Drive train issue....maybe?

[Night Rider]

Hello Folks,
After recently picking up my Tuscan there is something I have noticed that some of you seasoned owners may be able to help me with.
Under acceleration it pulls like a train. Cruising at 70-80 + it runs perfectly with no jerkiness or hesitation....but driving in traffic or just around 40-50mph, when you are not on or off the go peddle there is a jerking sensation (leaving myself open) or play in the drive train like the uni’s or worn. Is this a common characteristic of the Tuscan?
I am unable to raise the car and explore at this stage so I was hoping someone may direct me to the right area or problem.

Thanks,
Rob

[glow worm]

Sounds like 'diff shunt'...does it go if you change down to a lower gear???...Very common with Tuscan Verts and Tuscan Mk2s, but also know Griff owners who experience the same issue.

[Night Rider]

Nah, it’s the same in all gears. I thought it may have been less noticeable in 4th & 5th but it's still there. You mentioned ‘diff shunt’ would that be the same as ‘driveline backlash’? do we know what the diff is out of or what brand (2000 Tuscan) it is?
I had a look on some Holden/Ford forums and the symptoms are almost the same as some of the Ford owners particularly in the Australian built Ford Falcon. I assume a reco diff is the answer or a can of ‘diff shunt remover’ from Halfords.

[Fume Troll]

It may not just be the diff, I had problems with CV joints, and the drive shafts which were all contributing to slack in the driveline.

Probably need to get underneath it and see what's loose.

Cheers,

FT.

[art nouveau]

Night Rider said:

Hello Folks,
After recently picking up my Tuscan there is something I have noticed that some of you seasoned owners may be able to help me with.
Under acceleration it pulls like a train. Cruising at 70-80 + it runs perfectly with no jerkiness or hesitation....but driving in traffic or just around 40-50mph, when you are not on or off the go peddle there is a jerking sensation (leaving myself open) or play in the drive train like the uni’s or worn. Is this a common characteristic of the Tuscan?
I am unable to raise the car and explore at this stage so I was hoping someone may direct me to the right area or problem.

Thanks,
Rob

Glad you mentioned this. On the weekend I noticed the same thing. was travelling in slow traffic, say 1800rpm in 4th gear and noticed a jerkiness/slapping which appeared to be in the driveshaft/diff/CV joints. I solved it by changing down and placing "slight" load on the drivetrain. Seemed OK.

The car has recently come out of Roath Garage (engine repair), however knowing Pete I am sure he would have mentioned this if it was a problem - he was still smiling from having taken my Tuscan for a test drive when I called in.

I will get him to look it over when I have the car serviced - as a precaution.

Art

[BirleyDan]

Had something similar last year, turned out to be the diff mount bush - diagnosed by the guys at Track V Road. Not that expensive, but a pain to change, actually injured their mechanic as his hammer bounced off when applying a little persuading force almost breaking his nose. Anyways, I was not best popular as they had him off sick but at least it wasn't any of the more expensive bits of the drivetrain to worry about. Car been fine since so it's got to be worth checking first.

Cheers - Dan.

[Night Rider]

I will look into all these ideas. Still under warrantee so the dealer can have a look see.

[s6boy]

Under light loads at low to medium speed I've always had a very slight but noticeable jerkiness in delivery, I was told it is just a characteristic of the engine power delivery ie. it's designed as a revvy engine, it's never got worse so I've always taken this as to be the case.

[Night Rider]

To be perfectly honest it doesn’t bother me that much but I know it shouldn’t be there. The wife was quite enjoying the motion in London traffic though Crazy women!
I have just sold a reasonably new car which was very smooth and quiet so the Tuscan is a loud noisy contrast.....but loving every second.

[Night Rider]

Do we know what make of diff is in the Tuscan Mk1 and what other cars sport the same?

[Fume Troll]

Night Rider said:

Do we know what make of diff is in the Tuscan Mk1 and what other cars sport the same?

It's a BTR diff, the company is now owned by Dana (Spicer) http://www.dana.com/

No idea what uses them besides TVRs.

Cheers,

FT.

[Night Rider]

Thank you.

[glow worm]

Holdens
and John Reid of the Tuscan Challenge (Grantura Engineering) has sole franchiseing rights for Europe.

Edited by glow worm on Tuesday 4th March 19:18

[Night Rider]

glow worm said:

Holdens

Is that right! I've just sold mine to buy a Tuscan

Thanks GW

Edited by Night Rider on Wednesday 5th March 07:43

[jerbro]

The mechanic at my dealership said it was good up to 800bhp and the same ones they use in Maserati's! Just repeating what I was told!

[Turbo100]

I've had a very similar issue with my Tuscan, and surprisingly (to me at least) the problem was actually a failed lambda sensor, which was feeding incorrect readings to the ECU causing it to overfuel and consequently making the car feel as though it was suffering from "Diff Shunt" the black exhausts should have been more of an indication to me that that was where the problem was originating from, but with hindsight everything is obvious.

[MarkoTVR]

I get the odd clunk when changing gear, and under deceleration (Tuscan 2). Power gave it a good check over and took it out for a drive, couldn't find anything wrong.

Could be nothing, but best to get it checked out though.

[floyd2112]

hi i was in france last year and mine was juddering at around 80mph. i noticed a slight film of oil over the back of the car, checked the oil all was fine. we traveled all over did 2000 miles still judering sill finding oil, checed oil all ok. then doing 80odd with the wife driving diff sized up (s**t my self) towed home 2k to put right.

still love the car thou

mart

[Whitey]

how was the oil leaking out the diff? Pinion seal?

[floyd2112]

not shure did not ask.