Stuck on M1 with no gears - update

[jamesandtheopenroad]

Just lost all gears on my van - clutch won't engage. Quickly bled the system but nothing. How's into gear with engine off but not with engine running. What's going on?!

[1664]

Sounds like no clutch to me. Have you ever driven without using the clutch before? I would (and it's up to you whether you do or not, this is entirely your decision, not mine) try putting it into 1st and starting it in gear, then change up by taking into neutral and allowing the revs to drop to a point it can gently slip into second and repeat for third etc. You have to flip the accelerator to increase the revs when changing down. Only problem is that you have to turn the engine off if you have to actually come to a halt and start in 1st again. Once got a mini from Warwick to Coventry like that, not suggesting you go far like that but it might be enough to get you off the motorway.

[ghost123uk]

Goes into gear with engine off but not with engine running.

First thing is get off the M/way = put it in second with the engine off, then carefully start it up. It should move off, kangerooing a bit, then drive slowly in 2nd or change gear without the clutch, matching the revs (have you ever practised that ?)

p.s. Covering my rear = if the above damages anything due to possible input shaft bearing failure, it was only an emergency "get you going" suggestion (and certainly what I would do )

E D I T = beat me to it

[1664]

These's a bluudy echo in here

[jamesandtheopenroad]

Thanks kids. RAC on the way.

But come tomorrow, what should I be looking at to fix it?

[ghost123uk]

Lets see if I can type faster than Bren this time

First thing = get someone to press the clutch whilst you look at the rod on the slave cylinder to see if it moves. By the way, does the clutch pedal "feel" right ?

If the rod is moving in and out correctly , then you will have to take the gearbox off (not as bad as it sounds by the way) to check the actual clutch cover assembly etc.

[1664]

But come tomorrow, what should I be looking at

Haynes/Bentley Manual probably

[jamesandtheopenroad]

Clutch pedal feels a little loose - as in no pressure. After pushing it in and out a few times, it looks like there is fluid leaking from somewhere although not the bleed nipple. Guess is could be the slave cylinder although I only replaced that last year.

[ghost123uk]

But come tomorrow, what should I be looking at

Haynes/Bentley Manual probably

I'd be looking at the bar staff

[ghost123uk]

Clutch pedal feels a little loose - as in no pressure. After pushing it in and out a few times, it looks like there is fluid leaking from somewhere although not the bleed nipple. Guess is could be the slave cylinder although I only replaced that last year.

Well you have 99% answered your own question there And the good news is = easy fix (except for that stupid hard to get at bolt )

[jamesandtheopenroad]

On further inspection, it doesn't look like it coming from the SC but there is definitely something leaking where the engine meets the transmission. Think I might be out of my depth on this one.

[ghost123uk]

You can normally tell by the smell if it is gear box oil or hydraulic fluid. If the clutch feels odd, it is unlikely (imho) to be gearbox oil. Someone will be along soon to talk about input shaft issues (Aiden, where are you ).

[itchyfeet]

oil leaking where engine meets transmission in my opinion needs the gearbox off for investigation as it will likely have contaminated the clutch, could be input shaft seal or crank seal perhaps.

get a picture up, are you 100% sure it's oil and not coolant.

as said slave moves say 15mm so chack thats happening.

[jamesandtheopenroad]

Not sure what it is. I know the smell of gearbox oil and the slightly fishy aromer of hyd fluid, so will get some rag and put my olfactory senses to work.

But why would it be coolant and if it is, what does that mean?

[Smcknighty]

The main reason in my experience it would seem like anything other than hydraulic fluid is to just scare you witless on the way home as you constantly wonder what's gone wrong and how much its going to cost and is the engine dead and is the gearbox dead and are they both dead and are you somehow going to end up selling the house and a kidney to pay for it all..

On the bright side If its anything slave related its pretty easy to do your self.

If its not slave related you can still probably get away with fixing it yourself - these vans are pretty easy to work on and there's a lot of info around

Whatever it turns out to be I'm you will get lucky - it always seems worse than it is.. (I've spent a fair few hours on hard shoulders with different cars) - it always seems worse than it is - except if your in an Alfa, then you cannot even possibly ever imagine how bad its going to get - even by reading that you would never imagine how bad it would be and how long it would take for it to never actually be fixed..