Please diagnose this transmission problem

[Dickie Normuss]

2.0 vx, 5 speed 'box, standard clutch as far as I know. Symptoms are:

 

-Tried to accalerate hard in 3rd gear yesterday, lots of noise like crackling machine gun fire (not normal), rev counter goes up as normal, speed only increases slowly, suspected clutch slippage.

-Nasty grinding on start up this morning. released starter button and tried again, all was well.

-Same issue of stunted acceleration this morning but not as bad as yesterday, no 'crackling' noise.

 

Temps and pressures are as normal, engine makes all the right noises. I would suspect the clutch but when changing gear it seems a solid change as normal, very slight and brief smell of clutch yesterday. Car went from to instantly so don't suspect worn clutch, broken cover plate or similar

 

Seek forgiveness, not permission.

Rules are for the interpretation of wise men and the obedience of fools.

 

Edited by - ric on 18 Jul 2006 09:56:38

[Irrelevant]

CRB and or CRB holder breaking down. Machine gun noise was a crooked CRB hitting the metal bits on the pressure plate. It probably then straightened itself out and shut up for a while.

Pressure plate will likely be US and you will need a new CRB and carrier.

[Dickie Normuss]

Oh joy ☹️

 

Seek forgiveness, not permission.

Rules are for the interpretation of wise men and the obedience of fools.

[Irrelevant]

I may be wrong but it's exactly the symptoms I had when my CRB/carrier went and the CRB started hitting the pressure plate ☹️

 

Have a look and see what you can see....

[Dickie Normuss]

Will it be evident without taking the engine out, where do I need to look and would that prevent the clutch engaging 100% and causing the lost transmission? Also, I never suffered any squealing as most people seem to have

 

Seek forgiveness, not permission.

Rules are for the interpretation of wise men and the obedience of fools.

 

Edited by - ric on 18 Jul 2006 11:29:10

[Irrelevant]

Will it be evident without taking the engine out, where do I need to look

You need to somehow look inside the bellhousing. Don't know if you have an inspection cover on yours or if there are any handy holes. You may find a dentist's type mirror useful for seeing the back of the pressure plate/CRB.

would that prevent the clutch engaging 100% and causing the lost transmission?

Yes - if the CRB is not sitting properly on it's carrier it could be putting pressure on the pressure plate and stopping the clutch from completely hooking up. If this is the case, I'd have thought the clutch would feel pretty unusual (mine did). If it feels fine, maybe a stone (or nut) found it's way into the clutch somehow, interfered with things for a while, and then fell out leaving everything pretty much as normal 🤔

Are the nasty noises definately coming from the clutch/bellhousing area?

 

[Dickie Normuss]

Nasty noises came from the around the footwell area, that's as specific as I can be CRB/carrier on it's way from CC but the helpful man there reckoned it was the clutch as it was an 'in gear' problem. Regardless the engine's got to come out so I'll replace the CRB and probably the clutch/pressure plate. What should my shopping list of parts look like.

 

Seek forgiveness, not permission.

Rules are for the interpretation of wise men and the obedience of fools.

[Normans_Ghost]

Centre Plate

Pressure Plate

Release Bearing

Fork

 

New oil and filter if you need to drain oil (Dry sump)

 

You may like a belt and braces approach and fit a new spigot bearing whilst the engine's out.

 

Norman Verona, 1989 BDR 220bhp, Reg: B16BDR, Mem No 2166, the full story here

You and your seven to The French Blatting Company Limited

[Dickie Normuss]

Thanks Norm I'm guessing the fork and the spigot bearing from CC, but are the centre and pressure plates Caterham specific or can I save a bundle and get them elsewhere

 

Seek forgiveness, not permission.

Rules are for the interpretation of wise men and the obedience of fools.

 

Edited by - ric on 18 Jul 2006 12:46:54

[Irrelevant]

IF it is the crb/carrier playing up, a new crb assembly and pressure plate should suffice. If you have a cheap standard clutch, you may as well swap the friction plate as well.

I wouldn't bother with a fork unless yours is bent. I doubt Caterham will have them in stock and if they do, I suspect they will be expensive.

Don't see why the spigot bearing should have sustained any damage either But still, if they're cheap you may as well change it as they can be real sods if they cease.

 

Wrt changing it, just take the engine out, leave the box insitu(with it's oil), and change whatever needs changing.