astra 1.7 cdti stuck in gear and wont start

citrobic

tootling down the urban bypass and car stops.Now the car wont start and is jammed in 5th gear.Starter goes clunk and would suggest seized engine but I cant get to grips with jammed in gear.De-clutch and you can freewheel.Can select neutral and all gears but makes no difference to the starter or constantly in gear bit.I am getting quoted for new engine/gearbox/clutch or even all three.Ouch!

casper_g

No advice here, but sympathy from a fellow Astra 1.7 diesel driver. Good luck getting it sorted!

jaydeeuk1

If its constantly in gear, has one of the linkages or cables broke? Does the car start when you push the clutch in?

pitkin2020

How can you select all gears if its jammed in 5th??

vax2002

Sounds like the dual mass has failed, it jams the box and starter do not try to turn the engine over, if it manages it it will shatter the gear box housing.
If so, repair will be around £750 + vat

Lum

Worth replacing the dual mass flywheel with an old fashioned one that will be cheaper and more reliable?

Downside is the car will be slightly less smooth, feeling more like an old fashioned diesel.

Personally I think the trade off is worth it as dual mass flywheels are the spawn of satan.

skiddlydiddly

I had a car get stuck in 5th before.I could put the gearstick in the right slot for other gears but it remained in 5th.
It turned out to be a destroyed 3rd gear and broken selector fork.

aka_shortie

the astra diesels are prone to Dual Mass Flywheel and Gearbox failure, just google a few of the astra owners forums to see how common it is.

DMF looking at circa £500 fitted. Gearbox circa £1200. If the gear box is shot make sure you replace the DMF and clutch whilst your at it as they all have to be taken out and will be cheaper in the long run if your keeping it. Ohh, and dont pay vauxhall prices lol, go independent lol

Hammyman

citrobic wrote: »

tootling down the urban bypass and car stops.Now the car wont start and is jammed in 5th gear.Starter goes clunk and would suggest seized engine but I cant get to grips with jammed in gear.De-clutch and you can freewheel.Can select neutral and all gears but makes no difference to the starter or constantly in gear bit.I am getting quoted for new engine/gearbox/clutch or even all three.Ouch!

Ah. Chances are that the selector rod has snapped in the gearbox - the linkage TO the gearbox is going through the motions but its not connected.

You can check for a seized engine quite easily - well, easily except to those doing the pushing. Simply open the bonnet, look at the pulley at the bottom of the engine and get someone to rock the car back and forth as much as possible. If the pulley moves, the engine isn't seized and the starter should be able to turn it so it would suggest the gearbox being stuck in gear being the fault.