gearbox circlip

[derv]

hi i was on this site before but had to re sign up, anyways a few weeks ago i lost drive in my clio 16v (williams engine and box) i thought the clutch had gone and the recovery guy thought the same. i was reading one of chisH's reports and realised that it might actually be the circlip that has popped out. i checked today and the speedo does work. the car is was already booked in for a new clutch but i rang them today explaining that it may be just this circlip but he said "nah mate youve probably split your gearbox housing" so my question is, how can i make sure i don't get ripped off? i took some photos from under the car and i cant see any damage just hoping they don't decide to make their own holes!

[Neal]

If the clutch was fine before you lost drive, and the speedo works when you rev it, you're wasting your time and money getting a new clutch fitted.

Differential Circlip

[derv]

yeh thats why i wanna make sure i don't get ripped off! lol they said bring it in anyway and they will have a look i might print that guide off and take it down tommorow in case they start making things seem worse than they actually are

[Wicked Neo]

i'd agree with neal, diff circlip, i've had plenty of experience with those bloody things lol

Problem is, once they have gone, the chances of them going again is very high!
You might be lucky, but i know from experience, having replaced a diff circlip 3 times, that you are better off spending the £400 plus that a garage will charge you, on getting a decent 2nd hand box, box oil, etc and fitting that instead.

[Chris H]

I would say from the amount I have changed and the resulting abuse its only around 50% that it will go again.

Some pop again on the first drives, others are still ragging round the roads, wheelspinning away from every set of lights.

[derv]

talking to my bro's mate he had a 19 16v on 160k (and it had a hard life too!) he popped the circlip got a new one fitted and even with pretty major abuse didnt pop out again. i'm not usually that bad and it's only a weekend car now. i was stuck in traffic and the engine was getting a bit hot so turned round in the road and booted it in first, thats when i lost drive. hopefully this place will sort it tommorow but they are primarily a clutch place and i don't want them trying to con me into fitting a clutch if it dosen't need it.

[Chris H]

no 'normal' garage will replace the clip tbh.

New box or clutch will be their answer.

[derv]

lol oh great, looks like i'm really gonna have to start to learn how to do these things myself.

[derv]

right, got the car back, just got the place to put a new circlip in and hey presto car drives fine, but he recons the gearbox casing is badly worn and it may pop out again, fair enough but i had the gearbox rebuilt less than 6 months ago through hillpower (hillpower didnt actually do it but it was someone he knew) so someone is lying or have cocked up , 'sigh' nothing seems to go right with this car

[Naples_16v]

i had that problem with a r19 16v box i ran. popped out 6 times or more!! even had it welded in and it still broke free!!!

[derv]

well talking to the guy at the clutch place and nick at hillpower they both said the new clios have a plate bolted on top of the circlip to stop it popping out, the guy at the clutch place offered to do this for me but at the time i had no idea if he was just trying to get more money out of me so just had a new circlip fitted. if it happens again i will deffo get this done.

[Laine_16v]

eh? i thought willy boxes did away with circlips.

[Naples_16v]

no theyre better some how. deeper groove or something simple probably lol. im sure Chris will know

[bidderman1969]

touch wood, havent had one go yet