There may be trouble ahead.....technical trouble......

[C8PPO]

Popped over to France today to sort something out and I've got some sort of problem with the car (2006 6.0 VXR).

I didn't take out AA Cover; well, it's only a day trip and we're only going about 40-50 miles from the tunnel, but man, did I sweat on that decision all afternoon! Anyway, have got it back to Blighty OK.

The problem is with the gearbox and/or clutch. Hard to describe, but when you change gear, most noticeably 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd, there's a graunch/grate/rubbing noise, which sometimes occurs when you start to lift your foot off the clutch, and sometimes occurs when you're actually moving the stick and still have your hand on it. Pull away from stationary and it's 100% fine. 3rd to 4th to 5th to 6th and back - also fine, and once it's moving in gear there are no issues either.

I can't decide whether it's gearbox or clutch (release bearing?) but I'm erring towards gearbox. I'm no gearbox expert, but, for instance, do 2nd and 3rd share the same selector?

We cut our visit a little short as I wanted to get back on english soil so that I could hand it over to the AA if needed but it got us back fine, apart from the above issue when in the low gears.

I know about the 5th/6th problem which some people have had but this seems a different thing.

One other thing which may be related, or may just be my paranoia at the time, but if you know the A16 from Le Touquet back to the tunnel, you'll know it has some reasonable hills along it. Every time I came to an uphill section, doing 75-ish, then either I or the cruise needed to put the power on to maintain speed, and when I did that I sensed a low frequency vibration/buzz as the power came on. Seemed to go again once the required power level was reached and speed was maintained. I'm certain I wasn't imagining it. I did wonder if it was road surface-related but after a major change of surface it still did it, and only on increasing power. However, back over here and that problem seems to have gone away, apart from the fact that the M20 from the tunnel to home has no significant hills to have tested it on (I live east of Wrotham Hill).

Clearly there will be a call to Roger on Monday - unless he reads this first! - but keen to know if anyone has had a similar issue or knows what this might be.

Cheers.

[ARAF]

I was over around Calais today - and yes, there are some hills between Boulogne and Calais. Sorry to hear of your problems, but let us know what it is, once it's been diagnosed, so that others can keep an eye out for the problem.

[snowwolf]

Sorry to hear you have problems :-( I think if it was the release bearing, it would make the noise in any gear change, whats it like on tick over, in neutral and then depress the clutch slowly and let off, what happens then?

[C8PPO]

Think it's fine on tickover - I hear what you say about the release bearing. The noise - which doesn't happen every time - occurs as you take up the load letting the clutch out. Points to box then - but does only seem to be 2nd & 3rd

[snowwolf]

may be a bearing breaking up on that particular shaft, may be the bearing cage has broken allowing the balls to move in the race causing it to vibrate and move about, which could give you the noise and the noise can alter depending where the balls are within the race.

[snowwolf]

How many miles on the car PPO

[C8PPO]

snowwolf said:

How many miles on the car PPO

44k now - not massive although probably above average amongst the ownership here.

[C8PPO]

Well, the mystery remains a mystery - Roger doesn't recognise the symptoms over the phone, so it's bye-bye Monaro for a couple of weeks whilst it's pulled down and investigations are made - not to mention me living on baked beans!