No Drive From Any Gears

[corskey]

Hi,

 

I can engage all six gears in my tdi but there is no drive possible. Apparently, it happened when the missus was changing into first at the traffic lights.

 

I can change into 1,2 & 3 without using the clutch, 4,5 & 6 can only be really coaxed in with the clutch.

 

Does this signify the need for a new gearbox, and how much could I expect to pay for such a lump of steel :D :D

 

It's been a bad month for me, first

[Guest vr6galaxy]

If you can select gears 4, 5 and 6 using the clutch but have no drive I would hazard a guess and say the clutch has gone or the clutch operating system has gone, check the fluid level in the reservoir, I had the clutch go on my old T4, you could change gear ok without using the clutch and you do this with the engine running! as there was no drive to the gearbox! one minute it worked fine the next gear change there was nothing! :D not that I was to worried IT happened on Saturday afternoon on the way home from a job! I got an extra 6 hrs over time getting the van recovered back to the local dealers :lol:

[Masked Marauder]

Sounds more like a failed CV joint to me.

[Sharanfx]

Its not one of the cable linkages broken is it, you might not be getting any side to side movement only up and down on the selector.

[corskey]

Just a thought

 

- I had the top linkages (?) on the front suspension replaced last week, could the two problems be related? Could the garage have disconnected the drive and forgot to re-connedt properly - just a thought

[Guest vr6galaxy]

Cant see why they would have split the drive shafts to change the top mounts, they may have stressed the joints by allowing them hang unsupported when the removed the suspension strut?

from having a CV joint go on one of my cars there was a lot of noise as the drive shaft flailed about in the hub! you would know if this was happening! ;)

can you change gear with the engine running and without depressing the clutch?

[corskey]

yes m8

 

when the engines running I can change into 1,2,3 and with gentle encouragement 4th.

 

5&6 require the clutch, though I'm sure that I could force the issue

 

Sorry Seatkid (see below) just to clarify (I hope)

 

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With the engine running I can select 1st to 4th gears, however though I'm in gear and the engine running, the wheels refuse to turn. It's sllightly more difficult to engage 5th and 6th (presumably because of the size of the cogs??). If I use the clutch I can select 5th and 6th, however still no movement of the front wheels.

 

the fact that there is no horrible metallic sounds when in gear and when the engine is running indicates to me that (fortunately) the gearbox is ok.

 

Hope that this clarifies things.

 

Corskey

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[Guest vr6galaxy]

To me it sounds like it's a clutch problem! it could have gone!

[Masked Marauder]

Hub nut unscrewed and the drive shaft slipped out the splines? If you put it in gear with the engine running does either of the driveshafts turn where they leave the gearbox?

[seatkid]

Sorry but I don't understand corksey's statements...... :D

I can change into 1,2 & 3 without using the clutch, 4,5 & 6 can only be really coaxed in with the clutch.

:D what the hell does that mean??

 

 

If it means that you can move the gearlever into 1,2,3 position and nothing happens, but 4,5,6 are still working, then I think it a gear shift cable problem (do a search for this common problem..)

[Masked Marauder]

If you break a CV joint or the drive-shaft pops out the gearbox then you can put the car into gear without using the clutch because the syncromesh will speed the gearbox up.

 

In higher gears the syncromesh is not able to get the gearbox up to speed at idle as there is too much drag in the higher gears.

 

I still think this is going to be a drive-shaft related problem. It is certainly the place to start looking.

[corskey]

An update and a cry for help.

 

 

I couldn't see anything amiss yesterday so I took it to the local garage last night. He rang this morning to let me know that a couple of bolts had come off the drive shaft and knackered the driveshaft cup(??) and a couple of belts/bolts (??) had broken.

 

The problem is that there are none of these cups anywhere in the UK and they are a special order from Germany with no quoted leadtime. <_< :unsure: :unsure: :angry:

 

I've suggested that he tries VW, but if this doesn't work I need an alternative - any help anyone

Edited May 4, 2005 by corskey

[Masked Marauder]

By "Cup" I presume he means the gearbox end of the intermediate driveshaft on the off-side of the vehicle.

 

Alternatives, Breakers Yard. Not a service item as it is a rigid shaft with a bearing in the middle and should be a lifetime item. Hence the long lead times.