I Think I Just Snapped My Driveshaft

[LiCkWiD]

Hello.

Saturday morning, my car begun to make a loud knock/bang noise when the clutch-plate engaged and the car began to accelerate. The noise came from the rear-wheels and was accompanied by a "lurch", that is to say the car jolted forward. It felt a little like having 100% of the power taken away and then returned 1 second later, with a bang noise.

The thud is definitely a metallic/mechanical noise and would be comparable to someone hitting the underchassis with a hammer. It got worse as the morning wore on. Mainly when pulling away from junctions. I could feel it when I brought the car to gear-change speed and revs. As I eased the clutch up and began to step on the throttle, the car would jerk wildly - almost kangaroo hopping - while the familiar banging noise accompanied it.

Then it let go. The car lost all drive and although I could still select all 6 gears (and reverse), the car had no drive to the rear-wheels at all. I pulled over and put the car in 1st. I slowly brought up the clutch to take-off on idle revs. The speedometer rose to 10mph, but the didn't seem to show any signs of moving at all.

The engine would allow for all 6 gears to be selected but none have any drive. I didn't sit here doing this for long, but when trying to accelerate as normal, a horrible metallic grinding noise was coming from the rear-wheels, probably the diff?

I've spoken to the garage that sold me the car and although they've agreed to definitely take a look at it as a possible warantee job - they're suggesting it sounds like the clutch. I do not agree. I've killed clutches in the past and this is nothing like a burned out clutch. All the signs, to me, seem to be pointing towards a murdered driveshaft or rear-diff!

Thoughts? Advice? Sympathy? Hehe.

[Bazza]

sounds like the diff has gone

[Jack300]

...sounds very nasty from your description. It could also be the prop shaft connection to the diff that's given up - you been driving it too hard? - not been to Santa Pod of late?

Good luck

jack

[84Stoney]

Sounds like dif/prop shaft related.

You do have my sympathy thou.

[Yaumeister]

If memory serves me right, you only got your IS about a month ago. My deepest sympathies

[LiCkWiD]

If memory serves me right, you only got your IS about a month ago. My deepest sympathies

3 and a bit weeks ago.

I'm a little angry at this. The guy the AA sub-contracted the recovery to said he'd never once, in 12 years, picked-up a Lexus IS200 (in hind-sight, I assume he meant "Lexi" in general, seeing as the IS200 wasn't in production 12 years ago). He agreed it did seem to be a driveshaft/diff. problem, from my description but the garage are trying to tell me it could be clutch, too. Not soddin' likely. Of course, they don't cover clutches because they're consumables and inevitably will need replacing.

Anyone got an idea on cost of this kind of part? Both the prop and the rear-diff?

My only other concern is getting the car the 80 miles to the garage where I bought it. A tow company will charge me a fortune and I can't tow it all the way behind a mates car. This is a nightmare.

Going to read-up about my terms and conditions when I get in and see if I can refuse/return the car under my rights as a consumer. Will take my cash elsewhere and grab a IS200 that actually works.

[Yaumeister]

Unless you bought your car "as is", most used car dealerships would offer some sort of warranty wouldn't they? I got my leaky water pump replaced for free under a 6 month warranty. Surely the prop/crankshaft/diff that might be busted aren't classified as "consumables".

[dazz32]

Really sorry to hear about your problems mate....if you have to tow the car 80 miles to the garage that you brought it from then they should pick up the "tow" bill....and also by the sounds of things..and to me it does sound like prop/diff...then the car will be covered under warranty for the said broken part...if they refuse then go to trading standards & also ask for your money back.....as with all things... you put this all in writeing and send Registered post ( coz you will have proof of posting ) and get them to put it all in writeing.. ;)

Feel for ya coz its not a cheap repair..

[Scorps01]

Dont forget it is against the law to tow on the M/Way unless its a fixed bar.......NO ROPE!!!

There is/was a good Jap breakers in Essex, near Basildon i think but i cant think what the name of it is.

[Andy-R]

Sorry to hear this matey, can't offer any advice just the sympathy. Hope you get it sorted soon should be covered by the warranty.

[LiCkWiD]

Been hunting around all day for a garage that will undertake the work. If I mention warantee, they run the other way! Heh. Looks like I'll be shelling out for this, then seeking it back from the garage.

Explained the problem to my usual parts supplier. He thinks it may be the diff. bearings. If that's the case, parts-wise, this might be cheaper than I thought. I've been told about an hour to fit @ £50 +VAT. Not too bad, I think.

Just need to find someone to tow me to the garage now (all my mates are at work and I've taken a day off to get this whole thing moving).

Needless aggravation!!

Ta for your words of support, guys :) Will keep ya posted.

Am I right in saying this kind of mechanical failure isn't common?

[Rob]

Been hunting around all day for a garage that will undertake the work. If I mention warantee, they run the other way! Heh. Looks like I'll be shelling out for this, then seeking it back from the garage.

Explained the problem to my usual parts supplier. He thinks it may be the diff. bearings. If that's the case, parts-wise, this might be cheaper than I thought. I've been told about an hour to fit @ £50 +VAT. Not too bad, I think.

Just need to find someone to tow me to the garage now (all my mates are at work and I've taken a day off to get this whole thing moving).

Needless aggravation!!

Ta for your words of support, guys :) Will keep ya posted.

Am I right in saying this kind of mechanical failure isn't common?

an hour to replace the diff bearings - you will be lucky, u need to remove it first and thats close to an hour to start with

[LiCkWiD]

Been hunting around all day for a garage that will undertake the work. If I mention warantee, they run the other way! Heh. Looks like I'll be shelling out for this, then seeking it back from the garage.

Explained the problem to my usual parts supplier. He thinks it may be the diff. bearings. If that's the case, parts-wise, this might be cheaper than I thought. I've been told about an hour to fit @ £50 +VAT. Not too bad, I think.

Just need to find someone to tow me to the garage now (all my mates are at work and I've taken a day off to get this whole thing moving).

Needless aggravation!!

Ta for your words of support, guys :) Will keep ya posted.

Am I right in saying this kind of mechanical failure isn't common?

an hour to replace the diff bearings - you will be lucky, u need to remove it first and thats close to an hour to start with

So much for a cheap repair, then :P

[TigerFish]

It should be easy'ish to atleast start to narrow down the problem. For the speedo to register any speed then the gearbox must be turning on the output side. You should easily be able to see if the prop is turning when you try and pull away (no idea if there is a centre bearing and joint on the IS). On a front wheel drive car I once had, all CV joint bolts come off one of the drive shafts and of course lost all drive. So at least try and see if there is any movement on one side of the diff as far as turning goes. if it does, then you could have a completely screwed CV joint on one side. Worth checking to get a better idea of where the damage is done. Fingers crossed it is on the cheap side of things for you mate.

[dave1]

As you have only had it for 4 weeks it would be covered even if it was the clutch if you bought it from a dealer(franchised or not) unless you bought it as scrap ." Sold as seen" would not invalidate this unless you are also a dealer or paid a very very low price. If AA recovered you home, you should be able to contact them to recover it once again to the supplier. Even consumables such as clutch are not expected to go within 3 to 6 months unless you have done exceptionally high miles since purchase.

If no luck with the dealer try trading standards and make sure you inform dealer of what you are doing by Registered post. (Also copy to yourself but don't open the envelope when it arrives.)

Sale of goods act gives you so many rights.

[Jiberjaber]

Might be worth a call to westfield motors if the warentee doesn't work out.

[LiCkWiD]

Just heard back from the garage.

I've destroyed the diff. Apparently my driveshaft is fine, as are the linkages - but as I say, the differential has gone to the scrap yard in the sky.

So anyway.... 2.5 hours labour, his book says and I am going to source the diff. Anyone know a good place to start? Want to get this going quickly - local parts dealer doesn't stock ANYTHING for a Lexus, save for service parts, (due to never selling parts, apparently... not viable to take up space on their shelves). So I'm looking at people breaking IS200s or a specialist part supplier.

Anyone help me out with a part number or somewhere I can get it from and I will be eternally grateful :)

[aaronabbott]

Jus heard back from the garage.

I've destroyed the diff. Apparently my driveshaft is fine, as are the linkages - but as I say, the differential has gone to the scrap yard in the sky.

So anyway.... 2.5 hours labour, his book says and I am going to source the diff. Anyone know a good place to start? Want to get this going quickly - local parts dealer doesn't stock ANYTHING for a Lexus (due to never selling parts, apparently... not viable to take up space on their shelves). So I'm looking at people breaking IS200s or a specialist part supplier.

Anyone help me out with a part number or somewhere I can get it from and I will be eternally grateful :)

dont prolex have a diff to sell

edit- here you go http://www.prolex-uk.com/store/product_inf...products_id=560

[LiCkWiD]

Jus heard back from the garage.

I've destroyed the diff. Apparently my driveshaft is fine, as are the linkages - but as I say, the differential has gone to the scrap yard in the sky.

So anyway.... 2.5 hours labour, his book says and I am going to source the diff. Anyone know a good place to start? Want to get this going quickly - local parts dealer doesn't stock ANYTHING for a Lexus (due to never selling parts, apparently... not viable to take up space on their shelves). So I'm looking at people breaking IS200s or a specialist part supplier.

Anyone help me out with a part number or somewhere I can get it from and I will be eternally grateful :)

dont prolex have a diff to sell

edit- here you go http://www.prolex-uk.com/store/product_inf...products_id=560

Ah, sweet man. Much appreciated :)

I'm still getting used to the whole Lexus thing. Got comfortable with the VAG group when I had my Cupra R - starting again with best places to shop! Grrr :D

Oooh... it's an LSD. Even better. Ta for the heads up, fella :) You're my hero! Hah.

[Dodgydave]

You could try this place http://www.breakeryard.com/. I used them to get a gearbox for my daughter's Yaris T Sport.

You can put you request in and they will put a request out to all the breakers that are registered with them. If you get lucky you will get a number of emailed quotes from the breakers direct.

Dave.

[Andy-R]

There's a few IS's being broken on e-bay ;)

[kam05]

I'd also try Dewsbury Auto Salvage as well, they seem to break a lot of IS200's.

[LiCkWiD]

Hello again kids.

Just about to buy the LSD from Prolex.

Am I right in saying it will fit right onto my IS200 SE without any extra parts?

[Yaumeister]

Hello again kids.

Just about to buy the LSD from Prolex.

Am I right in saying it will fit right onto my IS200 SE without any extra parts?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't only Sport models have LSD?

[Gord]

Hello again kids.

Just about to buy the LSD from Prolex.

Am I right in saying it will fit right onto my IS200 SE without any extra parts?

Yep should do :D its just the inside thats diff erent :D