mk2 16v diff problems/vr6 throttle body

[russ_turner]

has anyone had a big car stopping crunch, swiftly followed by a reasonable gearbox oil leak on to their exhaust manifold?

i think it may have been something to do with losing the diff pin, thus allowing a hole to emerge in the casing and causing the leak. just wondered if anyone had experienced the same problem?

the car runs fine and still selects gears and drives! (crawl back into the yard i just left) obviously taking a look at some point tomorrow. 

also has anyone been known to fit a vr6 throttle body to their 16v?

any help would be great

cheers, russ

[rubjonny]

There was a problem with 020 boxes in that something was held together with rivits that shouldn't have been, if pushed hard the rivits can let go and cause an extra gearbox vent

VW sell a repair kit which replaces all the rivits with proper bolts but obviously its too late for your box

[AudiA8Quattro]

Recon box time   

[Judderi]

Yes i had this happen to me. I was going down the motorway when there was an almighy bang a cloud of smoke, lots of oil behind me and my clutch pedal hit the firwall. Turns out the rivets on the dif had failed throwing the diff through the box, cluch, flywheel and bell housing. Made a hell of a mess and cost allot to fix! New box, clutch and re machined flywheel.

[diagnosis-dub]

Yep your diff rivets have decided to explode. Get under the car and look at the casting of the diff housing, if they have gone you'll find cracks in there.

recon box time.

[russ_turner]

thanx for the help chaps, i think an LSD and close ratio box are on the cards! haven't checked the damage yet, but the car seems to drive fine. im gonna check the internals and check the extent of the hole(s)!

i can't believe the car still drives, was this the case with anyone else? bearing in mind i was just changing out of first, not even pushing the engine. lucky boy!!!!