Clutch slip (1 Viewer)

[Feltwell]

*Just* started to notice a very occasional bit of clutch slip on my van (2006 2.8JTD Ducato). It is very occasional, it's just been for a week around the Lake District so plenty of hills & a few hill starts to give it a workout - no problem on the hill starts but twice when changing up 1st-2nd gear on a steep hill, I'd get a little bit of slip when the new gear was first engaged.

For those that have had clutch problems, how long did it take after you first noticed any slip for it to get bad enough to need a new clutch?

Off to Europe in August so think this may have to be sorted before then.....

 

[Paul an Jane MK]

If I were you, I would get it sorted before your trip to Europe Nobody wants a big expense before a long trip and it might just be the friction material that is worn down (similar to brake pad material) but it could just be the pressure plate starting to fail and bits break off it.

It is probably the original clutch assembly so ten years old now so has not done bad, worth replacing for peace of mind alone I would say.

Have a great trip

Paul

 

[Stealaway]

Once it starts to slip you really are on borrowed time. You need to fix as soon as possible. If it goes abroad it will be a nightmare to get it fixed. Sorry

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[Geo]

I know it will cost you £ 1/3 of the price here compared to the cost in France or Spain
Ask yourself Punk do ya feel lucky

 

[Boringfrog]

I drove down to Spain and back with a clutch that could be made to slip, mostly 4th and 5th, couldn't make it slip it 1st three gears. But as others have said you don't want it to totally go on you abroad (ask ukbill he's in Italy now looking at €1500 to get it done) Get the gearbox oil changed too while the box is out.

 

[DBK]

As already mentioned, for an unplanned stay in a hotel whilst overseas: http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/fly-wheel.132004/

Not anyone's idea of joy.

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[Feltwell]

Ummm, that's pretty much the sort of response I thought I'd get! Time to get the credit card out...

The idea of foreign recovery being necessary doesn't appeal. The idea of being forced to stop in a foreign hotel doesn't appeal.

Now I'll make it at least ten times worse - the thought of being forced to stop in a foreign hotel with nothing to do whilst accompanied by 3 young children sounds like a fate worse than a fate worse than death.....Yep, the credit card's coming out for a new clutch now!

Suddenly the price seems to be of little consequence.....

 

[PhilG]

you are going to have to get it done , the decision is do you do it at your convenience, or when you least need it to go wrong.. you only have to pay once.

 

[bigtwin]

Just had mine done (same engine on an A Class) before we left for France with the Toad. Clutch started slipping (didn't have the Toad on) two weekends before we were due to leave. Didn't fancy having grief when away so had it replaced pronto.

Had three quotes at £600, £1200 & £1800 pounds (plus vat!)! Labour varied between 8hrs, 12hrs and 16hrs. The higher two estimates were from Fiat Commercial garages and the cheapest from an independent.

Ian

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[Feltwell]

Useful, thanks Ian. I was reckoning on £500, might be a bit optimistic but then again access to the gearbox may not be as good on an A class, I don't know.

 

[Feltwell]

Quote for £330+Vat for a LUK clutch, which is supposed to be one of the better ones, from a local independent clutch and gearbox specialist, who looks to have a good reputation - very happy with that, seems a good price.

Will do the job in a day, a week on Friday.

 

[olley]

Kit from eurocarparts is around £100-120 if you fancy diy.

Ian

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[Geo]

Some are quoting for a standard clutch thats te £350 ish mark
Others are quoting for the dual mass flywheel type £700 +
in certain years you honestly wont know what youve got till the box is out

 

[Feltwell]

Kit from eurocarparts is around £100-120 if you fancy diy.

Nah - this is one where I'll let someone else have the hassle! I don't fancy trying to do a clutch on my driveway, it must be a lot easier with a proper 4-post ramp and all the kit.

Some are quoting for a standard clutch thats te £350 ish mark
Others are quoting for the dual mass flywheel type £700 +
in certain years you honestly wont know what youve got till the box is out

The garage said there were 2 clutches listed - both standard clutches but slightly different sizes - they'd get both in and return whichever wasn't required. I don't think any of the old X244 JTD-engined Ducatos had a DMF, luckily for me!

 

[Boringfrog]

I got a Valeo clutch for mine, Sachs was a few quid more and LUK a few less. As you say it's not a DMF.

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[PeteH]

I was lucky (ish). we "lost" 6th Gear, whilst still under dealer warranty, whilst they had the "box" out, Fullers fitted a new clutch complete. So far we have had nothing but good to say about them. When I struggled to find the correct wiper blades they ordered them for me AND gave me them at their "trade" cost!. As well as having the LH front wing repainted due to paint peeling off. (suggested to be bad adhesion? when painted at the Factory), this on a 2007 Van. They even replaced the Cassette complete when we had a leak/crack FOC.

Pete

 

[Feltwell]

Had the clutch done today, very pleased with the job. Only time will tell on longevity of course, but the immediate difference is the clutch is a lot lighter than before and more progressive in it's engagement. Job comes with a 12 month / 12,000 mile warranty.

More than happy to recommend the firm that did it - DJ Transmissions of Shrewsbury, a small 2-man outfit that specializes in clutches and manual gearboxes, does quite a few motorhomes apparently, although they have to be done with front half in the workshop and back half outside! They do have a decent tall door, my van is over 3m high and fitted in no problem. His supplier delivered the wrong clutch for mine at first, but Daren stayed behind and worked late to make sure it was all done for me once the right clutch finally arrived.

They have a courtesy car you can book and will always want to do a clutch within a single day (nowhere to store motorhomes). If you're not local then Shrewsbury itself is well worth a visit, lovely town, or Ironbridge Gorge with all it's museums & sights is only about 20 minutes away - or there's Attingham stately home nearby - or RAF Cosford museum - or walking out on the Long Mynd or up the Wrekin - so plenty to do to occupy yourselves.

http://www.djtransmissions.com/

https://www.facebook.com/DJTransmissions/

 

[Old Soldier]

Had the clutch done today, very pleased with the job. Only time will tell on longevity of course, but the immediate difference is the clutch is a lot lighter than before and more progressive in it's engagement. Job comes with a 12 month / 12,000 mile warranty.

More than happy to recommend the firm that did it - DJ Transmissions of Shrewsbury, a small 2-man outfit that specializes in clutches and manual gearboxes, does quite a few motorhomes apparently, although they have to be done with front half in the workshop and back half outside! They do have a decent tall door, my van is over 3m high and fitted in no problem. His supplier delivered the wrong clutch for mine at first, but Daren stayed behind and worked late to make sure it was all done for me once the right clutch finally arrived.

They have a courtesy car you can book and will always want to do a clutch within a single day (nowhere to store motorhomes). If you're not local then Shrewsbury itself is well worth a visit, lovely town, or Ironbridge Gorge with all it's museums & sights is only about 20 minutes away - or there's Attingham stately home nearby - or RAF Cosford museum - or walking out on the Long Mynd or up the Wrekin - so plenty to do to occupy yourselves.

http://www.djtransmissions.com/

https://www.facebook.com/DJTransmissions/

Hi. What mileage please? Our old girl is 2000 plate on a Fiat Ducatto. Just climbed Lynmouth and Porlock hills on way back from Cornwall with no problems, just a bit of hot clutch smell, slipping clutch was very much on my mind but no actual slipping that I could detect.

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[dave newell]

I've only ever heard good report of DJ transmissions work. A four post lift is actually not such a good thing for doing clutches or even cambelts to be honest, you always end up with the lift deck or a corner post being in the way. It is definitely easier to do a clutch on a motorhome using jacks and axle stands even if it does mean scrabbling around on your back for hours.

D.

 

[Feltwell]

Hi. What mileage please? Our old girl is 2000 plate on a Fiat Ducatto. Just climbed Lynmouth and Porlock hills on way back from Cornwall with no problems, just a bit of hot clutch smell, slipping clutch was very much on my mind but no actual slipping that I could detect.

You shouldn't really get any clutch smell Pete. Not much mileage on mine, 27k, but who knows how previous owners drove it? The clutch on the 2.8 is supposed to be on it's design limit according to many, how true that is I couldn't say. However the chap I used today does quite a few Ducato-based MH's.

I've only ever heard good report of DJ transmissions work. A four post lift is actually not such a good thing for doing clutches or even cambelts to be honest, you always end up with the lift deck or a corner post being in the way. It is definitely easier to do a clutch on a motorhome using jacks and axle stands even if it does mean scrabbling around on your back for hours.

D.

Daren does them by lifting the front end up using the arms on a 2-post ramp just to get a bit of clearance, so much the same as jacks & stands, then as you say scrabbling underneath. I can see what you mean about a 4-post lift being not so good for that job. Still not a job I fancy, I reckon a Ducato gearbox won't be the lightest thing to manhandle!

 

[dave newell]

You shouldn't really get any clutch smell Pete. Not much mileage on mine, 27k, but who knows how previous owners drove it? The clutch on the 2.8 is supposed to be on it's design limit according to many, how true that is I couldn't say. However the chap I used today does quite a few Ducato-based MH's.



Daren does them by lifting the front end up using the arms on a 2-post ramp just to get a bit of clearance, so much the same as jacks & stands, then as you say scrabbling underneath. I can see what you mean about a 4-post lift being not so good for that job. Still not a job I fancy, I reckon a Ducato gearbox won't be the lightest thing to manhandle!

One of the reasons I don't generally do clutch and gearbox jobs, too old for all that scrabbling around on my back.

D.

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[Old Soldier]

You shouldn't really get any clutch smell Pete. Not much mileage on mine, 27k, but who knows how previous owners drove it? The clutch on the 2.8 is supposed to be on it's design limit according to many, how true that is I couldn't say. However the chap I used today does quite a few Ducato-based MH's.

That's what I was thinking, perhaps first sign of troubles ahead. She has done 57k, most of them ours, so not surprised despite me being careful to not ride the clutch.
Off over the channel on Monday, so will stay out of the Alps!!

 

[f6c]

Just sold my 2.8 auto-trail 2005 100,125 same clutch ps it was mapped 70,000 miles ago no problem what so every.

 

[Feltwell]

That's good to hear - so hopefully that will be my one & only clutch change on this van, even though I plan on keeping it for least another 8 years!

I've had enough of shelling out time, effort and money repairing things of late - I'm overdue some time to just use it for a while. Actually, in fairness, some of that time effort & money has been on upgrades - for example fitting cruise control, whilst it was a pain in the @rse, can't really be counted as a repair.

(For anyone who's wondering why - van is one of the very last X244 models - Wiring colours and setup seem to be different to all the earlier X244's, finding a speed pulse was a bit of a game, got there in the end!)

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[bigtwin]

Ours is a 2.8JTD on 42,351 miles and I've had to put two clutches in since we've had it (from 8k miles).

I find reverse gear is ridiculously highly geared so try to avoid reversing on any kind of slope (not always possible).

We tow a car so if it starts slipping (especially just before our 3 weeks France holiday!), we have little choice but to change it rather than risk having a problem when we are away.

Ian

 

[Jaws]

Happened on our 2006 2.8jtd
Do to logistics we could not get it done before a planned trip to Zahora ( southern Spain )
To manage the issue, every gear change I made I took my foot right off the clutch and gave it 1/2 a second to be fully seated and locked ( if you see what I mean )
By doing that it survived the extra 3000 miles so well that upon return to the UK we did another couple of long trips before I booked it in to be done
Cost was £450