Help! Horrible gearbox / clutch after servicing

[Tman]

Just took my Tuscan in for it's 12K service - it went in with a lovely smooth gearbox and has come out with a horrible, sticky, crunching action. Engaging first is a nightmare, going up the gears when moving is not too bad (though very rough), I can't get reverse without crunching, since it's impossible to get into fifth first; and changing down is just as bad. This has got worse in the 2 days since taking receipt of the car and now undriveable.

The (very reputable) garage where I got it serviced is saying that this is something that wouldn't have been picked this up during the service and that it is likely to be pure coincidence that the car has suddenly lost its gearchange after the service (despite over 18 months of smooth gear changes and no mechanical issues whatsoever).

Understandably I am not best pleased having spent over a grand on servicing and minor tweaks, only for the car to be off the road for the first time 2 days after.

Has anyone had similar problems or any advice - I was told it may be a clutch issue and therefore it has nothing to do with the service.

A despondent Tuscan owner.

[anonymous-user]

I assume the "very reputable garage" is a TVR main dealer? How old is the car? If it is 18 months old I would expect the dealer to deal with the problem.

[whitey]

On the Tuscan the brake and clutch fluid reservoir is the same behind the pedal box. Check it for low level or leaks.

Possibly your clutch slave cylinder seals have gone, which do go without much warning.

12K service = changing of brake/clutch fluid. This may have influenced the above.

All IMHO and just an educated guess.

cheers
Whitey

[Tman]

Thanks for the info - will see what they say when they pick up the car. I would still have hoped that this would have been picked up during or after the service, particularly considering the reputation of the dealer. We shall see.

[J_S_G]

whitey said:

Possibly your clutch slave cylinder seals have gone, which do go without much warning.

Depends on how many miles the car's done/how old it is. 20-25k miles and four years or so seems to be par for the course for seals. (Was told by a very reputable source it's because of the fluid corroding the seals, but I couldn't confirm it).

[quote]12K service = changing of brake/clutch fluid. This may have influenced the above.[/quote]
12k service also includes a change of gearbox oil, I believe (www.tvrpower.co.uk/sp6.12k.service.php).

I'd check over the service invoices, etc. - see if gearbox oil/clutch fluid is mentioned. Otherwise ring them and ask them if they shouldn't have changed such fluids/oils...

[bilton_d]

it could be the clutch fingers breaking? i had this in my Cerbera running fine parked up went back 20 minutes later and found it really hard to select gears. If its ok when the engine isn't running this could be your problem

[whitey]

J_S_G said:

Depends on how many miles the car's done/how old it is. 20-25k miles and four years or so seems to be par for the course for seals. (Was told by a very reputable source it's because of the fluid corroding the seals, but I couldn't confirm it). .

Mine went after 2 years and 12000 miles after a long hot hard summer blast back from Wales.

I understood it was a combination of fluid corrosion and heat drying out the seals.

cheers
Whitey

[J_S_G]

whitey said:

Mine went after 2 years and 12000 miles after a long hot hard summer blast back from Wales. I understood it was a combination of fluid corrosion and heat drying out the seals.

Fair enough. Wouldn't expect the car to be all that driveable if it was the slave cylinder seals that went... mine had about 30 seconds of realistically being able to change gear between the seal going and all the fluid p*ssing out everywhere, making it totally undriveable. Don't know about exact symptoms if it's the master cylinder.

[whitey]

J_S_G said:

whitey said: Mine went after 2 years and 12000 miles after a long hot hard summer blast back from Wales. I understood it was a combination of fluid corrosion and heat drying out the seals. Fair enough. Wouldn't expect the car to be all that driveable if it was the slave cylinder seals that went... mine had about 30 seconds of realistically being able to change gear between the seal going and all the fluid p*ssing out everywhere, making it totally undriveable. Don't know about exact symptoms if it's the master cylinder.

I made it home ok with no symptoms then went to start it a couple of days later and noticed the handbrake/low brake fluid warning light on, and a little puddle of fluid on the garage floor under the gearbox. Phone diagnosis to dealer and the AA came and took it too them, all covered under WHA warranty at the time.

Guess I must have just made it home!!

cheers
Whitey

[J_S_G]

whitey said:

I made it home ok with no symptoms then went to start it a couple of days later and noticed the handbrake/low brake fluid warning light on, and a little puddle of fluid on the garage floor under the gearbox. Phone diagnosis to dealer and the AA came and took it too them, all covered under WHA warranty at the time. Guess I must have just made it home!!

Does sound quite lucky! Mine went from working fine at substantial (prolonged) speed (i.e. a full day on Eurohoon) to not working at all in the space of 1 gearchange... stopped at the petrol station to fill up... had real trouble getting it into first to pull up to the pump. Got out, filled it, paid, got back in, and no more gear changes.