clutch

[marcus]

Hi,

I have a 90bhp 2001 HDi. It has always been a tiny bit hard to engage gears but it has suddenly become very very hard. It doen't slip. Is it adjustable, or related to fluids, in any sense or does this imply a new clutch?

I live in NE London, anyone know a reliable (cheap) garage, if adjustable.....

cheers

Marcus

[Gary406]

any judder in 1st gear setting off ?

[omega]

is the clutch pedal higher or lower than your brake pedal?

[marcus]

i've just been to have another look, it does judder when clutch is depressed but more pronounced if I am moving, so going into 2nd. Also the gears engage without a problem when the engine is off, so as long as I dont need to go anywhere I'll be fine....But i'll have to have another look re height, higher I think

cheers

[marcus]

a fraction higher

[jasper5]

Where is your biting point? Is it near the floor? Is the pedal sloppy when you press it down until near the floor?
If this is the case you may have a hydraulic problem, look at the slave cylinder, just in front of the radiator, and see if there is any fluid leaking.

[marcus]

Where is your biting point? Is it near the floor? Is the pedal sloppy when you press it down until near the floor?
If this is the case you may have a hydraulic problem, look at the slave cylinder, just in front of the radiator, and see if there is any fluid leaking.

Peddle is and has always been stiff throughout its travel, crap for my knee, and bites about 2/3rds of the way down...I'll look for leaks when it light.

cheers

[jasper5]

I would guess that if the clutch is tight all the way then you may not have a leak, but if the biting point is near the floor then you may have a problem with the clutch pressure plate and or release bearing, or a damaged spinner plate (new clutch required).

[mjb]

Doesn't the hdi90 have a cable clutch?

Sounds like the original problem (hard to engage gears) may just be a linkage problem. Suggest popping the ball joints off the gear selector arms, give 'em a bit of a clean and slap some grease around on 'em

[marcus]

MJB, where are the linkage ball joints to be found?

I called a Waters Peugeot who won't look at it for less than £70, my local place said it must be gear box but then agreed to look at it tomorrow.

I took it for a proper drive and it doesn't slip, pedal is as always, occasionally it engages fine but mostly all gears are very hared to find and sometimes they grind hideously as I rattle the lever around.

Still looking at all other clutch posts its either totally buggered or its linkages.....

so thanks for replies and I'll post my outcome for future ref...

cheers

[mjb]

Pull the air filter box out and you should see the linkage to the top/rear of the gearbox...

[jasper5]

If the gears engage fine without the engine running but not with the engine running, the problem must be the clutch.

The clutch is hydraulic, my 2001 HDi 90 certainly was, the slave cylinder is at the front of the engine/gearbox, in front of the radiator held on with 2 bolts.

[mjb]

If the gears engage fine without the engine running but not with the engine running, the problem must be the clutch.

I missed the "fine without the engine running" bit

The symptoms don't sound like a fluid leak or cylinder failure, but it could be knackered fluid... I think if there were the slightest of doubt, I'd certainly think about replacing the fluid, or even the entire hydraulic system, before attacking the clutch itself... Heck, next time I need a new clutch on anything FWD I'll probably just buy a new engine+gearbox, fit the clutch to that off the car then swap engines

[steve_earwig]

...or even the entire hydraulic system

Even the calipers? I think you mean the fluid in the entire hydraulic system - which, if it's bad in the clutch hydraulics, will be just as bad. Make that dangerous.

[totaleclipse]

change the gear oil and come back to us.