Please help - Gearbox/clutch problems...

[jimbouk]

My mum's car has just started making a rather loud whine that seems to be related to the gearbox/clutch. When in gear the noise isn't really noticable, but with the clutch down or somewhere in between it sounds like a high powered electric motor or something! It's a 1995 Ford Mondeo - has been very reliable up to now...

The big problem is that I'm off to Bath tomorrow morning. It's just over 4 hours down and I'm wondering if I'm going to make it there (and back on Sunday). I really need to go down as the lease on my flat runs out soon and I've got to pick up all my stuff.

So do people think I'll make it ok? I've got my RAC card just in case. It'll go into the garage on Monday and see if it's worth repairing or if the cost is going to be too much, but I'm out of options for the weekend as hiring is going to be an issue (just finished uni and job starts in September, so I'm either a student or unemployed - either mean most people won't let me hire). Will the old bird do another 400 odd miles?

[SilentDeath]

Im not too sure of the mechanism or how it works.. and having taken mine out, I still didnt really discover how it works.... but....

It could be your starter motor. After the engine is started, its suppost to have some kind of one way clutch/thing to prevent it from being turned, since high engine speeds will damage it. The gear ratio from flywheel to starter is HUUUUUUUUUGE, 6k engine rpm is something like 80k starter rpm...

You could try reving engine to 3k or so with clutch down, if the pitch of niose goes up linearly (like a motor does as it speeds up) then it might be that.

But that said, Ive never heard of this problem.. i would get somone experienced to have a listen/tell you what problem is (then diy )

[GoNz0]

if it happens when you press the clutch its the thrust bearing, there isnt good news, it should last a few hundred miles, mines lasted about 400 and threw the bearing, i lost the clutch.

basically if it is the £10 thrust bearing there is no point replacing just that due to the work involved, its a sign the clutch is wearing and its time for a new clutch, it comes with said bearing.

as for your journey, you have the RAC card, now its time to go practice starting the car in gear with no clutch and timing the gear changes on the revs.. if it pops your going to need that basic skill to get you going, it can be done, im good at it

if you can master starting in 1st gear till the cars going and timing the shifts you could get all the way home with no clutch pedal.

[jimbouk]

Cheers guys, was a late night request but you've come through with some good info.

Sounds like I'm either going to need a new started motor at some point or I'll be coming home on the back of a truck! As long as I make it down ok then I can worry about the return journey on Sunday.

The clutch has been getting heavier and heavier so it might be that, which means a knew car probably

Worth a shot though I might just make it...

[Butuz]

Clutch release bearing tends to make noise whilst you don't have foot on clutch and goes away when you press the clutch down.

Making noise when the clutch is down is something different for me - not sure what it could be, could be your release bearing i suppose, but that shouldnt make the clutch heavier...

How high is the clutch pedal travel? It could be a hydraulic problem so that with the clutch down the cluch is not fully disengaging.

Good luck either way!

Butuz

[herulach]

/I'd say hydraulics too, probably easier to fix, main bugger is bleeding afterward

[chriswood_7]

My guess is the release bearing too. It may be ok so long as your not in traffic, constantly on the gearbox and using the clutch

I would just take the chance personally, i think there is more chance it going at low speed when your going up or down the box rather than in top gear at 70mph.

Hope this helps,

[jimbouk]

I made it!

My guess is the release bearing too. It may be ok so long as your not in traffic, constantly on the gearbox and using the clutch

Sounds about right! Got stuck on the M6 just north of B'ham and there was smoke Took a detour on A roads down to the M5 and it was fine though.

Not going to move the car till the return journey on Sunday now, hopefully there won't be too much traffic and I'll make it home in one piece

[chriswood_7]

Hate to say this but i reckon its a good few hundred quids worth of work if the release bearing is donald ducked, might be worth scrapping it and buying something else to replace it LOL

[jimbouk]

Going to see what the numbers add up to, that's a definate option though. The car's only worth about £500 running and you can't keep pouring money into them indefinitely though. As long as I get home with all my stuff in the boot - got until week on Tuesday before we need something for a long journey again.

[timread]

sounds like you should make your homeward journey on nice quiet A and B roads, to avoid getting stuck on the bloomin' M6. Still, that's less busy on Sundays. Good luck!