Wots wrong with me van?

B

Burnerman

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Citroen Berlingo diesel, 56 plate, 44k.
Returning home from Sheffield yesterday, started making a strange noise,
rather similar to a coarse road surface.......10 more miles and I knew something was amiss.
Pulled in to Leeming services, and had a peek around.....carrying no tools :p
There was nothing obviously wrong, but I jacked up the front offside wheel and found it pretty difficult to rotate - the brakes were cool.
The AA did a splendid job recovering me home.
I haven't investigated further yet, but I have a horrible suspicion that the differential bearings have gone awol for some reason......but at 44K? :eek:
Hmmm - not what I really wanted! :p
John :)
 
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Hopefully, Alan!
Thing is, I've had many a wheel bearing fail, but all they have done is show some play, and/or rattle or drone......I've never had one thats become stiff whilst on the move.
I'll see what transpires on Monday - but a wheel bearing will be a canny bit cheaper than a transmission :p
John :)
 
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Theoretically, yes......thats due to excessive backlash within the pinions as the gearbox gets worn.
If it is the diff bearings, then somehow they have tightened up, restricting rotation.
I've spoken to a French garage specialist, and they say that they have known drive shafts to tighten up before (presumably the CV joint). Now, I've had them worn and clattery and replaced dozens in my time, but I've never come across them seizing up. I hope they are right though!
John :)
 
I guess you need to try it again cold, might be better.

Then disconnect the driveshaft from the hub and spin it again to diagnose.
 
I've probably been a bit hasty here, Paul.....I've already arranged the recovery to a garage on Monday so I'll leave it to them for once.
(That was the initial recommendation from the AA man, but I've had more time to ponder it over).
Whatever they find, it should be interesting enough, but rather expensive if the gearbox has to be stripped! :p
The van is mobile enough to get it on to a low loader, but I wouldn't dare drive it any distance with the racket it was making.
I did feel the CV joint as it happens - it was cool.
John :)
 
I'm disappointed in you John, I would have thought you would have diagnosed and repaired that in half an hour maximum. ;)

That's an odd one, the only thing I can think of is lack of gearbox oil but they usually start whining long before anything breaks - guess how I know.

Being the o/s wheel I suppose it could be the centre shaft bearing. I would be very interested to know when its sorted.

Peter
 
Hi Peter!
I've had another cursory look around today......I'm not delving too deep because the recovery folks should appear tomorrow, and I won't waste their time now.
Anyway, the front nearside wheel revolves perfectly, but I realise this doesn't prove anything.
The offside wheel is still tight, there is a tiny bit of backlash present and then things really stiffen up......I guess that only proves the bearing is fine.
So, that leaves the CV joint or centre bearing, as you suggest.....failing that it must be the diff, I guess.
I must confess I haven't checked the transmission oil for ages, but I can say that there are no leaks so I assume all is well there.
A mystery indeed! Hopefully there will be some news tomorrow night.
I'm not prepared to have a scrapper box fitted as the van is perfect otherwise - apart from being worth very little, of course!
Regards
John :)
 
Just an update......the cv joint, driveshaft and wheel bearing are fine, so a new gearbox is needed. The oil level was fine and uncontaminated.
The garage man reckons he can supply a 'good second hand' box for £350 so I am going for that option, rather than sending my own box away for 'reconditioning' - whatever that may mean.
I'm just hoping that the replacement box hasn't been to the moon and back :p
I guess I can bring my old box home and see what the problem has been!
A new clutch and release bearing will be fitted at the same time so we'll see the financial damage soon!
John :)
 
Oh dear John, I don't think I have ever had a gearbox completely fail in my life and I have had cars with 300k on them. The worst was a Morris Oxford with no reverse because most of the teeth were missing off the idler and prior to that a Ford E93A the 2nd gear thrust washer broke on - twice, and left it stuck in reverse - but they were easy to get out and repair.

I think you should be fairly safe with a secondhand gearbox, they rarely fail now - unless you know different. :D

I always used to take the cover off any secondhand box I was buying and look at the condition of the synchro gear splines, if they lived a hard life the corners were worn off.

Peter
 
I'm sure we fondly remember the days of jumping out of gear, and the ying-ying-ying noise of the 'A' series transmissions :p
Anyway, the van has needed very little expense since I bought it new (two exhausts, a battery and the usual service items) so I've no room to moan......I doubt if there will be much change out of £800 though. Other than the gearbox its actually in first class order, albeit with a small crack in the grille courtesy of a kamikaze partridge :D
Hopefully it'll be back in a day or so, and I'll be listening out for whines on the test drive home!
I am tempted to pull the old box apart, just to satisfy my curiosity if nothing else.
John :)
 
Doesn't owe you a lot then John but I still have a yearning for the gearboxes that you could have out in half an hour and repair in not much more.

Peter
 
Just you make sure it's clear you want the old one back.....!

Or it might 'go missing'
 
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