Loud Clunking And Fluid Leak From Gearbox Area

[Des]

Hi i hope someone can help me, yesteday and today my Galaxy has started making a horrible clunking noise, seems to be coming from the gearbox, and i can feel it throught the gearstick.

 

Also i noticed a red fluid leaking from somwhere near the gearbox, if not the gearbox it'self, i have tried topping up the transmission oil as reccomended in the haynes manual but i still have this clunking and banginig, today it started making a gentle grinding noise if the car is in gear and the clutch is depressed.

 

Im not much os a mechaninc Meccano used to be my limit, so i have no idea what this could be, am i looking at the clutch or the gearbox itself?

 

Thanks in Advance

 

Des

[Amarok]

Des,

welcome to the Forum. First thing there are a lot of different variations of Galaxy so to help you we need the following details

 

year

cc

diesel / petrol

transmission auto/manual

GL/GXL/Ghia/Ghia x

 

you can add this info in your signature and a image ;) as per mine if you wish

 

to get things rolling at first read you have TWO problems

 

1. Red fluid is from the power steering

2. Gearbox - my first thought is the clutch / release bearing as correct me I read this happens when you press the clutch pedal down ? or is it when you are moving?

Edited October 24, 2011 by Amarok

[Des]

Thanks for the reply

 

the car is a 1.9tdi 1990, the grinding noise is as i am driving and dip the clutch to change gear.

The clunking noise is while i am in gear and driving along.

 

I have checked the power steering fluid and it looks clear and the level looks ok though the red fluid looks clear until i wipe it off my fingers with a white cloth then i can see a red tint to it.

 

hope this gives you more to go on as your help is greatly appreciated.

 

des

[Amarok]

Des

thanks for that. I am pretty sure your problem is the clutch or the clutch release bearing or both !grinding when the bearing engages and clunking as its not under pressure

 

the only red fluid on your vehicle is the power steering fluid, it might be leaking from the rack so could possibly not bee seen in the level it is very thin stuff so will spread...

Edited October 24, 2011 by Amarok

[seatkid]

I dont know about red power steering fluid, the VAG fluid I have in the garage is clear with a slight mineral oil yellow tinge.

 

Obviously Des's car isnt a 1990 Tdi, they didnt start building them until 1996!

 

If its a Mk1 then it has a ford gearbox that has special thin ford oil, which I believe is red.

 

Sounds to me a failing gearbox / diff .

Edited October 24, 2011 by seatkid

[Des]

Hi that's the perils of using a phone to post must have missed its either 1999 or 2000 v reg failing gearbox / diff sounds expensive is it time to get rid the local ford dealer has a special on 1300 for any car any condition as long as it has an mot

[seatkid]

Before you panic, check the engine roll restrictor bar. Its located under the gearbox, one end is fastened to the gearbox and the other end to the body chassis member. A very common fault is the bolt shears and so the bar bangs about everytime you accelerate and decelerate.

 

You need to remove the engine undertray to get the roll restrictor.

 

Look here and here (item 18)

[Des]

Guys thanks for all the help looks like the best car i ever had is heading fir the great carpark in the sky, just been down to the garage with it driving very slowly, was told that the transmission has collapsed, and it would be beyond economical repair, i was beginning to suspect this would be the case, but i must mention the garage as they stayed around an hour after they closed because i couldn't get there in time, and did the diagnosis for free, that's what i call great customer relations, so if you are ever in staffordshire and near to Stone, call in to the Stonefield Garage, stonefield square, if you have any problems, hope i dont upset or offend anyone by saying that but i just thought they went the extra mile, and that goes for everyone in this forum also, you have all been a great help.

 

Des

[Amarok]

Best of luck Des I hope you get another Galaxy

[seatkid]

You could sell it on ebay (whole or bits), I would think its worth a fair bit for spare parts compared to just scrapping it.

 

There are also quite a few people out there prepared to replace the gearbox if the rest of the cars in good condition.

Edited October 26, 2011 by seatkid

[sparky Paul]

I would put a secondhand gearbox on, if the rest of the car is reasonable. Seems a shame to scrap it, the VXT75 manual gearboxes can be found fairly cheaply if you keep your eyes peeled.

 

There's one on fleabay starting at 99p.;)