No drive....

[hugh_]

I've got an Escort Estate Diesel (yawn) as an everyday hack. On my way back from uni today I lost all drive as I was pulling out of a T-jct (turning right). Pushed it onto pavement thinking "oh shit, thats the second clutch to have gone this year" (the other was in the Capri).

Anyway, suitable cursing ensued, I check it goes into gear fine, the speedo rises with revs when its in gear etc etc. I turn the engine off then restart and I have drive again. This is very off thinks I!

A couple of miles later, turning left at a set of traffic lights the same thing happnes.

So what's the problem likely to be?

I'm thinking either something with the diff. or cv joints? The car is parked safely so I'll have a look in the morning when its light and hopefully not pi$$ing it down with rain but any thoughts as to what it might be would be good.

Cheers
Hugh

[rev-erend]

I think drive shaft..

Is it FWD or RWD by the way.

[steve_d]

Sounds like a CV joint by the way it started working again.
When you come to check it make sure someone is standing hard on the brakes whilst you are under the front looking for whirling drive shafts. If it has engaged drive once then it could do it again any time.

Steve

[hugh_]

Thanks for the replies, I'll have a gander under the car tomorrow and see if I can suss it out then try and get it sorted.

FWD btw

[hugh_]

I got the car back yesterday, it was the drive shaft which had parted from the diff because a circlip had come adrift, the CV joint have disintegrated and the oil had drained from the diff. In the process the drive shaft mangled itself.

The gearbox feels really knotchy now but I cant figure why, it was nothing to do with that

[Zad]

Maybe in the process of poking around the selector arm got accidentally bent, or the linkage got disturbed and pushed out of alignement?

[wildoliver]

maybe because the oil had drained out of the diff?

[gary_tholl]

Since it's FWD, doesn't the diff and gearbox share oil?

[Motorwise]

gary_tholl said:

Since it's FWD, doesn't the diff and gearbox share oil?

yes

[hugh_]

Gearbox seems to be in one piece, its definitely getting better with use (though havent done more than 80miles since the work). I think the potential for the gearbox/diff to give out is the last straw for this car, I cant be arsed to sort a spare from a scrappy then either fit it myself or get someone to do it. I'm thinking trade it in, and get something faster and with more toys on it.

[SneakyNeil]

hugh_ said:

The gearbox feels really knotchy now but I cant figure why, it was nothing to do with that

Could just be the gear oil they used, even if it's the right grade theres a big difference between cheap stuff and OEM/expensive stuff.

[hugh_]

SneakyNeil said:

hugh_ said:

The gearbox feels really knotchy now but I cant figure why, it was nothing to do with that

Could just be the gear oil they used, even if it's the right grade theres a big difference between cheap stuff and OEM/expensive stuff.

Well they charged me £16 for it, but if its the gearbox and diff then it may take a fair amount I suppose.

[wildoliver]

well if they have filled the gearbox they will have filled the diff too.

[Mr Whippy]

Driveshaft popping off the CV?

Dave