Dragon Curve

Hey guys,

Well something has gone wrong with my car. Last night while I was driving at a pretty normal speed I heard a sort of a "thwang" like something snapping but it was a bit high pitched and then a hissing sound like something was depressurizing.

Then I started to hear a clicking/knocking noise which I originally thought was a flat tyre. I pulled over and checked the car but tyres were fine and revving the engine was no problem.

So I kept going and the clicking noise continued. It was as if every rotations of the wheels was causing it because even just rolling it would click/knock and get faster as I sped up.

I ended up getting onto a highway doing about 80km/h (not sure in miles) and any time I touched the accelerator it would make a TERRIBLE rapid knocking noise. I got off the high way straight away.

As I got off, the clicking/knocking turned into a full out thud - not sure from the front/rear but I could literally feel the vibrations of the thuds - this was now at any speed - even rolling.

Thuds grew worse so I pulled over and had it towed.

I'm wondering if this sounds like the differential has blown or if it sounds like the axle or something. Anyone know what I'm talking bout here?

Thanks.

JAPCAB

sorry to hear about your car troubles and hopefully its nothing to do with the engine. perhaps its a screwed wheel bearing or chewed diff?

Austblue

Where'd you get it towed to? Are you sure there was nothing caught up in the undercarriage?

Dragon Curve

Austblue .. got it towed home because nothing was open obviously on a Saturday night.

Both the roadside assist guy and I had a pretty good look with a torch under the car. Nothing was clearly visible or apparent that would be making the noise.

It's being towed to the mechanics this morning, so I should know by the afternoon what happened to it.

Austblue

I suppose security may have been an issue but you could've saved some mucking about getting it towed and parked out the front of your mechanics.

Good luck with it

Dragon Curve

Just got a call from the mechanics - it's the diff. They're not sure how bout it is yet but they're going to take the diff out and send it to off to a diff specialist to assess.

Damnit. Has anyone replaced their diff before? Any idea on how much it costs?

Frisky

You can just change the internals or get one from the breakers. When I had my S in the UK I had the diff replaced twice (under warranty thankfully) and each time it was UKP 4,500 plus labour at dealer rate!

So don't go to Honda for one.

Hope it is not too serious and gets sorted soon.

DaveFromSydney

Might you have meant UKP 450?
You could probably get a whole engine for UKP 4500.

Dragon Curve

That's what I was thinking. 4500 pounds is like $12k AUD or something. I'd be pretty frightened if a new diff was that much.

Frisky

Nope, that was the correct figure. We are talking 4-5 years ago when the S had only been around a couple of years. I saw the price breakdown, it was very scary!