Some may have picked up on the grapevine that my first ever use of a recovery truck in my motoring career was for my 80. I had decided to use this option as the noise my (or what I think is) gearbox was making some horrible noises. In the event this might help with future diagnosis I will recap at length, move to another post or go get a coffee and start reading. Late last year I could hear a slight whirring noise just as I would roll to a stop perhaps for set of traffic lights for example, the noise was there whether the engine was running or not and regardless of whether in any gear or neutral. I had removed prop shafts fore and aft and drove to see if the noise remained, it did, I had also ruled out wheel bearings, they had been stripped/cleaned/and refitted or replaced where necessary late last year. I ruled out the differentials going by the central position of the noise, also with the prop shafts removed they would not echo noise towards the centre of the car. The noise had to be coming from the gearbox or the transfer box, Since buying the car 2nd gear has always been reluctant and virtually impossible when cold to select going down the gears, up has never usually been a problem. knowing I already had synchromesh issues I decided I would leave for awhile until the opportunity to replace or repair. When I had a bit of time I removed the gearstick gaiters and reaffirmed the noise was gear or transfer box.
Having put the issue to the back of my mind I was just parking the car in a multi-storey car par, given the length of the 80 and the modest size of Spanish car park spaces I was rolling very gently towards the wall of my chosen spot, about a foot or so from the wall the car stopped short and rolled backwards a little! It was as if I had hit something with a wheel, I reversed back looking for something I had not seen, there was nothing, I drove back into the parking space and all was well
Later in the day the same thing happened again rolling to a stop at a set of traffic lights, the car sort of hit an invisible rubber wall, it came to stop and rolled back, in my 'minds eye' it was as if two gears were meshing out of synch.
I used the car for a further few days without incidence although on constant alert, then came an incidence where I used a 'Rambla', these are dry river beds used in Spain as shortcuts between small villages etc. WARNING! NEVER use these during the rainy season as you could find yourself washed out to sea and very dead after a flash flood...NO BS!
Anyway I digress, a I completed my shortcut I started to climb out of the Rambla when there was a horrendous grinding noise! I stopped immediately and rolled backwards into the Rambla, I jumped out and had a look underneath and could see nothing broken, no evidence of oil etc. I drove around on the rough ground for a few minutes trying to make the noise repeat itself and nothing! I made the attempt to climb out of the Rambla a second time and although the 80 climbed out just as it reached the top the grinding noise came again. I drove it gently to a petrol garage (an ideal way to pinpoint your location) and called for the 'grua' or breakdown truck to you, recovery service is compulsory in Spain and so is included in your insurance.
Only now have I had the time to get the gearbox out and see what I can see, I stripped off the casings and removed the gear cluster and so far nothing, no broken teeth, no metal in the oil, no play anywhere in the bearings, NOTHING!!!!
So I will start during next week to pull the gears of the shafts to see if there is anything amiss there. I am wondering if my assumption (guided by the noisy synchro) that it is the gearbox, as you rarely hear of the transfer box being suspect on an 80 and in fact have never replaced one, it has always been the gearbox that has been the problem....so watch this space, if you have any ideas then feel free to throw them this way...TIA.
regards
Dave
Having put the issue to the back of my mind I was just parking the car in a multi-storey car par, given the length of the 80 and the modest size of Spanish car park spaces I was rolling very gently towards the wall of my chosen spot, about a foot or so from the wall the car stopped short and rolled backwards a little! It was as if I had hit something with a wheel, I reversed back looking for something I had not seen, there was nothing, I drove back into the parking space and all was well
Later in the day the same thing happened again rolling to a stop at a set of traffic lights, the car sort of hit an invisible rubber wall, it came to stop and rolled back, in my 'minds eye' it was as if two gears were meshing out of synch.
I used the car for a further few days without incidence although on constant alert, then came an incidence where I used a 'Rambla', these are dry river beds used in Spain as shortcuts between small villages etc. WARNING! NEVER use these during the rainy season as you could find yourself washed out to sea and very dead after a flash flood...NO BS!
Anyway I digress, a I completed my shortcut I started to climb out of the Rambla when there was a horrendous grinding noise! I stopped immediately and rolled backwards into the Rambla, I jumped out and had a look underneath and could see nothing broken, no evidence of oil etc. I drove around on the rough ground for a few minutes trying to make the noise repeat itself and nothing! I made the attempt to climb out of the Rambla a second time and although the 80 climbed out just as it reached the top the grinding noise came again. I drove it gently to a petrol garage (an ideal way to pinpoint your location) and called for the 'grua' or breakdown truck to you, recovery service is compulsory in Spain and so is included in your insurance.
Only now have I had the time to get the gearbox out and see what I can see, I stripped off the casings and removed the gear cluster and so far nothing, no broken teeth, no metal in the oil, no play anywhere in the bearings, NOTHING!!!!
So I will start during next week to pull the gears of the shafts to see if there is anything amiss there. I am wondering if my assumption (guided by the noisy synchro) that it is the gearbox, as you rarely hear of the transfer box being suspect on an 80 and in fact have never replaced one, it has always been the gearbox that has been the problem....so watch this space, if you have any ideas then feel free to throw them this way...TIA.
regards
Dave
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, I misread that, I thought it said WIFE is away ATM, I'll reply off the girlfriends phone later. 
