Car popped out of 5th, now won't start/turn over... (MG ZR)

[GunnerCP]

Hi,
My bro has (for reasons best known to himself) an MG ZR (1.8, 160 vvc i think) that broke down tonight. He was going around a roundabout and pulling away when it popped out of gear and of course lost all drive. You can't engage any gears, the car doesn't sound like its turning over at all, he describes it as a air/whirring/belt sort of noise. Apparently there's a selection of lights on the dash too....

Gearbox/clutch/flywheel? Any ideas what the the problem could be? I think the cars a heap and no idea why he bought it, he's had it 10 years now.... Pile of crap! Not long had the head gasket done, seems a common problem on the k series engine.

It's being recovered tomorrow i believe but just wondering if anyone had some insight as to what it could potentially be.

[TeddyKGB]

Not sure, but hope it's not terminal for him

Some bloke I know had a ZR, his mrs belted a kerb and knackered the engine. As no warranty or parts available, the car had to be written off

[RandomJord]

Not sure, but hope it's not terminal for him

Some bloke I know had a ZR, his mrs belted a kerb and knackered the engine. As no warranty or parts available, the car had to be written off

Parts are available for pretty much all rovers/MGs

What writes them off is the value of the car versus the cost of a full 'approved repairer' repair.

Mad value if you Can buy them back

[Seanl]

Cam belt snapped!? 

[GunnerCP]

Cam belt snapped!? 

I thought that, Using the good old Internet I played him some files on YouTube and on the aa website of knackered cambelts and he said it sounded nothing like that. He had the belts done prob less than a year ago when the head was swapped to due hgf. Who knows though, the cars about an hour or so away and im breaking my mk4 so don't have a car currently either!

He said its not even turning over, like the starter isn't even engaging so dunno what that implies wether the flywheel is knackered or what?

If it is something remotely serious I'd like to think he'll scrap it rather than throw more money into what was never a nice car.

[danny_p]

not worth looking to see what it is. 

general rule for MG / rover   if it drives sell it  , if it dosent drive  scrap it

[GunnerCP]

As said, im not one for the brand at all but for some reason he likes it. He bought it new! 

Apparently it now goes into gear but still f all when you try to start it. I'm not too bothered though, maybe now he'll buy something half decent.

[danny_p]

Try bump it,   if it goes investigate the starter   if the engine dosent spin qhen  pushed  g box prob dead if the starter runs but dosent turn the motor and you cant seturn the engine by bumping the car   id guess that a small dragon got hungery and ate some vital part inside the bellhouseing

[GunnerCP]

RIP MG ZR..... The cambelt snapped so were on the right lines. It's being towed back here as I type....