31 replies to this topic

[KSTANDSTEVE]

Its Verto.

Guessit could be engaging but not fully so there isnt enough to move the car.

So how come when i turn one front wheel the other doesnt move - should it?

[Ethel]

When you turn one wheel the diff's bevel gears will try and turn the other wheel in the opposite direction but if the brake is holding the wheel the wheel in your hands will just turn instead. It's a relativity thing the 2 wheels are still moving in opposite directions from each other.

If hold the clutch down allows you to engage gears but with the clutch up you get no drive then the clutch could be slipping very badly. Did the speedo test show anything? The speed should read proportional to the engine revs if the clutch isn't slipping.

[samsfern]

wouldnt you smell the clutch if it was slipping like that????

[bmcecosse]

Speedo is the clue!! Please tell us if the speedo is reading - it's been asked several times. Could be CV joint - inner or outer - or the output gear securing nut in the box has come loose - and the gear has come out of engagement with the diff gear. What happens in reverse ?? I reversed off the motorway (on the hard shoulder!!) when that happened to me.

[KSTANDSTEVE]

Sorry lads was called away from pc.

To be honest I forgot to check speedo - will doin morning. Surely tho if both wheels are turning when car put in gear driven gears are engaged?

Edit - Sorry yeah need to check speedo proportional speed.

Not checked reverse.

Half a job eh!

Edited by kstadseve, 07 August 2009 - 09:19 PM.

[bmcecosse]

Obviously NOT - or the car would GO! It's just friction drag.

[KSTANDSTEVE]

Ha Agreed. What I meant was if wheels are turning speedo must be reading.

Will post tomorrow morning after more checks

Cheers for all your help

[KSTANDSTEVE]

OK up bright and early today.

Firstly tried reverse gear with engine running both wheels rotate backward.

Now going back to forward gears.

1st wheels rotate quickly speedo reads as you would expect
2nd wheels rotate faster speedo increases
3rd wheels slow down! speedo slows down
4th Wheels stop! Speedo stops

On ALL gears incl reverse its possible to easily stop both fron wheels by putting your foot against the tyre - its as if there is no strength in the drive - obviously as the car wont move when off the stands.

During all this no nosie, crunches, grinds etc

Does this give us any more clues.

I am resigned to taking the engine out but I am keen to do all the checks I can before dismantling.

Cheers lads bit of a saga but its appreciated

[digitalfriction]

OK up bright and early today.

Firstly tried reverse gear with engine running both wheels rotate backward.

Now going back to forward gears.

1st wheels rotate quickly speedo reads as you would expect
2nd wheels rotate faster speedo increases
3rd wheels slow down! speedo slows down
4th Wheels stop! Speedo stops

On ALL gears incl reverse its possible to easily stop both fron wheels by putting your foot against the tyre - its as if there is no strength in the drive - obviously as the car wont move when off the stands.

During all this no nosie, crunches, grinds etc

Does this give us any more clues.

I am resigned to taking the engine out but I am keen to do all the checks I can before dismantling.

Cheers lads bit of a saga but its appreciated

Im going to go out on a limb here and have a bit of a guess, see if the theory adds up?

If there is a problem with the clutch spring, or possibly friction plate, could there not be a situation where the clutch has enough friction to make the gears crunch if you try to go into gear without the clutch depressed, but, it hasnt got enough friction to do the harder job of making the wheels move under load. This would explain why as the amount of load increases (going into 3rd and 4th gear) the wheels started to slow (the clutch lost friction and stopped driving the wheels)

My suggestion, take the clutch out, examine, and most likely replace the entire clutch assembly.

[KSTANDSTEVE]

Cheers. I would agree it does sound like clutch.

Just want to be sure its not gearbox (unlikely) or diff whilst its all in one piece as I dont want to fit clutch only to find out its another engine out job to do the box/diff. I know you can do the clutch without taking engine out but I will. Engine bay is about only area I havent done and its a good oppurtunity to get everything looking sweet )

Think I need to understand how the diff works!

[digitalfriction]

Cheers. I would agree it does sound like clutch.

Just want to be sure its not gearbox (unlikely) or diff whilst its all in one piece as I dont want to fit clutch only to find out its another engine out job to do the box/diff. I know you can do the clutch without taking engine out but I will. Engine bay is about only area I havent done and its a good oppurtunity to get everything looking sweet )

Think I need to understand how the diff works!

If you want to really understand how the gearbox and diff work, send a pm to guessworks, he rebuilds all sorts of a-series gearbox and diffs and will have seen every combination possible i'm sure.

[KSTANDSTEVE]

Cheers will do

[KSTANDSTEVE]

Guessworks has suggested it could be gearbox

Anyone else?

[Purple Tom]

Doesn't sound like the clutch to me to be honest. I've known Minis rotate the wheels easily when running on axle stands even when in neutral, a lot of it is down to the viscosity of the oil which leads to a small amount of transmission drag. If you can stop the wheels easily by hand (or foot) then I would say the problem definitely lies after the clutch!

[Ethel]

It obviously something significant and the clutch will have to come off whatever it is. you may as well just get cracking.