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406 Hdi Clutch Slip at 2000rpm
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:44 pm
by adam03031980
I have a 406 hdi 110 and travel 60 miles a day on the motorway. over the past 4 months the clutch has slipped when accelerating from 55-60mph it has only done it 5 or 6 times jumping from 1900 up to 2100 rpm then back down in the space of a couple of seconds yet when i tow a heavy trailer or have the car fully loaded with my family there is never any slip there are no vibrations as such apart from teh udual diesel ones which are expected and the pedal doesnt vibrate but i cannot figure out for the life of me what is wrong i took it to a garage and they couldnt diagnose the problem and just quoted a new clutch the bite comes in at about half inch "below" the brack pedal height can someone tell me if they have had a similar problem i have done 6000 miles in the 5-6 times it has slipped.
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:02 pm
by jameslxdt
acclerate gently to about 30 mph then put your foot on the clutch floor it, put it in 5th release the clutch, if its fooked, then it'll slip like mad, if its ok then the revs will crash and it will slow down, another test to try is: stop apply the handbrake put it in 5th slowly release the clutch if it stalls its fine, if it doesnt do anything and it doesnt stall then the clutch is proper fooked
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:42 pm
by adam03031980
Hi yep i tried that doesnt slip at all only seems to happen when i really boot it at like 90 then slow to 55 then boot it to 60 slips for like a second then stops however it wont do it if i do more miles on back roads where i am changing gear more even if i am going as quick mr clutch couldnt offer an explanation and another garage wasnt sure either and it is fine under heavy loads in 5th its only done it a few times but is really confusing its been doing it in the colder weather not hot wether i tried putting it in fifth with the handbrake on and it just stalled tried it in 1st also and it did the same
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:50 am
by Welly
Ahhhh, yes the clutch slipping, that's me you see
I have a 99 HDi 110, the clutch slips at around 1900 revs, 'blips' to around 2300 revs and then settles back as the road speed equalises with the engine.
It does it a lot more when the transmision has heated up after say 30 mins of driving, slips more when loaded up, and I can 'make' it slip at will now just by hard acceleration in 3rd, 4th or 5th.
My clutch also judders on take up and I have a distinct squeeking/chattering when clutch is engaged/disengaged.
I am getting ready to replace the clutch AND the dual mass flywheel

a job of around £600.00 at and independant garage, approx 7 to 8 hrs labour if you do it properly, clutch and fly will be about £300.00 for an LUK clutch kit and an OE manufactured Dual Mass.
Some say you will get away with just the clutch, but to me you may as well do the fly whilst your in there and mine does squeek alot already.
My car was some sort of caravaning towing champion I found out (after I bought it) hence the worn clutch, the engine and gearbox though are very strong still.
Hope this helps, incidentally some 307 drivers report of slipping clutches after long motorway runs (hot clutch/fly) this has been identified as the flywheel and many many 307's suffer flywheel failures.
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 5:18 pm
by turbolag
It's a famous fault on HDi 90s & 110s. The clutch is just too weak for the job and whilst the power delivery isn't earth shattering, the toque when the turbo spools up in the higher gears is sufficient to get it to slip and then grab again. not a major problem, and it is usually only intermittent, but can be disconcerting. Yours will *probably* survive for many miles yet, but when its time for replacement an LuK clutch is half the price and far stronger and will completely eliminate this.
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 5:48 pm
by Welly
I was thinking that with a new LUK and Fly I would get my car chipped to 140 BHP ish. I hope the clutch will take the extra boostage?
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:46 pm
by adam03031980
came home today made sure i did 80 all the way to get her nice and warm and there was no slip at all strange that it slips when the car isnt under load and doesnt slip- when it is under loads it has only done 60k. i spoke to mr clutch and they say dm flywheels should last 120k i have ni judder either in fact the clutch is very smooth so i am at a loss i will be doing 2000 miles next week and dont know whether to get it replaced or risk it
Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:49 am
by Welly
Just wait until it slips al the time, I can still cruise the motorway with ease and it's still in daily use, albeit short journeys.
I wonder if yours maybe more to do with the clutch hydraulic fluid and the master/slave cylinders? maybe even just needs bleeding ?
Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 11:21 am
by SHD1983
Do all HDI's have Dual Mass Fly Wheels? I've got a mate whose a mechanic and got an 406 where the Dual Mass Fly Wheel failed and ground the sh*t out of the Bell Housing! Just slightly worried. My 110 HDI's now done 67k and does blip briefly in 3rd then not at all no matter how hot/cold!