Clutch gone funny (1 Viewer)

[kev54]

Advice, pals, please. Fiat Ducato 2013, 2.3 ltr diesel multijet, 3300 kg motorhome. Just set off from Dieppe on a 90 day trip intending to get as far as Granada and back. The clutch suddenly stopped springing back properly. The breakdown guy said “it’s working, nothing for me to do”. It’s Saturday afternoon, of course. Should I stay parked up until Monday - or can I keep going and find a garage to look at it on Monday. If I pump the pedal a few times it springs enough to change gear. Changing down is worse than up. Thanks for any comments from experience

 

[Janine]

It must be something in the air - mine started doing exactly the same thing a couple of weeks ago. Garage couldn’t replicate the fault by the time I got it there.

Hope fully yours is just a glitch too.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Check the oil level in the brake /clutch fluid bottle first to see if you master of slave cylinder could be leaking

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[Dorwyn]

Isn't there a pedal return spring? Could it be unclipped? Or the pedal fouled. I seem to remember something like that in the past.

 

[Lenny HB]

If you can get to Spain garages should be a lot cheaper than France.
Sounds a bit like the slave cylinder a pain when they go as it's a gearbox out job.

 

[Jake Royd]

I had this on a 2014 Ducato.
It did fail eventually.
Turned out to be the clutch release cylinder which at least on my variant is coaxial with the gearbox 1st motion shaft.
A gearbox off job to replace.

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[Jake Royd]

Check the oil level in the brake /clutch fluid bottle first to see if you master of slave cylinder could be leaking

Good advice the brake reservoir also serves the clutch release mechanism.

 

[Spriddler]

Oh dear, what a bu$$er!
It's going to be hard work getting to Spain if you have to pump the pedal every time you change gear.
I'm near Newhaven and retired so no time pressure and I have a good local garage so I'd check the fluid level and if nothing obvious I'd come back (sod the ferry cost) and get it sorted for peace of mind then set off again.
Home for you is also nearby in Kent so worth considering returning if a garage near to where you are now can't do a simple fix or you don't feel confident about them. I've read too many reports on here of disasters with garages who start the job and then 'can't get the parts' for several weeks, or 'short of staff' or their very expensive repair didn't last 50 miles.............

2p.

 

[BusyBuilder]

Mine did this, and I had to get a new clutch.

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[kev54]

Check the oil level in the brake /clutch fluid bottle first to see if you master of slave cylinder could be leaking

Do you think I’d see it leaking/dripping onto the ground - or do I need to (shock-horror!) lift the bonnet and check the reservoir from the top?

 

[Phill D]

If it comes to the point of seeing it under the van you may have already noticed clutch slip from the hydraulic oil getting on the plate

 

[kev54]

Mine did this, and I had to get a new clutch.

I’m sure that’s where I’m going - just a question of “how soon?” - then “how long?” - then, probably, “how much?!!!!”

Oh dear, what a bu$$er!
It's going to be hard work getting to Spain if you have to pump the pedal every time you change gear.
I'm near Newhaven and retired so no time pressure and I have a good local garage so I'd check the fluid level and if nothing obvious I'd come back (sod the ferry cost) and get it sorted for peace of mind then set off again.
Home for you is also nearby in Kent so worth considering returning if a garage near to where you are now can't do a simple fix or you don't feel confident about them. I've read too many reports on here of disasters with garages who start the job and then 'can't get the parts' for several weeks or their very expensive repair didn't last 50 miles.............

2p.

Thanks for the offer Spriddler - we’re already near Le Mans. Just a question of whether we need to stop moving until Monday - or whether we can risk getting more miles (kilometres) under our belts before the inevitable

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[Phill D]

I’m sure that’s where I’m going - just a question of “how soon?” - then “how long?” - then, probably, “how much?!!!!”

Thanks for the offer Spriddler - we’re already near Le Mans. Just a question of whether we need to stop moving until Monday - or whether we can risk getting more miles (kilometres) under our belts before the inevitable

If not already get on the motorways to minimise gear changes.
You probably get to Spain

 

[PeterCarole29]

I’m sure that’s where I’m going - just a question of “how soon?” - then “how long?” - then, probably, “how much?!!!!”

Thanks for the offer Spriddler - we’re already near Le Mans. Just a question of whether we need to stop moving until Monday - or whether we can risk getting more miles (kilometres) under our belts before the inevitable

If you speak french well and can deal with a garage with confidence you may be in a better position to make a good choice.You wont be able to complete your vacation with the problem you indicate. so the first decision you make will be how much will this cost in the location you are in. The changing gear badly may damage your sincromesh which may also be a new gearbox if you continue but only you know how bad it is . Limit your damage is a good choice

 

[ChrisL]

You might try asking yodeli if she can ask the relevant questions to a garage near you, she has often volunteered to help members when they have had breakdowns in France before.

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[brynric]

This happened to us a few years ago. The “spring” had gone from the clutch. We managed to get to the Aire we had landed to meet with friends - but it was an exciting drive. An enjoyable weekend then when we thought about setting off …. Nothing!
Green flag rescued us to a Fiat garage, a choice of staying in the van in the compound or a hotel, we took the hotel. I think we were 5 days waiting for the job to be completed with German efficiency and a bill upwards of €1k.
Apparently if the slave cylinder leaks on a Ducato it can b*gg*r up the plates etc.

 

[kev54]

If you speak french well and can deal with a garage with confidence you may be in a better position to make a good choice.You wont be able to complete your vacation with the problem you indicate. so the first decision you make will be how much will this cost in the location you are in. The changing gear badly may damage your sincromesh which may also be a new gearbox if you continue but only you know how bad it is . Limit your damage is a good choice

Thanks PeterCarole29 We can converse pretty well in French ( and so hope to avoid the ‘foreigner’ trap. “Limit your damage” is great advice. Thanks

 

[kev54]

This happened to us a few years ago. The “spring” had gone from the clutch. We managed to get to the Aire we had landed to meet with friends - but it was an exciting drive. An enjoyable weekend then when we thought about setting off …. Nothing!
Green flag rescued us to a Fiat garage, a choice of staying in the van in the compound or a hotel, we took the hotel. I think we were 5 days waiting for the job to be completed with German efficiency and a bill upwards of €1k.
Apparently if the slave cylinder leaks on a Ducato it can b*gg*r up the plates etc.

Ouch!

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[WASPES]

This happened to mine a few weeks ago the pedal then stopped returning. Was told it was either slave cylinder or master cylinder, master cylinder was the easiest to fix so i told them to change that first. It didn't work so they had to take the gearbox out and have a new clutch and all the gubbins and a new slave cylinder costly job.

 

[kev54]

This happened to mine a few weeks ago the pedal then stopped returning. Was told it was either slave cylinder or master cylinder, master cylinder was the easiest to fix so i told them to change that first. It didn't work so they had to take the gearbox out and have a new clutch and all the gubbins and a new slave cylinder costly job.

WASPES May I ask what region of ‘costly’? And how long a job (roughly)?

 

[Boringfrog]

If not already get on the motorways to minimise gear changes.
You probably get to Spain

Caution, your breakdown recovery won't work on French motorways.

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[Phill D]

Caution, your breakdown recovery won't work on French motorways.

Yes it does . The difference is you pay and get receipt, breakdown policy then pays you.

 

[ctc]

The French usually have full cost breakdown cover, when I had problems there the campsite warden explained to the garage that I had to pay the cost of repairs and they reduced the bill by roughly 30%.

 

[BusyBuilder]

When mine went, I drove for probably another 1000 miles, pulling the pedal back up with my foot each time it stayed down.

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[WASPES]

WASPES May I ask what region of ‘costly’? And how long a job (roughly)?

Hi the master cylinder was around £300 the slave cylinder was £1500 a days work plus clutch parts.

 

[kev54]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like we should manage another 200k today being a Sunday, toll road to minimise gear changes (using foot to pull it back up) and get to the Loire - bigger cities hopefully means better choice of garage with parts available. Lots of Fiat Ducato/ Peugeot vans in this country). Then prepare to open the wallet

 

[Chris]

Happened to me in a car in France about 10 years ago.

I had lots and lots of very nervous miles.

Good luck

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[Jake Royd]

WASPES May I ask what region of ‘costly’? And how long a job (roughly)?

Mine , mentioned above , cost £900.
Mostly labour.
Incidentally, many modern vehicles have a coaxial slave cylinder but Ducatos do seem more prone than average to fail.

 

[Fulham Dave]

Good luck, safe drive - hope you manage to find someone to repair it at a reasonable cost

 

[Jackd]

Didn’t realise you were pulling it back up with your foot.
Your first check is the “clutch pedal return spring”
If it’s not this one below, check with Coastal Motorhomes for the correct one. Only a few quid.

Here