big bang, then car stops moving

[jamestown478]

So, driving down the road like normal. Not beating on the car or anything. All of a sudden I hear a bang that sounds like my tire kicking up a rock or some shit. Then it sounds like my exhaust hanger broke and my muffler was dragging on the ground. I pull over and was like wtf. Look under the car. The exhaust is still hanging there so it didnt' come lose to make that noise. No fluids were leaking. I get back in the car and try to drive away and my car wouldnt' go into gear. Basically with the car running I can put my car into gear without pushing down on the clutch and without the car stalling out. Any idea on what could have happened?

[kiellish]

damn dude that sucks. does it feel like it goes into gear or is the stick loose? check your driveshaft? cv axles?

[jamestown478]

damn dude that sucks. does it feel like it goes into gear or is the stick loose? check your driveshaft? cv axles?

you know now that you mention the driveshaft and cv axles I'm gonna toss her on the lift tomorrow and check them out. The stick kinda feels like its going into gear but then again its not as tight of a feeling as it was before this happened.

[mholme]

Doesn't sound like it's going into gear if you can move the shifter through the gate without using the clutch while the car is on...

[jamestown478]

Doesn't sound like it's going into gear if you can move the shifter through the gate without using the clutch while the car is on...

so what would cause that then?

[mholme]

If the car is running at a stop and you can work the shifter through the gears without the clutch pedal depressed, it may a linkage issue, as in the car really isn't going into gear. It's hard to say since you heard noises with this, but that's the best case scenario. Otherwise, it may be a clutch issue.

[04/01-s4]

More then likely your cv joint unbolted itself from the hub and the shaft is just dragging on the ground. From what Ive experienced from playing with my quattro on a lift more then likely if one wheel is given absolutely no feedback whatsoever its pretty much not gonna let your car move. There's actually been other posts covering this subject and what you described is exactly what ive seen on other posts covering this. I just ordered new cv's so i did some research earlier.

[jamestown478]

More then likely your cv joint unbolted itself from the hub and the shaft is just dragging on the ground. From what Ive experienced from playing with my quattro on a lift more then likely if one wheel is given absolutely no feedback whatsoever its pretty much not gonna let your car move. There's actually been other posts covering this subject and what you described is exactly what ive seen on other posts covering this. I just ordered new cv's so i did some research earlier.

nothing is dragging on the ground. That also wouldn't explain why I am able to get the car into gear without hitting the clutch.

[jamestown478]

could this just be a blown clutch? still runnign the stock one with 110k miles on it. Could it have just cracked and done this?

[Sales@RAI]

could this just be a blown clutch? still runnign the stock one with 110k miles on it. Could it have just cracked and done this?

Sounds like a clutch to me

[s4andtls]

Since you heard a big bang you then have to remember the "Big Bang" theory, and that was a gigantic explosion and it sent things flying out into space. Those "things" are 10's and 20's flying out of your wallet at the speed of light. Then it left a black hole.

[asalviob5laser]

If you put the shifter into third gear can you move the shifter left and right excessivly IF SO THEN ITS SIMPLY LINKAGE. I RECENTLY HAD AN ISSUE LIKE THIS BNUT NO LOUD BANG

[dla79]

So I personally have been in 2 different s4s when I heard a big bang like this.

1st bang car - It was the input shaft bearing that went and the car still drove but it sounded like arse and ticking higher based on the RPM load from the gear you were in.

2nd bang - Buddy was driving and then the bang resulted in the car not able to move at all. Well the S4 is designed where the CV axles are in an open differential where if one goes then the car will not move at all since one CV is just spinning free (you can't tell unless you have the car in the air because it is internally busted and spins free)

Hope that helps. I would start with the CV as people suggested. Cheap and easy fix. Took me an hour to swap one and please remember use Locitite on the bolts so they do not fall out and you have the issue again ;-)


Also if you can't go in gear I would think linkage too.

[04/01-s4]

OR (this happened to my car) on the right side of the transmission there is a bar connected to the right side of the shifter assembly....when this broke my shift knob would literally go all the way forward and all the way back until it hit the plastic and in any direction. It just wouldnt go into gear but it looked/felt like it was. It would just slide back and forth on a the rail design.

[audirs]

Sounds like a clutch to me

x2. i had the exact same problem a few months after i just bought my car. the clutch was slipping since i got it, then one day, poof, wouldnt move. it happened as i was driving too. you could start the car, shift into all the gear without the clutch down, just when u lift the clutch, it did nothing.

stock clutch? time for an upgrade

[Siena]

I doubt it's a linkage issue - it wouldn't prevent the car from driving, it would only become an issue if you tried to up or down shift.

Sounds more like a clutch or DM flywheel issue to me.

[mholme]

I doubt it's a linkage issue - it wouldn't prevent the car from driving, it would only become an issue if you tried to up or down shift.

Sounds more like a clutch or DM flywheel issue to me.

A loose linkage at the transmission would prevent the car from going into gear, making it immobile, although I doubt it would let go with a bing bang.

[GetAwayFromMe]

Sounds like a CV problem to me. i had a few people bring their cars on a tow truck explaining the same as you just did and all it was is a busted cv axle.

[jamestown478]

Sounds like a CV problem to me. i had a few people bring their cars on a tow truck explaining the same as you just did and all it was is a busted cv axle.

how would a cv make it that I can go into gear without hitting the clutch? I have shattered my cv axle before and it never did anything like this.

[AAAA]

i think your clutch exploded or your flywheel came off. the bang was whatever broke and the dragging is the rotational force of whatever broke either being thrown around or grinding against something in the drivetrain. just a theory

[somebody5788]

Clutch exploded imo.

[kiellish]

i think your clutch exploded or your flywheel came off. the bang was whatever broke and the dragging is the rotational force of whatever broke either being thrown around or grinding against something in the drivetrain. just a theory

this would suck.

[mholme]

Sounds like a CV problem to me. i had a few people bring their cars on a tow truck explaining the same as you just did and all it was is a busted cv axle.

Wouldn't explain the shifting issue. He can move the shifter into "gear" without the clutch being depressed, while the engine is running. That's not right. If you lose an axle you can get it in gear fine, it'll just send all the torque to the broken side and you go nowhere.

[Siena]

A loose linkage at the transmission would prevent the car from going into gear, making it immobile, although I doubt it would let go with a bing bang.

From what the poster said, the car was on the move, bang, car stops.

Even if the whole linkage fell off the car whilst moving, it wouldn't stop the car from moving - unless the linkage decided to self shift into neutral, then detatch itself, very unlikely.

[mholme]

From what the poster said, the car was on the move, bang, car stops.

Even if the whole linkage fell off the car whilst moving, it wouldn't stop the car from moving - unless the linkage decided to self shif into neutral, then detatch itself, very unlikely.

Yeah, his car was on the move when this happened, so it is unlikely to be a linkage issue with the associated noises. But I'm pretty sure if you lose the tension between the shift linkage at the transmission where it connects to the little shift rod, it WILL pop out of gear and into neutral, like if the little nut backs off somehow.

[GetAwayFromMe]

how would a cv make it that I can go into gear without hitting the clutch? I have shattered my cv axle before and it never did anything like this.

If the CV poped you can shift into gear and that poped side will spin you just cant see it. I was able to shift gears without pushing the clutch and when i would shift the tranny would start spinning. When the car is on the ground and all the axles are good there is so much force you cant shift. If you ever noticed that when you try to shift without pushing the clutch the car would move a lil.

Let us know what happens

[GetAwayFromMe]

As sucky as it sounds it could be an exploded clutch or flywheel but im still on the CV :) for the sakes of your valet.

[jamestown478]

As sucky as it sounds it could be an exploded clutch or flywheel but im still on the CV :) for the sakes of your valet.

I am actually hoping that it is the clutch since it was the original clutch and was going to be replaced this winter anyways.

[johnkent1212]

Could it be a timing belt?

[mholme]

If the CV poped you can shift into gear and that poped side will spin you just cant see it. I was able to shift gears without pushing the clutch and when i would shift the tranny would start spinning. When the car is on the ground and all the axles are good there is so much force you cant shift. If you ever noticed that when you try to shift without pushing the clutch the car would move a lil.

Let us know what happens

I'm going to try this tomorrow just for the hell of it, since I have an axle out at the moment. A broken axle should not have anything to do with the car's ability to shift into gears, car on or off. If the car actually goes into gear with the motor running and no pedal action, something is seriously wrong.

[GetAwayFromMe]

I'm going to try this tomorrow just for the hell of it, since I have an axle out at the moment. A broken axle should not have anything to do with the car's ability to shift into gears, car on or off. If the car actually goes into gear with the motor running and no pedal action, something is seriously wrong.

Do it because i wanna hear the outcome. I was able to do so let's see if you will to.

[jamestown478]

Could it be a timing belt?

I don't see how a timing belt would affect the tranny. And the motor runs fine which from what I have read if the timing belt went, the motor would be fucked.

[julex]

CV joint. If you do it right and don't care about transmission, you can shift into 1st gear from stop without clutch by applying lots of force to the shifter... it will eventually start the car rolling.. and that's with all the weight.

Now imagine the same but with one wheel spinning freely (broken CV axle) and practially zero resistance. You can shift into any gear you want...

Now, here is the real way to tell if this is CV Axle. Start the car, put it into any gear, spin up. Does the speedometer move up even though you sit stationary? If it does, it means your tranny is transmitting power to axle(s) but one is stealing all the power but is spinning free.

See what kind of MPG you get, hehe.

[kiellish]

you know now that you mention the driveshaft and cv axles I'm gonna toss her on the lift tomorrow and check them out. The stick kinda feels like its going into gear but then again its not as tight of a feeling as it was before this happened.

so i'm really curious...did you ever inspect the car? what caused this?? what did not cause this (from topics discussed)???

[jamestown478]

so i'm really curious...did you ever inspect the car? what caused this?? what did not cause this (from topics discussed)???

it will be inspected monday morning.

[mholme]

Do it because i wanna hear the outcome. I was able to do so let's see if you will to.

Negative. As expected, without the axle in, the car will not go into gear while motor running. Once the clutch is pressed and in gear, the alxeless flange just spins.

[GetAwayFromMe]

Negative. As expected, without the axle in, the car will not go into gear while motor running. Once the clutch is pressed and in gear, the alxeless flange just spins.

Hmmm weird because my did just fine.

[shorterthanrich]

When I picked my car up, it had all of the symptoms you're describing. Shifter moved into place but felt sloppy, car would not actually go into gear, ran fine, could press clutch pedal fine but nothing would happen. Naturally wouldn't drive.

It was my clutch. I replaced the clutch and flywheel and it was all set.

[jamestown478]

ok I took a brief look under my car today. The axle part with the 10 or so torx bit bolts that hold it to the car was ripped off. yet all the bits are still hanging on it. I am gonna take it all apart on friday and see if I somehow managed to strip out all the treads for the torx bit bolts or how it managed to come off.

[mholme]

ok I took a brief look under my car today. The axle part with the 10 or so torx bit bolts that hold it to the car was ripped off. yet all the bits are still hanging on it. I am gonna take it all apart on friday and see if I somehow managed to strip out all the treads for the torx bit bolts or how it managed to come off.

So it was an axle?? You've got a couple of things going on if that's the case. I still don't see what that has to do with your shifting. And those are 12 point, triple square bolts, 6 of them. Don't go sticking a torx bit in there.