Anyone with car mechanic experience?

My daughter's car broke down last night. The car will start and you can select a gear but it won't drive/move. The AA recovered it home and said it is possible clutch failure but when I have had a clutch go in the past, you couldn't select a gear? The car is a mini one. We will be speaking to the garage later but I am just curious as to what is wrong with it?

Re: Anyone with car mechanic experience?

Sounds like a clutch failure. I've had a case in the past where the clutch centre has sheared and you totally lose drive. Somewhat less likely is that the clutch has stuck "engaged".

Re: Anyone with car mechanic experience?

Thank you for your thoughts. Oooh dear this sounds like it might be an expensive do then!

Re: Anyone with car mechanic experience?

Depends on the type of car, clutches used to be more accessible in the past so an older car would probably be cheaper to fix. Could also be a sheared half shaft but unlikely unless she drives off road in the mud a fair bit...

Re: Anyone with car mechanic experience?

Anything is possible with her

We're going to tow it down to the garage later. The mechanic thinks it is clutch failure but will have a better idea when he has looked at it

Re: Anyone with car mechanic experience?

Most likely Clutch related, but Plantman has a point, could be related to the differential or universal joints, you only need one side to fail to result in no traction.

Re: Anyone with car mechanic experience?

Ah thank you for that, the AA guy last night had a look underneath and said the drive shaft was ok and turning? I'm not mechanically minded and don't really understand the workings of a car

Re: Anyone with car mechanic experience?

I t sounds like a drive shaft/differential failure to me, but without looking at it I am only guessing.

Re: Anyone with car mechanic experience?

Sounds like the whatsit on the thingamajig to me.

Re: Anyone with car mechanic experience?

My thoughts too, VM