Clutch/Gearbox done for? Need opinion.

[ryuujin]

Hi you guys,

I need your opinion on something, I have a beloved Peugeot 406 which has been the love of my (car) life for the last ten years, ever since I bought it as a 17 year old boy. Now last satursday it started making a horrendous noise from the engine room, which starts as soon as I release the clutch, in every gear.

I am naturally suspecting it to be either a broken clutch or a broken gearbox, both which will cost me more than the car is worth. The car is a 97 model and driven over 340.000km so it is not worth going to excessive lengths, moneywise to keep. A clutchchange will cost about 8000-10000 norwegian krones, 850GBPs or so. Even putting her into a garage to get a proper diagnosis is going to cost about 100 pounds, so that option is also not on the table.

However, I couldn't just send her to the chop shop either, not having my suspisions confirmed... So that's why I am asking you guys, what do you guys think a hard grinding noise coming from the engine room is? The car has been slightly difficult to shift into certain gears in the last year, mostly 3rd gear. When I drive it uphill now, the clutch seems to either kind of slip, meaning I lose a little speed. If I keep the clutch in, there is no grinding noise - but the moment i release it (in either gear) it gives a grinding sound that sounds like warcry of satan riding through the sky...

I am assuming the 406 is at the end of it's line, but still I would like to hear from you guys who have experienced broken gearbox, what sounds you experienced and so on. I am not very mechanically skilled so there is no option of doing it myself.

[lozz]

Hello.

My 'guess is the clutch release bearing' is worn out.
Sometimes they can still last an age before ..they fail totally

So its not all doom and gloom just yet..

Welcome to the forum BTW..