More problems!

[Mark]

Hello people, I'm after a diagnosis for my sick Brava! (Do Bravas EVER stay fault-free for more than a couple of weeks?!)

When I hold the clutch to the floor, it makes it grating/spinning/grinding/crunching noise, until I pull away or take my foot off the clutch. I've opened the bonnet and the noise is coming from inside there somewhere, sounds quite central but can't be sure.

Also, it seems harder for me to get it into gear, I'm finding myself wrestling with the gearstick slightly to force it in (although this might be my imagination since I've just started driving a van for my job and it might just be me getting used to another gearstick).

Finally, this may be related or not, but for a few months now I've found that the car shudders a lot of the time when I pull away in 1st gear, no matter how gently I let it up.

Can anyone put their finger on what might be wrong here? I'm not a big expert on the inner workings of a brava but I'm guessing its clutch or gearbox related which I imagine wouldnt be cheap to fix?

Cheers,

Mark

 

[Buzz]

sounds clutchy to me

 

[Seb]

mine does a similar thing

Seb - Brava 1.4sx

 

[Mark]

Right. Took it to my local garage and he reckons its a problem with the gearbox. He says he can leave the case in but all the rest has to be replaced, and while im at it i might as well replace the clutch.

He's quoting me £585 for the clutch and £80 for the clutch. This is for an S reg Brava 1.6. Are these reasonable prices cos I havent got a clue and cant afford to be ripped off on this one?

 

[seb]

damn i hope this isnt the case with mine, im gonna leave it an see if my car blows up

Seb - Brava 1.4sx

 

[Craig]

Sounds like the thrust bearing

 

[rab]

i would say thrust bearing as well,also had car with engine mounts burst as well causes the engine to judder or jump about and wont engage gears correctly as the engine moves to much,second opinion maybe?

 

[Stuart]

Have you checked if the gearbox has oil? Do so before spending big bucks.

The juddering in 1st is quite common (especially when engine cold). I'm told it doesn't necessarily mean the clutch is going. My 1.6 does this when first started, but it goes away after a couple of gearchanges. Tom reckons his juddered in 1st for three years!

If it transpires that the gearbox is kaput I'd advise you to get several quotes....only way to be certain you're not being ripped off.

 

[Mark]

Sorry, bit naive, how do I check the gearbox for oil exactly?