Complete loss of drive??

[Defendozer]

Hi all,

Just after some opinions.... I was driving along in my Tdi last weekend same as every other time, came up to a corner, went to put it in fourth gear but couldn't select it, so I tried the same with third and second as I was slowing down but still couldn't get any gears, luckily there was a ok place to pull over just down the road! Once stopped I tried all gears, hi/low as well to no avail... At first when I was trying it sounded like it was labouring the engine very slightly, then after a while of mucking around with the engine off and on I was able to select gears again but there was absolutely no drive at all, there was a slight funny noise at first when letting the clutch out but the clutch felt fine the whole time..

So I've check a few things, most importantly I think is that there is no drive to the gearbox/TC, I took that round back plate off to see if it was turning but there was nothing😟
So from that I'm assuming that the clutch friction plate has come apart resulting in no clutch?? Just thought I would ask the question on here before I go ordering a clutch and dropping the gearbox off again!!

Any thoughts? Cheers😊

[BigJon]

Certainly sounds like a clutch issue. Also potential for it to be gearbox related.

[simmo]

Defendozer, when you looked in the back of the TC can you see the end of the gearbox input shaft i can't remember.

I remember I looked in there and removed the gear once to inspect the shaft.
You don't think it's the input shaft to the TC stripped?

cheers
simmo.

[Defendozer]

I should have also mentioned that I replaced the gearbox about a year ago with an Ashcroft later suffix type recon R380 so I really doubt that it's anything in the gearbox, I could be wrong though you never know!

And yes you can just see the output shaft from gearbox with that cover off, the splines looked fine as far as I could tell... It was just not turning at all with it in gear and the clutch out so made me start thinking that the friction plate is gone......

[Dervish]

If there's no rattle with the clutch engaged I would suspect it is early in the chain i.e. before the gearbox. Here's hoping anyway.

[Defendozer]

Yes I know the rattle you mean, I tried it again last night and there was absolutely no difference in noise with the clutch in or out whereas there did used to be that slight clutch rattly whirring noise of things turning..

I think everything is pointing towards a clutch issue but like a said I wanted to get some second opinions before jumping in the deep end ordering parts etc!!

[110 Pete]

Hey mate, have you had a look at the linkage that actually changes the gear in the gearbox? Take your gearstick off and have a look into the actual mechanism. There is a little allen head screw that holds the selector on to the main gear selector shaft, it can work its way out and you end up having no gears and your gearstick flops around everywhere, doesnt sound exactly like this problem though

[weeds]

Pushrod through clutch fork

[Pateyw]

Had exactly the same problem as you have explained .
Went through all the same thoughts and questions
It turned out the clutch plate had given way .
Replaced the clutch and all was good .

[Defendozer]

Thanks for the replies everyone, have gone over the whole lot and it's got to be the clutch... Well I hope so anyway as I've ordered a new one from Ashcrofts!!

Will get to it over one of the up coming weekends hopefully, just waiting on all the parts to arrive...
In the meantime I've decided to get to all the things that have needed attention for a while, a frame bushes, full service, final fitting up of the nice new VNT turbo upgrade!..

Anyway I'll post up again with what I find when I pull the gearbox off.

Thanks again, Remo.