Rattling noise then sounded like something was draggiing

[seanieboy]

Drove my car for the first time in two months,
On the way home I heard a rattling noise! Then a big clump and almost sounded like the gearbox
Had fallen down! Then stalled ! Would not start again !
Pulled over and looked underneath and nothing had fallen, AA come out and tried to jump it but nothing at all!!!
The car did seem quite clunky when changing gear beforehand!
Any suggestions?

[Jhonno]

Gearbox won't stop it starting.

[seanieboy]

What do you recon it could be ?

[seanieboy]

It's in the garage now so will find out soon I guess! hope nothing to serious!
The oil level was fine the day before.
She is a 4.5 ajp and the engine has alway been so reliable!

[Poopdog]

Did the engine turn over?

[mike_e]

Engine turning over is key here. Gear changing issues + noise could be due to a massive failure of the clutch plate / fingers, it's not uncommon. Not restarting afterwards however wouldn't be a result of clutch issues, it sadly sounds more ominous. Hate to say it it, but the symptoms sound like the crankshaft may have let go and is now in two pieces, particularly if the motor can't be rotated as said earlier.

[ukkid35]

mike_e said:

Hate to say it it, but the symptoms sound like the crankshaft may have let go and is now in two pieces, particularly if the motor can't be rotated as said earlier.

Unheard of with a 4.5, so don't panic yet.

[TwinKam]

Loose flywheel is my guess.

[WIL35]

Mine did this when the timing chain broke. See if the alternator pulley can be turned with your fingertips.

[seanieboy]

Thanks for the replies will go to the garage today and check a few things !

[ukkid35]

WIL35 said:

Mine did this when the timing chain broke. See if the alternator pulley can be turned with your fingertips.

Sounds horrible - what mileage did the chain have?

[FarmyardPants]

Maybe the OP has a snapped camshaft

[WIL35]

ukkid35 said:

Sounds horrible - what mileage did the chain have?

Only 24k miles. I had just bought the car from Dream Machines in 2006, fortunately they collected it, replaced the heads and fitted a new chain under warranty. They didn't get the timing right, so I had to take it somewhere else after that to get it set up properly. It then ran fine up until 49k miles, which is when I sold it.

[ukkid35]

WIL35 said:

Only 24k miles. I had just bought the car from Dream Machines in 2006, fortunately they collected it, replaced the heads and fitted a new chain under warranty. They didn't get the timing right, so I had to take it somewhere else after that to get it set up properly. It then ran fine up until 49k miles, which is when I sold it.

Since they did their best to fix it, you came out of that relatively unscathed.

My guess is that there was a 12k service with tappet adjustment, immediately before you bought the car. The cam sprocket bolts weren't torqued or loctited properly, so a sprocket fell off - but this was described to you as chain failure to save face.

I could be wrong, but unless they showed you the chain post failure, I doubt it. In fact I'm not sure what state the chain would be in after a sprocket cane lose anyway so even that wouldn't be definitive.

Anyway I'd rather believe that than think the chain spontaneously failed at just 24k.

[WIL35]

When I went to see the progress of the repair, I was greeted with this, which concerned me somewhat!

[ukkid35]

Now that photo is fascinating, because it clearly shows timing cover off with engine in situ - which is generally thought to be impossible.

It's quite scary to see the battery still in place though.

Edited by ukkid35 on Wednesday 8th February 16:48

[spitfire4v8]

The timing cover looks well and truly stuck over the front of the crank still to me, unless theyve unbolted the nose of the crank ?

[ukkid35]

spitfire4v8 said:

The timing cover looks well and truly stuck over the front of the crank still to me, unless theyve unbolted the nose of the crank ?

I see what you mean

That's not pretty at all

[greenracing]

Nose still looks in place. Hats off to the people that disassembled it, would have been a work of art doing in situ, big enough pain when it's on the bench.

Wouldn't like the chances of being able to get everything sealed up though, but hopefully they do a good job for you.

[TwinKam]

greenracing said:

Nose still looks in place. Hats off to the people that disassembled it, would have been a work of art doing in situ, big enough pain when it's on the bench.

Wouldn't like the chances of being able to get everything sealed up though, but hopefully they do a good job for you.

As I read it, WIL53 was relating his broken chain experience in 2006, this is not the OP's yet to be diagnosed car.

WIL35 said:

Only 24k miles. I had just bought the car from Dream Machines in 2006, fortunately they collected it, replaced the heads and fitted a new chain under warranty. They didn't get the timing right, so I had to take it somewhere else after that to get it set up properly. It then ran fine up until 49k miles, which is when I sold it.

I doubt very much that they did that job in situ, more likely they were just assessing the job when that pic was taken.