Niggles

[Spawn]

Evening all.


I have quite a heavy clunk that seems to be coming from the rear, and only seems to happen occasionally on gear changes that perhaps arent as smooth as others. From researching this may well be the Diff bushes so will get this checked - nothing major. (doesnt happen when turning as others have mentioned, just when the gear change is not quite so smooth).



The main thing at the moment, is when the car has been left for a short while, I am really struggling to select any gear at all. For some reason I just cant shift into gear.
Once I am away and have been driving for 5 minutes everything is absolutely fine - Obviously as the car warms up.

Upon searching the only thread I can find is this: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

As Baffoon says in the above post.. I am able to select 2nd gear first of all, and as things warm up I can select all gears no problem.

[kevin63]

The knocking when engaging gear could be just you getting used to the car, or it could be the bushes like you say.
Check the clutch fluid level, it is in the wing on the drivers side under the windscreen cover (which you have to take off first, 2 x screws, 4mm allen key) and under the black sealed in cover, if that is OK, I personally would bleed the system and replace the fluid with Dot 5.1 which resist heat better.

[Spawn]

kevin63 said:

The knocking when engaging gear could be just you getting used to the car, or it could be the bushes like you say.
Check the clutch fluid level, it is in the wing on the drivers side under the windscreen cover (which you have to take off first, 2 x screws, 4mm allen key) and under the black sealed in cover, if that is OK, I personally would bleed the system and replace the fluid with Dot 5.1 which resist heat better.

beat you to it Kevin I'm checking the fluid level right now. Will see how this is looking. I know the slave cylinder seal is slightly weak from a report done just before I purchased the car.

The knocking could well be me getting used to the car, as it does seems its only on poor gear changes - I never heard this when being driven by the previous owner.

[BLUETHUNDER]

Spawn said:

kevin63 said:

The knocking when engaging gear could be just you getting used to the car, or it could be the bushes like you say.
Check the clutch fluid level, it is in the wing on the drivers side under the windscreen cover (which you have to take off first, 2 x screws, 4mm allen key) and under the black sealed in cover, if that is OK, I personally would bleed the system and replace the fluid with Dot 5.1 which resist heat better.

beat you to it Kevin I'm checking the fluid level right now. Will see how this is looking. I know the slave cylinder seal is slightly weak from a report done just before I purchased the car.

The knocking could well be me getting used to the car, as it does seems its only on poor gear changes - I never heard this when being driven by the previous owner.

I would say that the problem selecting the gears is pointing to the slave.As for the knocking.Then i would be certain its diff bushes.A known Cerb weak point.

[Spawn]

Removed the plastic surround...



So I assume its directly under the sealed part in the center of the pic (right of yellow brake fluid reservoir cap)?
Sorry if this is a stupid question (im sure im going to find out when I go back to the garage) but why is this sealed in this way? Does it specifically need re-sealing after I've taken a look under? Seems a strange idea to me..

Edited by Spawn on Saturday 8th March 21:23

Edited by Spawn on Saturday 8th March 21:24

[kevin63]

Yes it is under that, cut the seal with a Stanley knife and be careful, the back bit is fibre glass and can break easy, the cap should be tight, if you don't reseal it water can get in side and on to the floor where the pedals are, but you will see that when you take the cup off, you can reseal with normal silicon sealant from a DIY shop.
Are you going to East-mid meet tomorrow.
Kev

[Spawn]

Hi Kevin,

I am supposed to be going to my fathers in lincolnshire so was going to give the meet a miss.
I will also check this and a few other things whilst at fathers tomorrow..

although maybe I should come along to the meet and get a few opinions from you guys... hmm

Edited by Spawn on Saturday 8th March 21:36

Having said that the meets at lunchtime by the looks of things, so I could always nip across there first and then straight to the old mans..

Edited by Spawn on Saturday 8th March 21:42

[kevin63]

YHM

[mxi933]

hi. The clutch thing happened to me last year. Basically either the master or slave seals are shot. Black stuff in the res will confirm this. By bleeding the system you might get a few more miles out of it but the net result is a £500 bill if the gearbox has to come out. Might as well get the diff bushes done at the same time. Not much change out of a grand I'm afraid. Welcome to the world of the Cerb.
Should have bought a purple one

[Spawn]

Once its in gear and I'm moving its absolutely fine

[BLUETHUNDER]

Spawn said:

Once its in gear and I'm moving its absolutely fine

It will be.Your problems are getting it in to gear in the first place.This does look like the slave/seals im afraid.

[Spawn]

In theory, I should be able to do this...

Clutch in
Select Gear
Engine Start
Release Clutch

and away we go......


Once running as we know, is fine - Should I be ok to drive across to my fathers (Takes about an hour - 70ish miles)? Once there I can get the car on the hydraulic ramps and we can check a few things out.

[BLUETHUNDER]

You can try.But from what you are describing then it,s seriously on its way out.Could also be fingers.Try it.but make sure to take your RAC card and expect the 3-5 hour wait for a pick up,which has happened to me on more than one occasion.