Bang! Noise from gearbox area? HELP!

Disco 1990, v8, 3.9 Petrol, manual, blue!



Hi all

I have searched this forum, and others, as well as Google. Please forgive me if I have missed something.
I have also posted this message elsewhere, and hope that it doesn't annoy anyone!

I am in the middle of France, my nearest 4x4 expert doesn't do Disco's or RHD vehicles it seems! I know that this is going to be a difficult problem to diagnose without seeing the vehicle, but I can't bring it back to the UK.

For about fifty miles, there was a whining/squeaking noise from below the gearlever or the back of the engine. Only when the vehicle was moving, and didn't matter if the clutch pedal was up or down.

I then drove the vehicle a little further (towards the 4x4 garage) and the noise worsened for about 5 miles, and then there was a big bang from the same area, something bounced on the road (I couldn't find what) and the whole thing seized and I ground to a halt. (Although I could coast if I put the clutch down.)

I moved the two gear levers around through all positions, and pulled the handbrake on and off a few times, and I was then able to limp home with a rattling noise from the same place. (Kind of like something metal knocking around inside a box)


I got under the vehicle, and rocked it back and forth, and the noise seems to be coming from the box with a square/flat bottom, just in front of the handbrake drum. (Sorry, I know a lot about cars - but not this one!)

It doesn't matter whether the car is in gear or not, the noise is the same.


There is a new clean scratch along side where the handbrake cable hinges and enters the drum - so maybe the thing that fell off was from around that area?

The handbrake lever has always been a bit loose up and down - no resistance at all until fully on. Of course, that may be normal with this type of braking arrangement.


I bow to your superior knowledge, and hope that someone somewhere can please please help me to diagnose the problem.

I am in the UK next week, so could pick up some bits if needed - otherwise they will be expensive to ship here.



Many many thanks in advance.

If I get the solution elsewhere, then I will post it back here to help others.


Cheers


Andy

right sounds like either something is in yer handley brake drum whip it off and have a poke about or you might have a center diff problem

where in france are yer?

mmm...i think its his windscreen wipers

Sounds like the transfer box has just seid "Good bye" (that's the lump that them long things come off and go to each diff)

You would be suprised how cheap it now is to get things shipped out.

Hi all, thanks for the various replies.

- Slob - I am in Burgundy

- Bushtoy - I don't think it's the wipers, when I last checked, they were still in place on the windscreen, not somewhere by the gearbox area


I am being persuaded that it might be the transfer box... but keep the suggestions coming if you can please.

Thanks again


Andy

Disco in France said:

Hi all, thanks for the various replies.


- Bushtoy - I don't think it's the wipers, when I last checked, they were still in place on the windscreen, not somewhere by the gearbox area

Andy

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sorry mate wus just havin a dig at "Mr slob"

ye had any luck wif the landy yet?

you said it didn't matter if the car was in gear or not, was the car rolling when you tried this? If so probably the transfer case, if not rolling and in neutral there are no moving parts in the transfer case to make this noise, possibly a clutch problem

can you take few photos of the transmission brake, especially where you've found the new scratch - also if you can remove the brake housing, my bet it that something is going to either drop out or is going to be very loose such as one of the shoe springs or an expander - you said that this brake has always been somewhat iffy so lets start by looking there first rather than spending your kids inheritance on a new transfer box

Disco in France said:

Disco 1990, v8, 3.9 Petrol, manual, blue!
I then drove the vehicle a little further (towards the 4x4 garage) and the noise worsened for about 5 miles, and then there was a big bang from the same area, something bounced on the road (I couldn't find what) and the whole thing seized and I ground to a halt. (Although I could coast if I put the clutch down.)

Andy

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dunno so much abt the handbrake....clutch or xfer......

don't assume the worst, eliminate the easy/cheap options first

guess ya rite...4 all we know his front prop coulda fallen orf. couple o pics would help tho

Thanks again everyone.

I'll get the camera out this afternoon and stick a couple of pictures up here.


Laters


PS. This is a very helpful forum. Hopefully I can return the favour sometime.

Bushtoy said:

sorry mate wus just havin a dig at "Mr slob"

ye had any luck wif the landy yet?

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its lord slob to you ya peasant and as its thursday today can you explain why posting another one of yer bammy solutions is a dig at me?

your degenerative brain disease seems to be accelerating on a daily basis. am not sure if its possible but if you don't start taking yer medication soon you'll be in danger of surpassing DK17 for ****tyness.

as fer yer man wiff the noise if you had bin a bit westerly in yer location i could have had a look for yer. but your about 5 hoiurs from here.

get yer pics posted and we can all have a look see

Thanks slob. The weather has beaten me this afternoon... Have managed to clear some space in a garage though, so might get in there tomorrow morning (too cold tonight!)

Cheers again to everyone.

Sean said:

can you take few photos of the transmission brake, especially where you've found the new scratch - also if you can remove the brake housing, my bet it that something is going to either drop out or is going to be very loose such as one of the shoe springs or an expander - you said that this brake has always been somewhat iffy so lets start by looking there first rather than spending your kids inheritance on a new transfer box

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yep i had this once a few huge bangs and then total lockup, had to smash **** out of the drum to get it off, a spring had come off and the shoes got mangled in it. I take it a huge lump of your brake drum has not come winging off, or a prop bolt perhaps that came loose and was catching before it took off into space.

Disco in France said:

Thanks slob. The weather has beaten me this afternoon... Have managed to clear some space in a garage though, so might get in there tomorrow morning (too cold tonight!)

Cheers again to everyone.

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Well let's all hope that its a lovely warm day tomorrow so that you can take us some pics