Gearbox gone

coxmattycox · 6 Jul 2010 at 14:54

I fear my gearbox is caput!

Lately the gear changes haven't been as smooth as usual, but to anyone else driving I'm sure they would say it's fine, just not as I know it..

Anyhows, driving to work today, struggled to get into 3rd. As I went further along to a roundabout, I could barely get the car into any gear. Simply would not go in without a huge amount of effort.

I've got my car into work (parked in a shopping centre indoor carpark), so will have to get the RAC out after my work (just hope they can fit under the roof!)

I know it's unlikely could it be anything else? near on impossible gear changes, makes a huge grunt noise when it's not able to get into gear including reverse. With the clutch pressed it chuggs slightely and when I had to stop at lights (this was fun) and held down the clutch in first it was incridibly choppy and I had to keep my right food on the accelerator or the car would have stalled.

Any ideas if it is the gearbox on costs? its a 51 reg mk4? Fiesta. I will then have the issue of fix, or get another car but would have to be a similair age.

Howard · 6 Jul 2010 at 14:54

The gearbox is fine, it's your clutch by the sound of it.. Not disengaging properly

ci_newman · 6 Jul 2010 at 15:00

Howard said:
The gearbox is fine, it's your clutch by the sound of it.. Not disengaging properly

What he said

coxmattycox · 6 Jul 2010 at 15:00

Didn't think about that, suppose that would explain the issues with it nearly stalling?

coxmattycox · 6 Jul 2010 at 15:01

Would driving it for a mile or so with this issue of caused damage to the gearbox aswell?

ajstan · 6 Jul 2010 at 15:04

coxmattycox said:
Would driving it for a mile or so with this issue of caused damage to the gearbox aswell?

No but its not doing it much good

burns · 6 Jul 2010 at 15:04

coxmattycox said:
Would driving it for a mile or so with this issue of caused damage to the gearbox aswell?

I agree, clutch sounds likely. Gearbox should be ok-ish but forcing it into gear with the clutch partially engaged won't have done the syncros much good.

coxmattycox · 6 Jul 2010 at 15:06

ok thanks all, I will update the thread later tonight when home, I will be calling the RAC after work at around 4ish and see how it goes!

Building Candy · 6 Jul 2010 at 15:57

Could even be the cable stretching/ed.

Get it to a garage, they will diagnose the problem, probably change/adjust the cable first which may solve your woes.

Disco Boy · 6 Jul 2010 at 16:10

Time to learn how to shift by rev matching

Gaijin · 6 Jul 2010 at 16:28

You should have been granny........

Enough with the Fast and Furious jokes already.

mjt · 6 Jul 2010 at 17:10

Disco Boy said:
Time to learn how to shift by rev matching

This

Clarkey · 6 Jul 2010 at 17:10

Disco Boy said:
Time to learn how to shift by rev matching

Harder than it sounds, and even if you are good at it, you'll still mash the syncro's.
Just to clarify, i'm talking about clutchless shifting.

coxmattycox · 6 Jul 2010 at 19:05

Thanks for all the comments, RAC guy is pretty sure its the clutch. It's in at one of their approved garrages, to be looked at tommorow. Quoted around £320 for a new clutch inc fitting which I think is pretty reasonable? Being a RAC approved garrage it's a decent place, not a back street alley.

It's also a BOSCH service garage, does this really mean anything? It it better than a standard indy garrage etc?

Have to say the RAC chap was 1st class, very imformative, friendly guy. 10 out of 10 for service, only had to wait 5 minutes also. Being towed was certainly an experiance.

The Edge · 6 Jul 2010 at 20:23

TBH any moderately competetant garage should be able to change a fiesta clutch. A good guide is often to look up how much the componants cost and times by three. I don't think that price is too excessive.

Clarkey · 6 Jul 2010 at 20:43

Why does it need a new clutch? If it simply isn't disengaging properly then it probably needs a new slave cylinder or simply a fluid bleed. (assuming they are hydro, of course).

coxmattycox · 6 Jul 2010 at 20:47

He did quite a few things when testing it and I believe some of the results were indicating it had pretty much had it. I'll see what the garrage says tommorow, would be nice if it was something smaller.

The Edge · 6 Jul 2010 at 21:04

Whatever it is if the gearbox has got to come off anyway just fit a new clutch.

Building Candy · 7 Jul 2010 at 09:03

The Edge said:
Whatever it is if the gearbox has got to come off anyway just fit a new clutch.

agreed, if your gonna be in there anyway, might as well do the lot, its a 51 so prolly the original.