Clutch problem

the corpo

Hi,

When I hit 3000 rpm, say when changing gears or hitting motorway speeds on my Avensis, the car can slip out of gear, and I have to ease off the revs and put it back into gear.

Is this most likely a clutch needing replacing? How much damage is that likely to run to these days, on an 04 Avensis? Dreading chat with mechanic tomorrow....

Irish Steve

Hate to burst your bubble, but jumping out of gear is not likely to be clutch wear, there's an issue within the gearbox or linkage that's allowing it to come out, it might be minor, or it could be significant wear on the intermediate gears, or the springs on the selectors have weakened, so are not keeping the selector fully engaged, which then lets the gears come out of mesh.

Don't know the Avensis that well, could even be something as obscure as a worn engine or gearbox mounting that's causing the gearshift linkage to hit on something else as the engine moves more than it's supposed to.

It will need to be driven by someone with experience of working on gearboxes to determine what's going on.

jca

Start looking around for a new gearbox you should get one from a breakers easily enough.

the corpo

Yelp. Heading into costing more than the car is worth territory then 8(

Maybe it just needs a kick.

pablo128

Is it just 5th gear?

bazz26

Jumping out of gear might be a gear linkage or linkage cable problem which is common enough on that model Avensis. Doesn't sound like the clutch to me and the main issues with the Avensis gearbox itself is usually a failed bearing and you'd normally hear a whine from the gearbox when that's on it's way out.

the corpo

It can happen changing any gear if the revs are high enough. Not making any particularly odd noises or behaving peculiarly in any other manner

the corpo

I'm totally out of my depth here, is a linkage cable a minor or major job?

Isambard

you won't really find a solution here, you need to get a mechanic to check it out,

Rumple Stillson

Where are you based op? I had serious problems with gearboxes on my 07 Avensis. Most of them occurred while I was in France which was very bad for me! When I came back to Ireland I went to David Byrne in Foulksmills in Wexford and he rebuilt it. Did a great job. I'm sure there are other gearbox specialists around who might be able to help you out.

the corpo

Just back from mechanic, said clutch is deffo gone. 480 hit to start the new year, sob.

Thanks for the replies folks.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

the corpo wrote: »

Just back from mechanic, said clutch is deffo gone. 480 hit to start the new year, sob.

Thanks for the replies folks.

Get a second opinion somewhere else to be sure.

Go in to a different place and describe the issue your having and don't say anything after that. Don't tell them what you think it is or the likes

Just that it's popping out of gear while driving.

Rumple Stillson

the corpo wrote: »

Just back from mechanic, said clutch is deffo gone. 480 hit to start the new year, sob.

Thanks for the replies folks.

I'd get a second opinion on that OP. Popping out of gear is similar to what happened on my Avensis and it was gearbox related.

the merchant

OP is it actually jumping out of gear or is the clutch slipping so badly that the car feels like it's in neutral?

the corpo

I need the car for a holiday tomorrow, so no time to shop around I'm afraid. My mechanic has done me right in the past, so I trust him.

The_merchant, the clutch slips when I hit 3000rpm and the car loses power, have to slow down and re-engage at a lower gear to get power again.

ohnonotgmail

the corpo wrote: »

I need the car for a holiday tomorrow, so no time to shop around I'm afraid. My mechanic has done me right in the past, so I trust him.

The_merchant, the clutch slips when I hit 3000rpm and the car loses power, have to slow down and re-engage at a lower gear to get power again.

but you said it was coming out of gear. if it is coming out of gear that is not the clutch.

Alanstrainor

the corpo wrote: »

When I hit 3000 rpm, say when changing gears or hitting motorway speeds on my Avensis, the car can slip out of gear, and I have to ease off the revs and put it back into gear.

the corpo wrote: »

The_merchant, the clutch slips when I hit 3000rpm and the car loses power, have to slow down and re-engage at a lower gear to get power again.

Two different problem statements for the same problem was not helping things here...

I had this in an astra,
jumping out of 3rd.
Needed the box reconditioned

the corpo

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Two different problem statements for the same problem was not helping things here...

Well, the novice in me reads them the same, apologies for any confusion!

To merge the points and clarify, when I hit 3000rpm the car loses power as if it is has slipped out of gear, and I have to re-engage at a lower gear and rpm for the car to get moving again.

I'd been wary to do much or any driving in it, once I noticed the issue, so offhand couldn't say if the actual gear stick was popping back into neutral position, if that's what you mean?

Anyway, sure it's in the shop now 8(

To move on, what would I get for a 2004 Avensis with a new clutch

ohnonotgmail

the corpo wrote: »

Well, the novice in me reads them the same, apologies for any confusion!

To merge the points and clarify, when I hit 3000rpm the car loses power as if it is has slipped out of gear, and I have to re-engage at a lower gear and rpm for the car to get moving again.

I'd been wary to do much or any driving in it, once I noticed the issue, so offhand couldn't say if the actual gear stick was popping back into neutral position, if that's what you mean?

Anyway, sure it's in the shop now 8(

To move on, what would I get for a 2004 Avensis with a new clutch

that is what "coming out of gear means". the gearstick pops back to neutral. if the revs are going up with no increase in power then the clutch is knackered. or the pressure plate of it is.

Alanstrainor

the corpo wrote: »

Well, the novice in me reads them the same, apologies for any confusion!

To merge the points and clarify, when I hit 3000rpm the car loses power as if it is has slipped out of gear, and I have to re-engage at a lower gear and rpm for the car to get moving again.

I'd been wary to do much or any driving in it, once I noticed the issue, so offhand couldn't say if the actual gear stick was popping back into neutral position, if that's what you mean?

Anyway, sure it's in the shop now 8(

To move on, what would I get for a 2004 Avensis with a new clutch

Fair enough.

Popping out of gear means the gear stick moves itself into neutral. Clutch slipping means when you accelerate hard the engine revs high, but the speed doesn't increase as it should.

Keep the Avensis... you've just put a few hundred into it, may as well get the value out of it.

the corpo

Just to update, the old clutch was totally burnt out, got it replaced, happy days.....for an hour or two.

Then the problem returned, to a lesser degree. Mechanic was baffled, but eventually figured out it was an air mass meter problem. Says it's perfect now, off to collect, we'll see!!

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

the corpo wrote: »

Just to update, the old clutch was totally burnt out, got it replaced, happy days.....for an hour or two.

Then the problem returned, to a lesser degree. Mechanic was baffled, but eventually figured out it was an air mass meter problem. Says it's perfect now, off to collect, we'll see!!

Totally burnt out ?

I somehow doubt it was because the car would struggle to move at all with a completely burnt out clutch.

Please do keep us updated on all work done to this and let us know when the issue gets resolved

the corpo

Right, the problem seems fixed, the car doesn't lose power at all when driving.

However, the ignition feels quite different, and the car is a good bit slower to start. Used to jump into life, but now takes maybe 2-3 seconds on the key turn, before the engine gently rumbles up.

I gather the air flow sensor regulates the amount of petrol being injected into the engine, would it's calibration affect start up? I don't know if it's a problem or not, or might lead to a problem, but it's definitely quite different.