vtr clutch pedal 'loose'

11th January 2010, 17:12

So i was driving along and i shifted from 1st to 2nd and i feel something go.

These are the symptoms.

the clutch pedal is loose at the top. so if i get out the car and pull it up with my hand there is about 3 inches of up and down movement.

when im moving in traffic (so in 1st gear) and i've got my foot just resting on the clutch pedal, when i put my foot down on the trottle, the clutch pedal actually moves down by itself, and when i ease off the trottle, it moves back up again.

Last of all, when i was going round a turn, it sounded like something was catching on the driver side front wheel.

Please any help is appreciated.

Thank you.

11th January 2010, 18:31

anyone?

11th January 2010, 22:24

Theres an issue with perhaps the clutch cable fraying/snapping/stretching. The pedal itself cant have any problems really. Also at an aoutside chance the clutch fork inside the gearbox bellhousing may have slipped off the thrust bearing. You will have difficulty engaging gears with engine running if this is the problem though. Start with a new cable. Easy enough to fit and no more than £20.00 at a guess

12th January 2010, 11:45

Ok thanks for that, I will look into a new one.

Also when im at a complete stop and i go to pull of like normal, the car mildly jolts forward, this isnt normal.

I can predict that some of you may say that the clutch is gone but my car has only covered 55k miles.

I'm pretty sure it was the single gear change from 1st to 2nd that messed things up, there was a crunch noise.

I'm thinking its the clutch release bearing which is causing the problem. If i take a look at the clutch lever, and pull it in the wrong direction, so towards the front of the car, there is more play than i first noticed and when i do pull it, the clutch pedal moves up quite a bit in the wrong direction.

Thats every clue i can think of guys, I need some help. cheers.

12th January 2010, 13:53

If the cable is sticking then the jump you feel will be the clutch fork jumping with it and thus engaging drive suddenly.

Crunching happens when you either beat the syncro by changing to quickly or have not fully dis engaged the clutch, this would happen with stretched cable.

It is normal and necessary for the clutch arm to have play (movement when pulled towards front of car). From memory I would expect 1-2 inches.

It's all pointing to clutch cable, I bet its been rubbing somewhere and got water inside the cable or something like that.

12th January 2010, 16:04

Ok then, i will definitely go for a new cable.

I heard you can use bicycle brake cables. is that true?

Are they easy to fit yourself?

Thanks, and if there are any more views on what it could be, please let me know.

12th January 2010, 16:05

last thing which doesnt make sense is the bit where when i put my foot on the throttle, it causes the clutch pedal to make a couple of inches.

Can anyone put a finger on what that could be.

Thanks.

12th January 2010, 16:58

the clutch pedal might be moving when you accelerate because its not under tension from the clutch cable so it going to be loose, buy a new cable as said it probs stretched or frayed

12th January 2010, 20:03

does anyone disagree with this and think its something else?

12th January 2010, 20:21

just adjust the clutch cable, how high is the biting point??

13th January 2010, 10:38

The biting point is very high. can someone tell me where i can get a new clutch cable in a day?

13th January 2010, 11:23

Local Motor factors, check yellow pages for your are bud.

13th January 2010, 11:27

ai sounds like cable

15th January 2010, 16:59

Me again, so i fitted a new clutch cable. whilst comparing the old 1 with the new 1, i kind of realised that the cable is not the problem because its in good nick and was adjusted to an appropriate degree.

I took it for a drive and its doing the same thing. When i release the clutch, i do it very slowly, the car doesnt move till it gets to a point where it jolts foward. does it in 2nd gear too. Brother says its the clutch, but reverse gear is perfectly normal. Please, any suggestions at all.

Thanks.

15th January 2010, 21:10

is it just the feeling of the clutch thats changed? or is there changes in the gear selecting also?

15th January 2010, 21:46

Just the clutch mate. gear selection is easy as can be.

any ideas?

16th January 2010, 02:10

anyone?

16th January 2010, 02:19

i had the same problem with my 1.1 and it was a new clutch kit and fitting it... the other thing it could just be your realese bearing and your pressure plate, but i found it was the whole lot so got it all replaced try that.

16th January 2010, 08:47

It wouldn't be unheard of to need a clutch at 55-60k.

When they fit your clutch they'll tension your cable properly so it should be spot on

16th January 2010, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by lincslad

i had the same problem with my 1.1 and it was a new clutch kit and fitting it... the other thing it could just be your realese bearing and your pressure plate, but i found it was the whole lot so got it all replaced try that.

Did you find out what precisely the problem was?

Im not a car expert, but if pullin off is fine in reverse gear doesn't that mean the problem can't be the clutch assembly, or does the reverse gear work somewhat diferently to the others?

16th January 2010, 15:28

someone please?

17th January 2010, 01:05

please just need to know if this is the clutch or not so then i can get to work on it.

Thanks.

17th January 2010, 19:08

please there has got to be some1 who knows

20th January 2010, 12:37

Wanted to take my car to the garage to get it diagnosed, stalled it 3 times on my street when pullin off then a horrible cruching noise.

Bro helped me push the car back on drive and the gearbox had dropped about 10cm and has a hole in it to the right of the clutch lever. The gear coggs are visible.

What do you think caused this?

12th February 2010, 14:22

I'm having same problem with my Saxo Desire
The clutch is really loose at the top, can't find the biting point.
Also it struggles to get into gear.
Happened out of the blue, drove my car to work.
Went to drive it home after and was like it.

Did you solve the problem?

12th February 2010, 14:35

if the bites high and the cables slack id say its the clutch mate spesh if its jolting trying to pull away

55k isnt exactly low to need a clutch
mine started sliping at about 38k on my old vts
just depends how well the cars been treated

tbh id lob clutch and cable on and be happy

13th February 2010, 02:00

hey pal, i found ou my diff had gone. whatever you do dont drive the car, i did, n the top mount of gearbox sheard off. left a massive whole in the box. i got a new 1 on now tho.

Let me know how it goes.