Release bearing? That's part of the clutch kit right? Plate, disc, and bearing? Local motor factors has a LUK one for £80ish, or their own brand can be ordered in for £60; my brother might be able to do the change for me as he replaced the gearbox on my old escort before. Seems I'm plagued with transmission problems -.-

11th May 2013, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobbertM

Release bearing? That's part of the clutch kit right? Plate, disc, and bearing? Local motor factors has a LUK one for £80ish, or their own brand can be ordered in for £60; my brother might be able to do the change for me as he replaced the gearbox on my old escort before. Seems I'm plagued with transmission problems -.-

Yeah all comes as the kit. Pay the extra and get the L.U.K one it will pretty much outlast any other kit on the market for o.e replacement.

11th May 2013, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bedford126

Yeah all comes as the kit. Pay the extra and get the L.U.K one it will pretty much outlast any other kit on the market for o.e replacement.

Yeah was thinking for £20 might as well; though not sure the car'll last tbh! Got it for £350 last year with an MOT as a quick runaround; needed it as my escort failed its MOT with too much for repairs in addition with a couple other bits. I worry about doing this sort of work, then something else causing problems down the line/expensive failures on the MOT. Admittedly the last one it had was absolutely clean, but I've known a few folks with a slightly dodgy MOT being passed for them!

Will have to see what the situation is when my brother heads round later, thanks again.

12th May 2013, 21:20

Well, not the nicest of jobs wasn't an understatement - and it isn't even complete! My brother(mildly aided by me) had the most trouble getting the suspension arms separated from the hubs - and ended up bending the discs in the process -.-

Then the starter was a right pain too, that and the arms were probably the worst; but after a long day's work we finally got the gearbox off, to find the release bearing was essentially melted on to the input shaft! I'll assume that's what the smoking was - no idea what actually happened/occurred as it was all melted up.

Biggest challenge now is getting everything back on and working once I've got a new clutch and discs. Was a bit tricky getting the box off, my brother thinks it'll be even worse getting it back on. Think I've probs fractured my finger a bit too, but that's the least of my worries right now lol.

13th May 2013, 19:48

Should have got a new input shaft sleeve if the old ones been mullered by the bearing. As for bending the discs, the easiest way to get the wishbones off is to undo the bolt for the balljoint and jack the hub up while prying the arm down. Then when its out you move the strut out of the way and release the tension

im guessing he whacked the crap out of it?

14th May 2013, 12:28

Actually that's what we were trying but it seemed like it was on really tight for some reason. Then he tried to lever it down with a bar on top/behind the disc(as I'd read in another guide about removing the transmission whilst we were stumped); but there was so much resistance it slipped in behind the discs and bent them out a bit. He didn't realise til it happened to the second one though when I saw it happen(plus much more noticeable). Luckily Eurocarparts have 20% off all car parts atm, and a LUK clutch cheaper than SC; so I've just ordered the bits from there.

The sleeve looked ok(I'm pretty noob to this and he hasn't had a thorough look yet), it was just the bearing seemed to have some plastic component to it that totally melted it on. Where would one get a sleeve from to replace it, just in case?

15th May 2013, 18:19

Turns out the sleeve has been nicked a little bit; can anyone recommend the best place to get one? Ideally fastish/by the weekend?

18th May 2013, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobbertM

Turns out the sleeve has been nicked a little bit; can anyone recommend the best place to get one? Ideally fastish/by the weekend?

Ebay or direct from citroen unfortunately!