Clutch woes.
 

I have a 02 CDT with 118000 miles, about four years ago I had a complete clutch fitted. When I drove the car home it still had a stiff gearchange which was the reason I had the clutch fitted. Today on a trip to Widnes market it was getting really bad. I have full AA cover with the warranty, can I ask them to come and drive my car to see what the problem is?. Am I covered on my warranty? Thanks for any input. John.

Hi John,

I suppose the first obvious question anyone would ask is: if it still had a stiff gearchange & that was the reason you had the clutch fitted in the first place, why didn't you go back to whoever fitted it straight away?

Who diagnosed the stiff gearchange as a clutch fault.

I wouldn't have thought the AA would come out to test the car & if the clutch was fitted around 4yrs ago, it will be out of warranty anyway.

When the car had the clutch fitted, it was picked up by a friend because I had gone to work on nights. When I drove the car at the weekend I noticed the stiffness and phoned the garage, he told me the clutch would bed itself in and I believed him. Because of health problems I don't drive the car much so it's taken a while to realise the stiffness is getting worse. I don't want the clutch checking after four years but there are component which could cause it. I must be covered under my warranty.

When you say a "complete clutch", did that include the master and slave cylinder?:shrug: It has also been known for the pivots (plastic sleeved) on the pedals to wear. The 75/ZT is well known for a "heavy" clutch although some are fine.:shrug:

Where is the biting point on the pedal, Is it low down, Middle or High? Is the gear lever stiff to move when the engine is not running?

When I phoned the mechanic about the clutch still being stiff, he said the clutch parts were in the boot and the problem wasn't the clutch. Since then it has got worse. The clutch bites when the pedal is almost up to the top, I can move the gears with the engine off, but it is very notchy as if something is stopping it. Thanks for the replies, John.

It sounds like a Cover Plate problem in the clutch.

Something is gripping the Driven plate until the last second before it releases it.

If the pedal pressure was hard 4 years ago and is similar now suggests to me that the only item that had been changed was the driven plate.---:eek:

The thing that holds the assembly together in use is the diaphragm spring. This appears, according to you, to release its hold only on the last fraction of the pedal travel.

In my opinion a weak spring will give the effects you are experiencing.

During the whole of the pedal travel do the gears work correctly ?? ie. easy to engage and dis-engage.



I've seen other posts in the forum where folks have said the clutch is heavy or light. I guess a lot depends on the strength of your leg.---:shrug:


However that strange pedal movement indicates quite clearly a clutch fault.

I will phone my local garage and book it in to see what they say, Many thanks for all the advice. John.