Well i've managed to stall the car 3 times so far i've had it - NEVER stalled any other car like this one ! so i can really see why people don't like the clutch and having the 1.8 it leaves a little to be desired in terms of pulling off...however when i do get it right and give it some (erm relative term you understand, especially in the 1.8 ) then do a reasonably fast change, bringing up the clutch after the change of gear i hear what can only be described as a slapping sound. er... is this ok ? is this just the clutch plate biting ?
Oh yeah the other thing, i've got some oil (looks old'ish) that dripped down the front of the engine (don;t know the techincal terminology for it - can anyone point me in the direction of some good reference material please ?) is this significant at all ? does something need to be changed/checked ?
I'm not sure on the 1.8 but I don't think a slapping sound should be right. Just the once or a continuously? What about out of gear and stationary?
I believe the technical term for it is "oil dripping down the front of the engine" It's nothing unusual on these cars. It probably isn't terminal but it would be good to know where it's coming from. If you can't spot it now then you'll have to give it a quick clean (Gunk or Jizer, don't go too wild with the hose pipe!), then take it for a spin and see if you can spot where the fresh oil is. Rocker/cam covers always seem to be a good place for this sort of thing.
The sound appears to happen in every gear, it notices more in 1st and 2nd though. There's not a problem getting into any gear though, nothing like having to force the gear in at all, it's very smooth, and it does only happen when i make a quick gear change whilst being rather rapidly on the move. At other times not a sausage out of it...
yeah the oil thing - the technical bit i wondered about is the part of the engine the oil is eminating from, given at this point in time i don't know what most of the stuff under the bonnet is actually contributing to making the car go i was sorta enquiring as to what that part might actually be/do - defintely a frustrated mechanic me
With that in mind i've just invested in a Haynes manual to try to make sense of some it
The question is, is it one slap or is it more like slapslapslapslapslapsl...? I've a few ideas but not knowing the car and not being able to see it... Diaphram finger broken? Broken clutch plate spring? Mounting loose? Engine falling out???
Happy hunting! One day I'll get round to finding the leak on the back of my engine...
Not sure what you mean by a "slappy" type noise, but if I am not gentle with my clutch (i.e. lift it too quickly) I do get a clunking sound upon engaging. But I've seen this is every car I've driven so it must just be my careless gear changing.
Captain Jack wrote:Not sure what you mean by a "slappy" type noise, but if I am not gentle with my clutch (i.e. lift it too quickly) I do get a clunking sound upon engaging. But I've seen this is every car I've driven so it must just be my careless gear changing.
yup mine too in that case - note to self to be more careful !
and having the 1.8 it leaves a little to be desired in terms of pulling off...however when i do get it right and give it some (erm relative term you understand, especially in the 1.8 
) then do a reasonably fast change, bringing up the clutch after the change of gear i hear what can only be described as a slapping sound. er... is this ok ? is this just the clutch plate biting ?
It's nothing unusual on these cars. It probably isn't terminal but it would be good to know where it's coming from. If you can't spot it now then you'll have to give it a quick clean (Gunk or Jizer, don't go too wild with the hose pipe!), then take it for a spin and see if you can spot where the fresh oil is. Rocker/cam covers always seem to be a good place for this sort of thing.
yeah the oil thing - the technical bit i wondered about is the part of the engine the oil is eminating from, given at this point in time i don't know what most of the stuff under the bonnet is actually contributing to making the car go 
i was sorta enquiring as to what that part might actually be/do - defintely a frustrated mechanic me 
)