Clutch on the way out?

944cabby · Jun 16, 2007

Guys, been out in the cab today as it was dry outside at last.
Anyway after a few runs around i came to a junction in town - started to slow down and was in 3rd approaching the junction, changed to 2nd and as there was no traffic at all i pulled straight out turning left.
Thinking i was still in 2nd i put my foot down but the car was as if it had slipped into neutral - loud revving sound and strong smell of the clutch burning - i nearly stopped reselected 2nd and drove off.
Pulled over for a short while to let the smell go and made my way cautiously home.
Now i've been out for a short spin this evening - she seems to drive fine and selecting gears was normal but there's still a smell of burning from the bell housing area although you have to put your head right by the oil filler tube to smell it.
I had a new clutch fitted at about 88k and she's now on 114k.I don't over-rev her and she's never thraped.
The only time i've ever had problems selecting gears was a couple of years back and i seemed to fix it by greasing up the linkeage.
Is my clutch likely to be on the way out after 26k or so?
Any thoughts much appreciated.

rob944s · Jun 17, 2007

That doesn`t seem alot of miles to knock the clutch out, but it might be a fault with the pressure plate either way if its definatly sounds like you do have a problem with the components within the clutch assembly i would shop around for a new one asap..

944cabby · Jun 17, 2007

Do you think it's worth spraying some clutch cleaner in there?

rob944s · Jun 17, 2007

its not going to hurt by trying, go for it, i did have another thought it might be the crank shaft oil seal thats gone and you may have oil in the clutch housing and thats what you can smell burning off, and the clutch maybe fine, have a look for any signs of oil around the housing as worn clutches slowly get worse and worse the pack up all together, by the sounds of it yours has just gone all of a sudden, if i wasn`t completly skint i would put money on it, crank shaft oil seal....you better get your overalls on...

944cabby · Jun 17, 2007

ORIGINAL: rob944s

its not going to hurt by trying, go for it, i did have another thought it might be the crank shaft oil seal thats gone and you may have oil in the clutch housing and thats what you can smell burning off, and the clutch maybe fine, have a look for any signs of oil around the housing as worn clutches slowly get worse and worse the pack up all together, by the sounds of it yours has just gone all of a sudden, if i wasn`t completly skint i would put money on it, crank shaft oil seal....you better get your overalls on...

Hmm, she drove fine though later on but there was still the faint whiff by the filler tube.Am i right in assuming if it is the crank seal gone the oil pressure would be lower on the guage?

rob944s · Jun 17, 2007

You wouldnt even see any differance on the guage( unless the oil is flooding out) you only need a little bit of oil to make the clutch slip, the only tell tale sign will be a little oil in or around the clutch housing, and as there is no gasket between the clutch housing and the block casting you should see a little drip of oil at the bottom, if the leak is bad enough , and if it`s only a little amount of oil it may be weeks before it leaks on to the road or you see a differance on the dip stick.

You said the car was fine when you drove it next...what no slip at all?

peanut · Jun 17, 2007

unless you have been doing doughnuts in Sainsburys I very much doubt you're clutch has suddenly burnt out . You would have had some prior warning like slippage under hard acceleration.
If your replacement clutch was of the original type with rubber inserts then it is possible you have trashed them in which case you are on borrowed time. The remains of the clutch is a `get you home' part but I managed to drive several thousand miles before mine gave out.
If the rubber part had gone I would expect you to notice a distinct clunk on drive take up and deacceleration also a drumming whine

If you had the newer solid centre plate fitted and you still have drive then I would imagine it must be one of your belts ? the only other rubber under the bonnet really. Can't see how they would effect your drive but then it may be coincidental.
hows this
You floor the throttle thinking its in gear.Its slightly out of gear The engine revs rise very rapidly under no load causing your belts to slip (burning rubber smell) you push the stick all the way engage gear properly drive now drives normal with no slip but the burnt belt still smells ?????

944cabby · Jun 17, 2007

ORIGINAL: peanut

unless you have been doing doughnuts in Sainsburys I very much doubt you're clutch has suddenly burnt out . You would have had some prior warning like slippage under hard acceleration.
If your replacement clutch was of the original type with rubber inserts then it is possible you have trashed them in which case you are on borrowed time. The remains of the clutch is a `get you home' part but I managed to drive several thousand miles before mine gave out.
If the rubber part had gone I would expect you to notice a distinct clunk on drive take up and deacceleration also a drumming whine

If you had the newer solid centre plate fitted and you still have drive then I would imagine it must be one of your belts ? the only other rubber under the bonnet really. Can't see how they would effect your drive but then it may be coincidental.
hows this
You floor the throttle thinking its in gear.Its slightly out of gear The engine revs rise very rapidly under no load causing your belts to slip (burning rubber smell) you push the stick all the way engage gear properly drive now drives normal with no slip but the burnt belt still smells ?????

Well no doughnuts (only the sainsbury's jam ones!) and the clutch kit was the solid centre type.
How could it be slightly out of gear?
I'm going to jack it up tomorrow after work and grease all the links up again but the burning smell is definately from the oil filler area not the front belts.
It's enough to drive you to drink!

peanut · Jun 17, 2007

ORIGINAL: 944cabby

How could it be slightly out of gear?

If you say you are having trouble with your linkage I thought perhaps you might have not fully engaged the gear. I have done it many times,the gears not meshing properly, kick the gear stick back .Hey I was just throwing in some ideas.......good luck