Clutch? (1 Viewer)

Oct 26, 2016
162
54
kent
Funster No
45,784
MH
Burstner Elegance 810G
Exp
since 2003
Hello all we were coming back from a trip out a few day's ago and got stuck on M23 traffic due to flooding anyway after a while creeping along, we noticed a smell coming from the front of the motorhome a carthago 2.3 diesel automatic comfortmatic, I can only think the clutch was overheating due to our very slow pace,have I done any permanent damage to the clutch as we are due to go to spain for the winter next month. HELP

Thanks Joe.
 
Apr 9, 2018
8,632
44,543
Worcestershire
Funster No
53,271
MH
Bailey Adamo 75-4t
Exp
March 2018
Probably not as a hot clutch will smell a bit. On a manual I would try to start off whilst keeping the handbrake on and check for slip but I have no idea how to do that on a comformatic.

Why not invest in a trip to a Fiat dealer for a check? That would give you peace of mind.
 

Silver-Fox

LIFE MEMBER
Sep 5, 2014
9,266
29,076
Cheltenham Spa
Funster No
33,201
MH
Rapido
Exp
im a not so newbie
In future don’t creep with a robotic clutch such as the one you have.
Also don’t sit at lights etc with it in gear.

Come to a stop put it in neutral.
Wait for traffic to move a reasonable distance and the select drive.

Creeping is effectively slipping the clutch.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
J
Oct 26, 2016
162
54
kent
Funster No
45,784
MH
Burstner Elegance 810G
Exp
since 2003
In future don’t creep with a robotic clutch such as the one you have.
Also don’t sit at lights etc with it in gear.

Come to a stop put it in neutral.
Wait for traffic to move a reasonable distance and the select drive.

Creeping is effectively slipping the clutch.
 
OP
OP
J
Oct 26, 2016
162
54
kent
Funster No
45,784
MH
Burstner Elegance 810G
Exp
since 2003
Hi thanks for your reply Re Clutch smell do you think it will be ok worried I have done some permanent
damage it drives ok. have you had a similar problem like mine?

regards Joe
 
Jan 11, 2018
1,164
1,348
Malvern Link, Malvern, UK
Funster No
51,943
MH
Chausson Welcome 85
Exp
Since 2018
I'm guessing probably not (with my retired Landrover Transmissions design and development manager's head on). Yes the clutch will have been slipped by the box to provide creep. However , the amount of power/energy required to do this is very low, so the heat soak in the clutch would not have been very much.
eg. way less than say 'creeping' uphill using a comfortmatic.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Dec 31, 2010
2,635
5,822
Sunny South Shields
Funster No
14,797
MH
Frankia Platin i7900
Exp
Since 2010
You would normally get a dash warning message telling you that the clutch has overheated so it sounds as if you never had this warning appear so wouldn't be over concerned about any damage caused.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Jul 2, 2017
587
478
Pr9 9qs
Funster No
49,297
MH
Adria matrix 670sl
Exp
2016
You would normally get a dash warning message telling you that the clutch has overheated so it sounds as if you never had this warning appear so wouldn't be over concerned about any damage caused.
Is there actually a clutch overheating sensor
 
Mar 26, 2018
440
1,366
Ormskilrk
Funster No
53,013
MH
Swift Voyager 685FB
Is there transmission fluid in them, I assume yes. Pull out the dipstick and give it a smell. It will smell and look burnt if it has overheated....worth changing then. If it looks normal you will probably be fine.
 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
53,419
149,936
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
Our last van had burning clutch smell a couple of times never caused any problems.
Tends to happen on a slight inclines in traffic you don't realise by creeping you are holding it on the clutch.
I soon learnt not to let the clutch slip on a Comformatic.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Dec 31, 2010
2,635
5,822
Sunny South Shields
Funster No
14,797
MH
Frankia Platin i7900
Exp
Since 2010
Is there actually a clutch overheating sensor

Yes I have had the clutch overheat on mine a couple of times when reversing up a high gradient attached copy of the M40 Robotized workshop manual and the operation manual for the comfortmatic good read if your into that stuff.
 

Attachments

  • Comfort-Matic_EN.pdf
    235.2 KB · Views: 27
  • M40 Robotized gearbox.pdf
    1.8 MB · Views: 27
Aug 6, 2013
11,953
16,570
Kendal, Cumbria
Funster No
27,352
MH
Le-Voyageur RX958 Pl
Exp
since 1999
Is there transmission fluid in them, I assume yes. Pull out the dipstick and give it a smell. It will smell and look burnt if it has overheated....worth changing then. If it looks normal you will probably be fine.
The clutch is dry, outside the gearbox, and the same in every way as that fitted to a manual gearbox. The Comfortmatic is a completely traditional manual gearbox with a clutch in the bell-housing. The clutch and gearchange are operated by servos controlled electronically.
 
Jul 2, 2017
587
478
Pr9 9qs
Funster No
49,297
MH
Adria matrix 670sl
Exp
2016
Yes I have had the clutch overheat on mine a couple of times when reversing up a high gradient attached copy of the M40 Robotized workshop manual and the operation manual for the comfortmatic good read if your into that stuff.
Cheers something to read over Christmas

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Wild Brambles

Free Member
Nov 11, 2019
431
1,687
Hampshire
Funster No
66,761
MH
Van conversion
Exp
2 years
If you do decide to replace the clutch, don't go to Mr Clutch. They charged me £700, and I'm really unhappy with the service.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Apr 12, 2013
1,069
2,171
Shrewsbury
Funster No
25,496
MH
Carthago 144
Exp
12
when we ran them for our business they worked out about £1600 from Fiat professional garage for comfortmatic.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top