clutch quibble

[eeyore]

I've been getting some very funny things happening lately with my clutch. Problem is that they are coming and going and generally don't show up with a mechanic around. I've had a mechanic go over the car twice and neither times have they suggested anything was wrong. Before you say it, the clutch adjustment has been checked and double-checked, plus the biting point is reasonably high (i.e. there is a good few inches clear before the pedal hits the floor).

The car's got 85k on the clock, runs well, but every now and again, I get one of the following:

a). Difficulty engaging 1st gear.
b). When I drop the clutch after some hard driving, the engine revs drop to almost stall, then pick back up - it feels like the clutch hasn't fully dis-engaged.
c). When stop starting in traffic jams, I'll fully depress the clutch and the car will vibrate with the engine - again feels like the clutch isn't fully depressed.
d). Doing a fast take off, the engine revs seems to run slightly higher than the acceleration. We're only talking 200rpm or so and only every now and again.

It all points to the clutch plate sticking, but as I said, nothing is consistent - only occasional (and I can't find the pattern either). I'm loathed to get the clutch replaced if I'm not 100% sure it's faulty (too much cash to guess at).

Anyone got any experiences like this/ideas????

[patrickjdorrian]

Mines got something odd too, when i pull away from cold, the thing judders like the clutch isn't engaging smoothly, had a new clutch and a skimmed flywheel about 5 months ago and it was fine for a while .. and now it's back again!

I don't ride the clutch or drive the car "that" hard ... wondering if you had any ideas too .....

Cheers,

Patrick

[eeyore]

Did they replace the oil seals when they did the clutch?

I had that on an old car - exactly the same - juddered, replaced the clutch, then juddered still. Turned out that the oil seals were shot and it was leaking a smidging of oil onto the clutch plate. They didn't replace the oil seals (hell, if you've spent 2hours getting into the bellhousing, you may as well replace as much as possible whilst you are there). I ended up stripping the damn thing down myself and found the oil seals leaking. It wasn't bad, just a tiny bit of oil, but enough.

You say you had the flywheel skimmed? May I ask why they did this?? It's purely for my own understanding of what may be going wrong.

[patrickjdorrian]

Because it was warped I'd been "driving" it for a little while on a worn clutch, i tend to run around to work at about 125mph lol ... like to give the car a good run twice a day:P

[speediva]

Originally posted by eeyore

a). Difficulty engaging 1st gear.
b). When I drop the clutch after some hard driving, the engine revs drop to almost stall, then pick back up - it feels like the clutch hasn't fully dis-engaged.
c). When stop starting in traffic jams, I'll fully depress the clutch and the car will vibrate with the engine - again feels like the clutch isn't fully depressed.
d). Doing a fast take off, the engine revs seems to run slightly higher than the acceleration. We're only talking 200rpm or so and only every now and again.

Yes, clutches are EXPENSIVE, so hold off as LONG as you can.

For a)... I think it's just a goofy oddity of the car. Try easing your foot off the clutch just before it hits the engaging point and the shifter should slide right in. Mine also likes to be pissy in reverse at times, too.

[KETELWON]

Originally posted by saturntangerine


Yes, clutches are EXPENSIVE, so hold off as LONG as you can.

Horrible advice...Is $100 expensive? Go to CAP Clutches and get an OEM. The longer you ride on it, the more damage is done to your flywheel. Just get a new clutch, and make sure the installers resurface your flywheel.

[speediva]

Originally posted by KETELWON


Horrible advice...Is $100 expensive? Go to CAP Clutches and get an OEM. The longer you ride on it, the more damage is done to your flywheel. Just get a new clutch, and make sure the installers resurface your flywheel.

I didn't want the Nissan replacement, so I went Sachs. $214 and the bonus was that I didn't need to wait for shipping. It was the install that got my total up to about $800. I didn't have the time or the energy, let alone patience and garage availability to do it myself. And most installers are MORE than happy to get your flywheel resurfaced. Oh, and if your cable is at all stretched they'll replace it w/o your permission.


(can we tell they thought I was stupid?)