Goes into gear but doesnt drive

[clio007]

A friend of mine has recently purchased an Audi A4 from a salvage yard. The car starts but doesn't drive. Its a 2.0 TDI B8 model with a manual gearbox

You can put the clutch down and put the car into gear, but as you lift the clutch up nothing happens. There is no drive at all and it feels like its in neutral.

Any thoughts? First thought it is the clutch rather than the gearbox.

[Rich_W]

clio007 said:

A friend of mine has recently purchased an Audi A4 from a salvage yard..

[/end thread]

[anonymous-user]

Check the driveline is actually connected to the prop and someone hasn't removed it failing that
Stick a new clutch in,

For future reference, don't let your mate buy cars from a salvage yard, there will be a reason it's ended up in there hands.

[Dr G]

Learn2Merge is spot on; that needs to go up on a ramp and have some basic fault finding done.

Is something missing, snapped/cracked, or otherwise broken?

Is the clutch pedal connected to anything?

Then probably a case of pulling the box and inspecting inside for similar issues.

Zero drive in a manual is going to be something reasonably obvious.

[Evolved]

Engine and box still in it?

[catso]

Not sure if worn clutch would give absolutely no drive? Surely something would be felt?

I had a Fiesta many years ago that snapped one of the driveshaft joints and had these exact symptoms, relatively cheap fix but should have done both at the same time as it happened to the other side a few months later...

[clio007]

Thanks for the responses guys. There is nothing obvious missing (we havent had it up on a ramp). The clutch pedal still feels connected to something

Its had side damage so hopefully nothing has gone missing while parked up in the yard. (Entirely possible)

Could it actually be as simple as a clutch? I thought if it was a clutch it wouldn't go into gear at all or it would be slipping while driving.

[Dr G]

If side damage has broken a drive shaft that axle will have zero resistance and allow the diff to spin freely.

[anonymous-user]

clio007 said:

Thanks for the responses guys. There is nothing obvious missing (we havent had it up on a ramp). The clutch pedal still feels connected to something

Its had side damage so hopefully nothing has gone missing while parked up in the yard. (Entirely possible)

Could it actually be as simple as a clutch? I thought if it was a clutch it wouldn't go into gear at all or it would be slipping while driving.

We had a mates corsa that would go into gear with the clutch down and when you released the clutch it wouldnt move you could climb out the car and it would sit in gear on its own.

Although its not a corsa, something to bear in mind.

I would say some of the driveline is missing.

Get it up on a ramp

[clio007]

Dr G said:

If side damage has broken a drive shaft that axle will have zero resistance and allow the diff to spin freely.

Thanks Dr G. I will give to a garage

Its all three panels but maybe the drive shaft would be the cheaper fix. It isnt a hard hit just a side swipe. DMF plus clutch is circa £600 on its own!

Is it not likely to be the clutch then? Or anything just pure speculation at the moment

[clio007]

Learn2MergeInTurn said:

We had a mates corsa that would go into gear with the clutch down and when you released the clutch it wouldnt move you could climb out the car and it would sit in gear on its own.

Although its not a corsa, something to bear in mind.

I would say some of the driveline is missing.

Get it up on a ramp

Cheers buddy. This weekend hopefully we will tow it to a garage. I will keep you guys posted

[Sheepshanks]

clio007 said:

Is it not likely to be the clutch then?

If it's been in a crash and now won't drive then it strikes me as unlikely that the lack of drive is due to the clutch failing.

[Dr G]

clio007 said:

Thanks Dr G. I will give to a garage

Its all three panels but maybe the drive shaft would be the cheaper fix. It isnt a hard hit just a side swipe. DMF plus clutch is circa £600 on its own!

Is it not likely to be the clutch then? Or anything just pure speculation at the moment

A lot of suspension bits can almost be considered sacrificial - if you hit a big bump it's preferable for the shaft/suspension to break than the gearbox. Make them too strong and after an impact you've got a nice shiny driveshaft and a big pile of scrap that used to be your gearbox.

[anonymous-user]

Any update on this?

[clio007]

Not yet. Its at the garage but hasnt been looked at.

We are hoping tomorrow it will be up on the ramp and inspected. First feedback was the car moves an inch forward when lifting the clutch up. It also does it in reverse so perhaps the clutch engaging and then spinning after?! Who knows.

Hopefully will have a proper update by Wednesday

[anonymous-user]

Bent flywheel if it moves an inch?

[clio007]

Both knackered.

Clutch and flywheel replaced at a cost £650. Will be picked up later today lets see what happens

[clio007]

Just a final update. Clutch and flywheel have fixed the issue.

Car drives now just needs repairing

[anonymous-user]

Told you sir

[Sheepshanks]

clio007 said:

Just a final update. Clutch and flywheel have fixed the issue.

Car drives now just needs repairing

Doesn't sound like the rest of the damage is too bad, so how on earth did the flywheel get bent?