Car Problem - No Drive

[Jakg]

Got a problem with the ZT.

Was driving along a country road, let off the throttle to slow for a bend, as I came out I realized I was doing ~800 RPM (idling). Changed gear, still coasting along. Realized something was wrong, coasted to a stop at the side of the road.

Once i'd stopped, I tried to pull away - I put it in first, and as I let the clutch I could feel it bite a little but give up. Can put it in any gear I like (with or without the clutch) but it's got no drive in any (even reverse), and doesn't stall, just sits there, idling. No weird noises, either when idling, changing gear or when it's "in" gear. It just sounds like it's constantly idling (because it is).

Clutch feels normal, but have had an odd loud "clattering" occasionally (i.e. maybe 5 times since I've had the car), getting more frequent up until the other day. Normally turning the engine off / on fixes this, but not the other day.

Got towed home, so the car is now parked on the drive.

Technical details - 2004 MG ZT 135+ Diesel Manual, almost 104k miles, been cared for well, been mine for just over a year. Full details - www.tinyurl.com/JakgZT



I originally suspected the clutch (only because it seems to be the most common point of failure on the owners clubs), but my Dad is not so sure (as the pedal feels fine and you can engage any gear)


Any suggestions as to what it could be?

To Add - Changing gear is possible with or without the clutch, but harder without the clutch.

[Steve_D]

Diff or a drive shaft.
Possibly a CV joint.

Steve

[anonymous-user]

DMF failure?? especially if it's been rattling for a while??

Anywhich way, the gearbox is coming off!

[Defcon5]

Are you saying the accellerator pedal doesnt work either?

[Jakg]

Defcon5 said:

Are you saying the accellerator pedal doesnt work either?

Nope, can rev it up to the redline in any gear (or neutral).

[Zad]

Half shafts still intact? Put it in gear and apply drive, watch to see if either of the shafts spin. If so then the CV joint has collapsed. Could be anything between the engine and wheels really.

[Simon says]

What does the speedo register when you put it in gear (say second) and take up the revs,is it displaying anything? I suspect clutch though

[Jakg]

Simon says said:

What does the speedo register when you put it in gear (say second) and take up the revs,is it displaying anything? I suspect clutch though

Nothing at all unfortunately in any gear.

[Simon says]

Jakg said:

Simon says said:

What does the speedo register when you put it in gear (say second) and take up the revs,is it displaying anything? I suspect clutch though

Nothing at all unfortunately in any gear.

Its probably time to pull the box out then before you do though just make sure the inner CV joints are not rotating when doing as I suggested previously preferably with the driving wheels off the ground and an helper/watcher

[anonymous-user]

My moneys still on a failed DMF, but it could just be a failed clutch drive centre plate. If you can put it in gear when the engine is idling without pressing the clutch, the failure must be upstream of the inputshaft (otherwise you'd get a horrible grinding noise). A failed centreplate (or DMF) could be spun up by the synchro cones as you moved the gearbox into gear, but would feel "harder" / "longer" to do that when using the clutch (when the cones just have to decelerate the idling inputshaft inertia)

[Simon says]

What he said ^ when I said box out I was referring to removing said box to expose the clutch assy should have made myself clear

[Jakg]

My Dad's had another suggestion... I always park in gear, and so it's been pretty much permanently in gear for the last year and a bit. She's never laid up much (being my daily drive and all) but my Dad mentioned that I might of damaged the idlers (or something like that).

He's also had a look at the driveshafts and declared them working fine.

Suggestions?

[Pupp]

Jakg said:

Suggestions?

As you've taken a week to resolve nothing; tow it to a mechanic?

[Jakg]

Pupp said:

As you've taken a week to resolve nothing; tow it to a mechanic?

I've had exams over the last week, thus why I haven't been able to touch it.

I *would* take it to a Mecahnic, but I can use the RAC relay to get it to *one* garage... If it's the clutch, I could save myself £600+ by taking it to a clutch "specialist" instead of my usual garage. But if i take it there and it's not the clutch, well then im 35 miles from home with a dead car and st outta luck.

[Zad]

I guess it depends on your personal situation. I'm lucky in that my local garage is half a mile away (albeit over a hill), so I'd give them a ring and ask if someone could come out and have a look. As it isn't an emergency, they would normally have a look and a prod around for not much. Come to think of it, they might do it after work for a few beers. They wouldn't charge much to tow it in.

Chances are they won't be able to tell whether it is the clutch/gearbox/diff without stripping it down.

[Steve_D]

Complete your profile with a location.
Someone local may be able to come and look at it for you.

Steve

[Jakg]

My Dad found that the master cylinder was under the battery box and some clip might of come out so he asked me to remove the battery box so we could look.

He had a reach inside and appears to of found the gear selector cables - and it doesn't seem like it's engaging any gear properly. Could this be the problem?

Sorry for not replying to half the posts - I'm still getting the hang of car mechanics (before I bought the ZT i'd never even changed a headlight bulb before!), and I've been having my Uni exams. Next week me and my Dad can crack through all the suggestions and have a look.

[Jakg]

Perhaps I was a bit over-zealous there...

Jacked it up, the wheel gets progressive easier to turn the higher gear I select. It also spins easier with the clutch in. This suggests that at the very least something is going on down there.

My Dad's new helpful suggestion... "inertia flywheel" whatever that is.

[Steve_D]

Jakg said:

....My Dad's new helpful suggestion... "inertia flywheel" whatever that is.

He most likely means Dual Mass flywheel. The flywheel is in two parts (inner & outer) with an anti vibration system between the two. This takes up shock loads or vibration between the engine and 'box. They can either fail and vibrate even more or sometimes become completely disconnected and loose drive.

Most clutch centre plates also have a similar system. It is less likely but this could also fail and loose drive.

As has been said, time to split engine from 'box and see what you find.

Steve

[Jakg]

Good news - garage picked my car up for further diagnosis.

Bad news - in the process of picking it up, they managed to put a massive scratch on the bottom and front of the bumper, and seem to of cracked it a little as well. Not happy.