5 replies to this topic

[anth]

I thought I had previously registered here, and came on to post an issue with my little orange beastie, but it appears not, so I'll pop to the intro section  after posting this!

 

I have a 1991 Rover Mini. Originally a Neon, but (before I bought) changed substantially, and had a 1275 dropped in. Driving home a little while ago a knocking noise started all of a sudden. I had the noise filmed the next day (video linked at the bottom).

 

I can feel the knocking through the clutch pedal. It appears in 1st to 3rd and reverse, but doesn't appear to be in 4th. It 'feels' (and you can see this as I pull onto the driveway) like it's not quite engaging. It's up on axle stands in the garage just now, and I've been under, but nothing obvious is jumping out. I'm more than happy to do work on the car myself (and have done), but 3 years into Mini ownership, still relatively green, and not at all good at diagnosis.

 

Hoping this isn't the gearbox, as I'd rather not have to take the engine out. Could it be driveshaft issues? Or the clutch?

 

Anyway, here's the video: 

 

[Spider]

Oooch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'd say from the noise and description the First Motion Shaft and / or the Laygear is goosed. Regardless which one it is, it will have damaged the other by now. Only my best guess here.

 

Regardless, it's an engine out job.

[Stevie W]

Ouch! that sounds nasty!!

 

I have a feeling Spider Moke is correct in his diagnosis! However, for what it's worth, before pulling the engine and gearbox out it's probably a good idea to check the drive shafts and joints.

 

The inner pot joints can sound horrible when they're failing and can cause the driveshaft yoke that holds the ball bearings in mesh with the pot joint drive grooves to "jump" and make a rather horrible noise, I had a similar issue to yours on an old Austin 1300 with a goosed pot joint. It's also worth checking the drive shaft splines around both inner and outer joints although this is easier said than done with the drive-shaft in situ.

 

Other areas to check are the pot joints where they exit the diff and feel for excessive play. This could indicate a failed diff which can also be checked by jacking the front of the car off the ground and rotating the wheels whilst listening out for any nasty noises. If the diff is ok the wheel on the opposite side of the car from the one being rotated by hand, should spin the in the opposite direction.

 

With the car still jacked up and safely supported on axles stands and with the handbrake applied, it might be worth running the engine with the car in first gear and have a close look at how the drive train is behaving. Look out for and side-to-side movement or strange clonking noises!

 

Hope this gives you something to start with!

 

Cheers, Steve.

 

EDIT: just read that you've already looked at the car on axle stands!!!

Edited by Stevie W, 31 January 2020 - 01:34 PM.

[anth]

Excellent, thanks guys, that gives me a lot of good stuff to go on... :)

Fingers crossed I can get some more healthy posts on before long!

[Earwax]

I would immediately drain the oil and have a good look out for needle bearings or cage swarf. ( take off the filter too and probably cut it up to check it inside as well - messy job alert) and although not helpful at all in trying to diagnose any fault, i would be very wary of continuing to run the motor - as suggested above more and more damage is possible as one failed part takes out others. Sorry not the positive advice you were hoping for, and i hope it is something like a drive shaft circlip gone astray- but the engine noise was ominous.

[bpirie1000]

Have you changed the bolts on the fly wheel.

Could be that the bolts are a little to long on clutch or bell housing (or any drivetrain part) and causing issues with selection.

Also could be that the selector forks/shafts are so worn it causes random gear issues..

Without knowing pedal feel or noises when the car is stationary I would only be guessing.

Does pedal feel like it should?
What work has been done on the car?
In fact is this Auto or manual?

Either way car looks good.. be logical and systematic.
Haynes will save the day....EVENTUALLY....