So, we went to a party on the weekend, down a farm track, where I clonked a large rock under the car.
Parked the car, weather was too bad to stay and see if I'd done any damage, but all seemed ok, until...
Driving home next day, (about 40 miles), gear change was stiff, and getting stiffer.
Parked up outside our local shop with the engine running whilst I dived in to grab a couple of items, came back out and could not get the car in gear, clutch pedal felt very soft, after a bit of force managed to get 3rd, enough to make the 1/2 mile trip home.
So, question is, how bad/what is it?
No warning light on dash to indicate low fluids (I was hoping for a fluid leak, easy and cheap to fix!), just need an idea as to possible faults so I can judge if I can fix it or if it needs towing to a garage?  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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What car is it?
If it has an external slave cylinder then that could have taken a knock and leaked fluid although you'd have low brake fluid if that was the case, same with a master cylinder fault. You could have cracked the gearbox casing or damaged a driveshaft and loosing gearbox oil.
My advice is to get it to a garage and don't risk trying to drive it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I would of thought it's the slave cylinder, the master is usually tucked away by the firewall. Without knowing more details it's hard to diagnose. It could be something as simple as the linkage cable being pulled out of its bracket. I find it had to believe that a rock could damage the hydraulics, they should be well out the way... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I would of thought it's the slave cylinder, the master is usually tucked away by the firewall. Without knowing more details it's hard to diagnose. It could be something as simple as the linkage cable being pulled out of its bracket. I find it had to believe that a rock could damage the hydraulics, they should be well out the way..."
Depends on the car though. I once hit a rabbit in my ex wife's Renault and that did horrendous damage to the hydraulics. |
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Its a Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 52 plate.
Clutch worked ok for most of the journey home, but failed after it was left running for about 5 mins in neutral, clutch pedal is very soft, practically impossible to get into gear without forcing it. As I said there is no warning light on the dash to indicate low fluids. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Just looked at a Vectra in the garage here for reference, either you've punctured the gearbox or the slave cylinder on the box. The gear linkages are on top of the gearbox |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Its a Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 52 plate.
Clutch worked ok for most of the journey home, but failed after it was left running for about 5 mins in neutral, clutch pedal is very soft, practically impossible to get into gear without forcing it. As I said there is no warning light on the dash to indicate low fluids."
Have you bothered to check the fluid level manually?
Its a shared reservoir with the brake fluid. If there's no fluid in the system then its just going to be full of air, hence the soft pedal but this would affect your brakes too. |
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"Its a Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 52 plate.
Clutch worked ok for most of the journey home, but failed after it was left running for about 5 mins in neutral, clutch pedal is very soft, practically impossible to get into gear without forcing it. As I said there is no warning light on the dash to indicate low fluids.
Have you bothered to check the fluid level manually?
Its a shared reservoir with the brake fluid. If there's no fluid in the system then its just going to be full of air, hence the soft pedal but this would affect your brakes too."
There is a warning light on the dash if the brake/clutch fluid is low, and this isn't on, but I will check the fluid levels when its light lol. |
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"Just looked at a Vectra in the garage here for reference, either you've punctured the gearbox or the slave cylinder on the box. The gear linkages are on top of the gearbox "
Shit.
I'm holding out hope that its the slave cylinder then, a new gearbox cover sounds expensive, although, if I've smashed that, wouldn't the oil level have dropped.. again leading to a warning light on the dash? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Its a Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 52 plate.
Clutch worked ok for most of the journey home, but failed after it was left running for about 5 mins in neutral, clutch pedal is very soft, practically impossible to get into gear without forcing it. As I said there is no warning light on the dash to indicate low fluids.
Have you bothered to check the fluid level manually?
Its a shared reservoir with the brake fluid. If there's no fluid in the system then its just going to be full of air, hence the soft pedal but this would affect your brakes too.
There is a warning light on the dash if the brake/clutch fluid is low, and this isn't on, but I will check the fluid levels when its light lol."
You'll find the light only comes on when its almost empty, not just a bit low.
Similar to your oil light which isn't a sign of low oil level, its a sign of low oil pressure. If I hat ever comes on then your engine is already fucked in a lot of cases. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Just looked at a Vectra in the garage here for reference, either you've punctured the gearbox or the slave cylinder on the box. The gear linkages are on top of the gearbox
Shit.
I'm holding out hope that its the slave cylinder then, a new gearbox cover sounds expensive, although, if I've smashed that, wouldn't the oil level have dropped.. again leading to a warning light on the dash?"
No, gear oil level isn't monitored by the ECU as it doesn't affect the running of the engine. |
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"Have you thought the warning light might not be working lol "
Its the same light that illuminates when the handbrake is on, so I know it works, although that doesn't mean that the sensor is working lol. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Have you thought the warning light might not be working lol
Its the same light that illuminates when the handbrake is on, so I know it works, although that doesn't mean that the sensor is working lol."
It actually means the sensor IS working. The light would be on if its failed. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I've seen a Golf gearbox shatter high up so it only leaked when being driven but usually it has a very distinctive smell.
It might not be but struggling to think of something else given what you've said.
Also although the clutch and brakes share fluid the are separated to an extent so the clutch side will drain but the brakes are unaffected. |
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"Just looked at a Vectra in the garage here for reference, either you've punctured the gearbox or the slave cylinder on the box. The gear linkages are on top of the gearbox
Shit.
I'm holding out hope that its the slave cylinder then, a new gearbox cover sounds expensive, although, if I've smashed that, wouldn't the oil level have dropped.. again leading to a warning light on the dash?
No, gear oil level isn't monitored by the ECU as it doesn't affect the running of the engine."
So, guess I need to get it up on ramps and give it a once over then... and hope I don't find a big hole in my gearbox lol, I still feel its more to do with the clutch than anything. |
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"Its a Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 52 plate.
Clutch worked ok for most of the journey home, but failed after it was left running for about 5 mins in neutral, clutch pedal is very soft, practically impossible to get into gear without forcing it. As I said there is no warning light on the dash to indicate low fluids.
Have you bothered to check the fluid level manually?
Its a shared reservoir with the brake fluid. If there's no fluid in the system then its just going to be full of air, hence the soft pedal but this would affect your brakes too.
There is a warning light on the dash if the brake/clutch fluid is low, and this isn't on, but I will check the fluid levels when its light lol.
You'll find the light only comes on when its almost empty, not just a bit low.
Similar to your oil light which isn't a sign of low oil level, its a sign of low oil pressure. If I hat ever comes on then your engine is already fucked in a lot of cases."
Not necessarily,I once drove a mk4 Astra diesel probably 50miles then found out the oil pressure switch had blown and I had no oil in the engine. Engine temp ok and no warning light. Only realised when I come off the motorway and stopped st the lights and killed the loud music. Engine noisy as hell. Took it to my mechanic, he fixed it and he said the engine was fine lol |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Just looked at a Vectra in the garage here for reference, either you've punctured the gearbox or the slave cylinder on the box. The gear linkages are on top of the gearbox
Shit.
I'm holding out hope that its the slave cylinder then, a new gearbox cover sounds expensive, although, if I've smashed that, wouldn't the oil level have dropped.. again leading to a warning light on the dash?
No, gear oil level isn't monitored by the ECU as it doesn't affect the running of the engine.
So, guess I need to get it up on ramps and give it a once over then... and hope I don't find a big hole in my gearbox lol, I still feel its more to do with the clutch than anything."
Well the clutch is part of the gearbox! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Its a Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 52 plate.
Clutch worked ok for most of the journey home, but failed after it was left running for about 5 mins in neutral, clutch pedal is very soft, practically impossible to get into gear without forcing it. As I said there is no warning light on the dash to indicate low fluids.
Have you bothered to check the fluid level manually?
Its a shared reservoir with the brake fluid. If there's no fluid in the system then its just going to be full of air, hence the soft pedal but this would affect your brakes too.
There is a warning light on the dash if the brake/clutch fluid is low, and this isn't on, but I will check the fluid levels when its light lol.
You'll find the light only comes on when its almost empty, not just a bit low.
Similar to your oil light which isn't a sign of low oil level, its a sign of low oil pressure. If I hat ever comes on then your engine is already fucked in a lot of cases.
Not necessarily,I once drove a mk4 Astra diesel probably 50miles then found out the oil pressure switch had blown and I had no oil in the engine. Engine temp ok and no warning light. Only realised when I come off the motorway and stopped st the lights and killed the loud music. Engine noisy as hell. Took it to my mechanic, he fixed it and he said the engine was fine lol"
I did say in a lot of cases not all of them. You likely had a couple of litres of oil which kept you from seizing the engine. The dipstick only indicates the last litre of oil anyway. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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The oil pressure switch failing is common on a few models, but the are in the high pressure gallery so maybe the last litre was swirling around saving the day. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Its a Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 52 plate.
Clutch worked ok for most of the journey home, but failed after it was left running for about 5 mins in neutral, clutch pedal is very soft, practically impossible to get into gear without forcing it. As I said there is no warning light on the dash to indicate low fluids.
Have you bothered to check the fluid level manually?
Its a shared reservoir with the brake fluid. If there's no fluid in the system then its just going to be full of air, hence the soft pedal but this would affect your brakes too."
This!
Check the fluid level rather than relying on the dash lights. |
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"Or it could be a coincidence that the clutch has worn out as you were slowly driving up the track."
No, I hit a rock driving up the track, drove home 24 hours later (40 miles) and its only after I left it running for 5 mins whilst I popped into the shop near home that the clutch seemed to go kaput, couldn't get it into gear and the clutch pedal had gone very soft. |
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Not yet  , what with Xmas, and other drains on funds, I'm afraid the poor car has had to wait.
I did do some research however, and found it has a concentric slave cylinder, which is mounted inside the bell housing, so its not damaged that, plus the fluid reservoir is full, so its not a damaged line to the cylinder.
I'm now going on the assumption that it may be just a clutch failure of some kind (plate or erm.. shit, forgot the name of it, little spring thingy.. thrust bearing?) and had nothing to0 do with the rock strike, although I hadn't noticed any gradual deteriation in clutch performance prior to this.  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Not yet , what with Xmas, and other drains on funds, I'm afraid the poor car has had to wait.
I did do some research however, and found it has a concentric slave cylinder, which is mounted inside the bell housing, so its not damaged that, plus the fluid reservoir is full, so its not a damaged line to the cylinder.
I'm now going on the assumption that it may be just a clutch failure of some kind (plate or erm.. shit, forgot the name of it, little spring thingy.. thrust bearing?) and had nothing to0 do with the rock strike, although I hadn't noticed any gradual deteriation in clutch performance prior to this. "
Friction plate and release bearing. Means a new 3-piece clutch kit and while you're at it its wise to change the slave cylinder because if that fails after the new clutch is in it will mean taking the gearbox off again meaning a £50 part will cost a couple of hundred quid to fit. If its done while they're doing the clutch they most likely won't charge you for fitting it as it takes about two extra minutes. |
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(Hope you get your car sorted op!)