Technical Stilo jtd clutch/gearbox problems

[Daph]

Hi, today my boyfriend was driving my 2003 stilo jtd 115, I was on the passenger seat.
There was a long hill down to a roundabout, he pressed the clutch to the floor so the car coasted alot of the way, while the car was still going at 50 mph he forced the gearbox in to
first gear but kept the clutch pressed until the car nearly stopped, then pulled off.

When he pulled off the clutch would not bite properly and now all the gears are very hard to engage. After seeing him do that I would not let him drive the car again. Also since that incident the clutch absolutely stinks. There was no issue whatsoever with the clutch or gearbox before today.

I have a couple of questions.
First of all, what is the likely cause of the problem?
Roughly how much will it cost to fix?
Do you think the gearbox being forced in to first gear caused or contributed to the problem? Its just that I always thought forcing a gearbox like that was a terrible thing to do and he really did have to push very hard to get it in to first gear.

Thanks!

 

[edwin884]

your boyfriend is an idiot!
everybody knows that you don't force your gearbox!

 

[turbo_pib]

Why would somebody do that? Force a gear! If the gear ddnt want to go in the must be a reason...it could be a broken flywheel or maybe broken selector inside gearbox...clutch smell means burning clutch so your boyfriend defo killed it!
Whatever it is thats broken it will be expensive as is a gearbox out job...i hope your boyfriend is happy to open his wallet to fix it lol!

 

[nikkiy9]

if the boyfriend doesnt pay then i'm sure he's not worth staying with,

as for the gearbox and clutch, it does sound like it's an expensive fix, possibly new gearbox, (get looking for written off JTD's) if you can get a cheap box and know a good mechanic (pref a family friend) then ask them to do it, might cost you alot less

 

[edwin884]

"While the car was still going at 50mph he forced the gearbox in first gear"!!!!
If that didn't killed the gearbox...
Make him pay for repair, and never let him drive your car again!!!!

 

[Stilo Nutter]

If the clutch was fully pressed while he was coasting down the hill, I can't see why any gear would need forcing (unless there was a problem of some sort already).

He can't drive though thats for sure, he should've been engine breaking down through the gears down the hill or coasted in 5th until he needed to break and then change down Some people just shouldn't be allowed to keep their licenses, good call on not letting him drive it again.

 

[Daph]

Thanks for the replies!!
When I was driving home I noticed that its very very hard to engage a gear with the engine running and it feels normal with the engine turned off( I think! I didn't want to pull at it too much before I get the car to a mechanic).

Also the clutch bite is now almost literally on the floor and it slips quite badly with anything but the most gentle acceleration.

Does this suggest that its just the clutch, rather than a potentially nastier gearbox/flywheel issue? Or is that wishful thinking?
Thanks again!

 

[edwin884]

I would go with the clutch first!

 

[edwin884]

Check your brakes aswell, because,going down the hill with depressed clutch means that your boyfriend was using the breaks much more than he needed! (I still think that he is an idiot)

 

[turbo_pib]

You be very lucky if is only clutch at fault...my advice would be to have it checked altogheter with gearbox. You may replace just clutch and find yourself with a gearbox failure soon after!
you boyfriend "forced" a gear in so worth checking completely...

 

[cris1117]

I would think you would be very unlucky if the gearbox was damaged, my guess would be he has trashed the thrust bearing and pressure plate, so new clutch.
As for the driving stupid and very dangerous.

 

[pycoed]

I'd agree with turbo_pib: definitely get him to pay for a gearbox investigation as well.

I can't see that what he did would have damaged the clutch though, to be honest. If the clutch worked fine then if he put the clutch in at 50 & IF he didn't engage it again until the car was nearly stopped, then I can't see what damage that could have done to the clutch. Forcing the stick into first is another matter: that would put a LOT of stress on the synchro cones.
Now if the clutch was dragging a bit as well then that is an entirely different matter clutch damage & a probability of gearbox damage too.
I think you should ask him to pay for a clutch job plus the cost of checking the gearbox whilst its out of the car, along with repairs to any damage found.

 

[Daph]

Hey,

Mechanic droppped out Gearbox and clutch and flywheel,

mechanic, who used to work in fiat main dealer, says that the gearbox is ok.

The clutch literally looks like a polished piece of metal on one side, I've never seen anything like it.

The flywheel is in bits, so need a new one!
I have been quoted £650 (brand new flywheel, brand new clutch) for parts and £150 for labour.
As much as I love the car, it is only worth about £1000 on a good day and I don't believe that this would be the last money I spend on it.

Does anyone know where I could possibly get the parts cheaper, there's nothing in a scrap yard near me.

On ebay there are flywheels for the 2.4 petrol on for £70, no chance one of those might work?

In all honesty if i get another 10 to 20k miles out of the car I would be more than happy, so don't mind using less than new or perfect parts (within reason of course!)

I'd really appreciate it if anyone could point me in the right direction!
Thanks again!

 

[Muppet1]

Cheapest clutch on ebay about 85 quid, havent found a flywheel yet.

 

[Muppet1]

£288
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dual-Mass-Flywheel-FIAT-STILO-02-/280728474079?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item415cb891df

 

[Daph]

Thanks!