Gear woes and worries

Sparks

Junior Member
Messages
60
Hi All

After a nice drive around the Cotswolds, we pulled into a parking space in Lechlade. Had a coffee and wander round the antique shops.

When we returned to the car, all seemed fine until trying to select reverse. whirrs and clonks, but no gear! Forward gears are also a bit haphazard, occasionally selecting 2nd before realising it's mistake and selecting 1st, or Neutral.

Many thanks to Dicky Grace for replying with helpful texts on a Sunday. That's after sales care for you!

AA man came out and we tried a reset with the battery isolator, locking and unlocking to try and get things to sort themselves out. But no joy, just an ignominious return home on the back of a truck.

So, can anyone shed any light on what might have happened here?

Sparks

PS: 2005 4200 CC
 
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2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
Usual suspect is clutch tang disintegration; what is the clutch history, do you know?

May be low on fluids on the CC but that should give you a warning light before it is a problem.

A longer reset may clear any electrical gremlins, battery condition is unlikely as you had just done a long jaunt but battery terminals lose may be your man.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Yep clonk, clonk.....clonk, clonk.....clonk, clonk....then gives you second.

Clutch tang failure I’m afraid!
 

Sparks

Junior Member
Messages
60
Thanks for the replies Guys.

As far as I am aware, the clutch was good back in May, 16% worn if I recall correctly.

We will have to see. Any guides on possible costs?
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
About £2.5k maybe less if your flywheel and bearings were changed last time.

Who fitted the last clutch and what mileage has it done on its current clutch?

Did the clutch come from EuroSpares?
 

Sparks

Junior Member
Messages
60
Thanks Conaero.
That's about what I was imagining.

I will need to check the paperwork to answer the last questions, but the car has only done 38k in total, approx. 2000ish in my ownership.

I have had a very helpful conversation with Vic at Migliore though, so watch this space.
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,758
Problem with tang failure is it doesn't always align with mileage or wear although I had thought that this issue seems to be less prevalent than it was a few years ago. Fingers crossed its easily fixed.
 

Spartacus

Member
Messages
3,184
Sh1t. I didn't realise they could actually shear off. I bet those flying around in the clutch doesn't do it much good.
 
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Mike X

Member
Messages
233
Yea , that’s what Marios at Autoshield said , I think that’s why he sent me the photo .
He had to change all the bearings and the flywheel too , cost me just under 4K , ouch !!
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
Do later cars suffer the same batch of bad clutches or were revised for the newer part on a certain date?
 

Mike X

Member
Messages
233
From the picture, it looks like the bearing seized or collapsed and caused the failure rather than an issue with the clutch spring "fingers"
That’s true spn , it was the bearing that seized and wrecked the clutch .