Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
6 weeks ago the gearbox in my old Polo started making funny noises in reverse. A grinding ....not loud but horrible.
I looked on ebay for a box, and kept a few in my Watch list.
After a week it made the same noise in first while turning left, and so I decided to let it run it's life and get one when it failed. Back in the 90's I sold VW new and the Golf 1.4/1.6 had a horrible gearbox that failed under warranty regularly so I kinda thought I knew what it was.
6 weeks later, reverse involved going very gently to not induce the screech/grinding, but Ebay had none for sensible price. It's an old car, it needed a cheap box.
Great on motorways, and only on tight left handers or in reverse was it noisy. I'd obviously checked the drive shafts, and CV joints etc. They were safe.
===
It died 3 miles from my mates garage last Friday (on way for MOT and potentially scrap yard box swap)... when I say died... it made a nice bang to inform me it has let go, and while i still had drive, it was PROPER LOUD and was only quiet.....under mild acceleration. It didn't fail to pull away... odd
that's when my mind went "bing bong " and 30 seconds later, bonnet up, I reaslised what was wrong.
Guesses anyone?
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
Clutch cable?
Grinding is usually brakes, or a loose arch trim.
I'm guessing you checked the power steering fluid?
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
mates focus had horrible grinding at speed, took it to garage they couldn't work it out.
then he checked tyre pressures and found the hub cap wasn't fastened on properly, something to do with the metal ring (?)
I would also guess a pipe had come off or got a hole in it, one of the exhaust thingies.
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
Engine mountings gone?
I'm thinking for the reverse/tight left thing it has to be either something loose against the engine or the entire engine loose, and the entire engine loose can be harder to spot :D
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
Break/Clutch fluid was low?
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
Cat napping behind the engine block?
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
Having that crunch issue atm too.
Gear linkage perhaps? Re-oiled/greased mines, working fine now.
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
Forgot to feed the hamsters?
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
I'm going for engine mounts too. Not good for the gearbox if so though!
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
Surely engine mounts would go clonk on acceleration/engine braking? If they don't resist torque anymore, the clonk should be more noticeable than any grinding from spinny things touching other things unless it's really bad
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
So there was a visual clue when you opened the bonnet? Photo please!
Otherwise I'll go radical and suggest something like a bi metal flywheel separating or the clutch disintegrating and bits exiting through the clutch housing. (Although that wouldn\'t explain the reverse and left hand turn symptoms, so maybe steering rack/steering link components.
Re: Still getting it wrong, after 25 years
You\'d left some tools under the hood?