Help needed gearbox problems!

Hi guys I am in need of urgent help...
To introduce myself I have a 300tdi 1997 Disco Aviemore that works like a Trojan towing every day etc as I am a landscaper in Surrey.
Recently done welding to sills etc, head gasket done, new radiator, water pump, discs pads and new Bfg at's etc.
Yesterday whirring noise from engine bay and loads if hot plastic smells and smoke. Turns out no drain plug in gearbox and no oil. Car won't turn over as it appears the flywheel jammed. I need a new gearbox I'm told and need the car for work. I've been quoted £900 to fit a 2nd hand gearbox and new clutch including the Parts. Is this reasonable, does anyone gave a spare box or even want to do the work.
Help please. Nick

has oil just been changed on gear box as i find it hard to believe it just came undone a let oil go ,are you sure its not wading plug missing in clutch housing thats missing ,clutch housing shouldnt contaim oil ,failure of gear box wouldnt stop you starting engine ,seems more like clutch failure or cambelt to me or even starter been engaged while engine running for a while which can be caused by poor ignition switch or fulty wiring perhaps you need second opinion

Change yo USERCP to show which part of the country you are from.

As above I cant see the gearbox stopping you starting the vehicle, the simple operation of putting your foot on the clutch will seperate the two. If the clutch has gone the engine would still start. Even if the clutch was jammed and the gearbox ****ed the thing would still try to start and jolt the vehicle around...

When you are saying it wont start what do you mean, is there a draw on the power system (lights going dim e.t.c.)? Does it click or make any sounds, does it try to turn at all? There could be lots of things causing the problem, a more detailed explanation of the symptoms may help in narrowing down whats what...

Sorry. To elaborate on the non starting. The engine won't turn over, the starter motor engages and there is a large draw of power, it clicks but will not turn over, the battery is new and fully charged.

It rolls freely in neutral, I put it in 4th and tried to push it down a slight slope and still no joy.

Don't know what to try next...

check gear box oil for contamination if its buggered it will show in oil,can you turn engine with a socket and bar on crank pulley nut,in neutral

Klauss1971 said:

Hi guys I am in need of urgent help...
To introduce myself I have a 300tdi 1997 Disco Aviemore that works like a Trojan towing every day etc as I am a landscaper in Surrey.
Recently done welding to sills etc, head gasket done, new radiator, water pump, discs pads and new Bfg at's etc.
Yesterday whirring noise from engine bay and loads if hot plastic smells and smoke. Turns out no drain plug in gearbox and no oil. Car won't turn over as it appears the flywheel jammed. I need a new gearbox I'm told and need the car for work. I've been quoted £900 to fit a 2nd hand gearbox and new clutch including the Parts. Is this reasonable, does anyone gave a spare box or even want to do the work.
Help please. Nick

Click to expand...

It sounds to me as if the garage has confused the gearbox drain plug with the open wading plug hole.

If I were you I would check to see if the gearbox has any oil in it.

To do this you will need a T55 torx bit to open the level/fill plug. This plug is located on the rhs (drivers side) of the gearbox high up the side.

Assuming the car is parked level, when you open this plug there should be a small dribble of oil come out. If none comes out - top up with proper gearbox oil until it does. Total oil capacity of gearbox is 2.3ltrs. Oil type: MTF94 or atf Dexron III.

Assuming the gearbox does have oil - forget the gearbox !!!

The engine doesn't turn over therefore assuming the battery is good, the problem lies with the starter motor. Faults here can usually be rectified by replacing the solenoid contacts - a kit is available from ebay suppliers for a tenner.

Another test you could do, to check the cambelt status, is to get hold of a 27mm socket on the crankshaft bolt and using a socket driver turn the engine over by hand, whilst watching the tappets via the engine oil filler hole. If the tappets move when you turn the engine over, the cambelt is intact.

So, you've got a bit to think about there

Good luck

Dave