Argh just broke down - Gearbox or Clutch????

[Ade244]

Had to take my mk2 GTi 16V to work today. I normally do the work run on my 929 blade but thats off the road when the oil filter split yesterday!

Anyway here's whats happened...

Noticed at first that the car was judering when the clutch was just getting to the biting point (when pulling off). Gear changes once moving were OK. This judering didn't get any worse until just near work the car seemed like it jumped into neutral when I went from 2nd to 3rd. I had to coast in to the kerb with no drive in any gear.

Now I can engage any gear with the engine running without even pressing the clutch in! The strange thing is the clutch action feels OK, the arm is moving on the box and the positions of the arm seem the same (on/off). You can't hear any noise from the box when you select gears so I don't think it's getting any drive.

It's like the clutch is stuck disengaged.

I'm trying to work out if it's box or clutch before I decide what to do next and where to take it.

I got towed to work, it only failed just up the road.

Whats the verdict chaps - clutch or box?

[Diamond Hell]

Sounds box to me, especially if the clutch arm is all moving OK - clutches are unusual things to fail as they're dead simple.  Gearboxes are not.

[takethefifth]

Or it could just be part of the shift linkage has come away?

[rubjonny]

the normal position of the clutch is 'engaged' so I doubt its stuck disengaged, the springs that hold it in place are bloody strong!  Perhaps the friction disc has broken up or something?

1st thing I'd do is get underneath and check for big holes in the box, and loose driveshafts.  If it all looks ok box will have to come off!

[Ade244]

Cheers Guys

My first thoughts were box as the failure seems hard to explain.

The box looks fine, no holes. It failed without any drama or noise at all which makes me think it could be clutch. I just can't imagine how the clutch could fail dis-engaged though.

Could the release bearing or clutch plate breakup and hold the clutch from engaging?

Cheers
Ade

[rubjonny]

nope it wouldnt, at least in any plausable scenario that I can think of 

[rubjonny]

a good thing to try, pop the bonnet and put it in gear, see if the driveshaft cups move at all.  If they do theres something up with the shafts or hubs, if not then drive isnt getting through the gearbox, pointing to a clutch or internal box problem.

[Ade244]

Had a look with my mate from work. He's as baffled as me now.

So here's what we've found.

Defo the gears are being selected OK
Defo the clutch pedal action (spring and feel) seems OK apart from the last few % of movement
when you release the clutch it seems different (at the engage point, like it's not landing)
There's no drive at all we think getting to the box, the box is silent when you release the clutch.

One other thing we noticed....

If you turn the engine off with the clutch dis-engaged (pedal to the floor) you get a strange grumble/noise from the gearbox area as the engine slows down to a stop. This noise is the same if the cars in gear or neutral when you turn it off, but it only does it with the clutch in and only just as the engine stops.

We both thing it must be clutch related now, but not convinced!

Cheers
Ade

[rubjonny]

aye sounds like the clutch has gone bang to me, either way its box off time!

[monzablue16v]

Clutch or maybe release bearing has gone pissy?