LollysC5 Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 Hi how can I tell if my clutch needs renewing? I've tried the put the car into 3rd gear and with the hand brake on and brake pedal and engine on and let the clutch pedal rise up to bite point and the car stalled......... no increase in revs........... the bit point on my clutch is nearly equal to the brake pedal height......... does that sound normal? Many Thanks Quote
Johndouglas Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 On my previous C5 the bight point was very high and a mechanic told me that the clutch was virtually warn out. Two years later I sold the car and the clutch was still pulling my caravan without any signs of slippage. Quote
LollysC5 Posted January 3, 2015 Author Posted January 3, 2015 Cool,thank you for the reply. I'm just a little stumped........ when driving the car at 40-50...... and the car is in 5th gear (this only happens some times) it feels like a wheel spin.... when i press the accelerator, i have to drop down a gear. I visited ashford today and it was all motorway at 60-70 mph and there was nothing, cruised lovely........ the only way i can check if its slipping is put the car in 3rd as i did previously did and the engine stalls....... the same with 2nd gear and it stalled. Quote
Johndouglas Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 When I want to try a clutch I put the front wheels up against the curb. Then select first gear with handbrake off and gently raise the clutch pedal. If the clutch is slipping at all you'll soon know from the smell. Quote
LollysC5 Posted January 4, 2015 Author Posted January 4, 2015 Hi thanks yep its the clutch slipping. It only just started to happen. Car still cruises fine. No problems with detling hill (steepest hill we have) no slip in 4th gear or 5th...... I'll make inquiries tomorrow into how much a new clutch and dmf will cost to fit. Quote
LollysC5 Posted January 4, 2015 Author Posted January 4, 2015 Hi i discovered a black plastic cover on the gearbox.....when i removed the cover it shows the clutch slave cylinder http://smg.photobucket.com/user/myglaren/media/009.jpg.html the above image isn't my own one (couldn't get a clear enough picture), this one pictured showing the slave cylinder is clean...... mine is covered in black dust............. is there anyway of cleaning this off? Many Thanks Lolly Quote
LollysC5 Posted January 5, 2015 Author Posted January 5, 2015 this is the squeak, I have........ dmf squeaking............ just spoke to Mr Clutch £740.00 for new dmf and clutch. Quote
paul.h Posted January 10, 2015 Posted January 10, 2015 The squeak could be the clutch release bearing, try lightly pushing the clutch pedal and it will probably go. The bearing would be replaced with the new clutch. Unless the dmf is in good condition when it is checked, then it is probably best to replace it with the new clutch, otherwise the clutch may not last long and you would be paying for the job again. Quote
LollysC5 Posted January 10, 2015 Author Posted January 10, 2015 I've now driven over 400 miles, still has an intermittent slip, but that noise is no longer there. I took the car to mr clutch and the clutch wouldn't slip.... Its been several days slip the last slip and hasn't become any worse....... Quote
paul.h Posted January 10, 2015 Posted January 10, 2015 I had the similar squeaking noise from a clutch release bearing on a Saab 900 (1988 model) which was pre dmfs, hence why I suggested it. From memory the squeak would vary depending on the weather and was related to it lightly touching the clutch cover which would rust at the contact points. It went though when eventually it was replaced. With a hydraulic clutch, the pedal biting point should not alter as the clutch wears since it is self adjusting (the slave cylinder piston will not move back as far) but it should have the fluid changed/bled at the same time as the brakes. As long as you are in the RAC or similar so your car can be recovered if the clutch does eventually slip too much to get home, then most people would not rush out to have a new one fitted yet. On some cars though if the dmf is in a bad way I seem to remember it can damage the starter motor and lead to more expense. Quote
LollysC5 Posted January 11, 2015 Author Posted January 11, 2015 i spent the afternoon bleeding the brake system and the clutch system too....... wow the difference! clutch is silent, pulling away is much easier and stopping is excellent, i'll see how the slipping clutch is....... so far none. Quote
paul.h Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 Possibly the dirty fluid in the slave cylinder was preventing it retracting fully so the release bearing was not moving back enough - fingers crossed the problems have gone. Quote
LollysC5 Posted January 13, 2015 Author Posted January 13, 2015 Thank you, pulling away is so much easier.......... brakes are a lot sharper too :) Quote
LollysC5 Posted January 13, 2015 Author Posted January 13, 2015 I spoke to soon.......... clutch slipped again.......... time for a new clutch. Is it worth changing the flywheel? Many Thanks Quote
paul.h Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 Copied again from above:Unless the dmf is in good condition when it is checked, then it is probably best to replace it with the new clutch, otherwise the clutch may not last long and you would be paying for the job again. Quote
LollysC5 Posted February 7, 2015 Author Posted February 7, 2015 Hi all, after discovering the clutch is slipping. I now have a custom scrape going down along the off side. Drivers wing was stoved in and drivers door is dented and the scrape is about 1cm deep. Passenger rear door is the same dented and continuation of the scrape..... this happened a few days after the slipping clutch materialized. The damage occurred whilst the car was parked up. Im not claiming on my insurance excess is £175 and they will only right the car off. I decided to not have the clutch replaced and continue to drive the car until its undriveable. I thought the clutch would have gone by now, but the car is still driving ok with the occasional clutch slip in 4th or 5th....... i can drive the car for a few days and no clutch slip. Its been a month and over 600 miles and the clutch slip hasn't become any worse. Its not slipping in 1st,2nd or 3rd gear. I have viewed several C5's over the past month, but nothing there that I really wanted. Viewing another C5 tomorrow. Quote
LollysC5 Posted February 7, 2015 Author Posted February 7, 2015 One car I viewed the owner said it was high mileage on the ad, yep 300k...... Quote
paul.h Posted February 7, 2015 Posted February 7, 2015 Shame about the damage, but fortunately it happened before you had the clutch replaced. Whether deciding to claim you should look at the value of your car and if the insurer will pay a reasonable amount to write it off then you could be better off by claiming, taking in to account the xs and any loss of no claims - but I guess you have done these sums already. Depending on the condition of the good bits on your car, you could use it as a donor vehicle if you get one with a high mileage. Or do it the other way round to repair your car. Quote
LollysC5 Posted February 7, 2015 Author Posted February 7, 2015 the car is an 02 sx estate with 172300 miles. As scrap it would only make maybe £150 or less. My excess is £175. Car needs new bumper, front wing and two doors. I'm still driving the car at present, but looking tomorrow at http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-03-CITROEN-C5-DIESEL-ESTATE-/161590569468?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item259f8c69fc day out to lydd. Car looks ok in the pictures. But will find out more tomorrow. Quote
paul.h Posted February 8, 2015 Posted February 8, 2015 The listing says it is left hand drive but in the photos it is difficult to tell. Also it says it is green but the photo colour is icelandic grey (pale bluish grey). Quote
LollysC5 Posted February 8, 2015 Author Posted February 8, 2015 Back from seeing the car, it wouldn't start (flat battery). DMF rattle or squeak at idle, drove ok backwards and forwards. Mileage is actually 187000 not the 176000 listed. Engine oil was just below the minimum on the dipstick. Interior was in good condition. Discs and pads seemed ok all round. Needs 4 new tyres. A few electrical gremlins ie window switches (lmao) hardly any service history ie two stamps in the book. Timing belt was changed at 158000 miles. Exhaust system in good order. Overall an ok car...... just not the one for me. DMF rattle put me off. Quote
citrophile Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 Probably one to walk away from. There's loads of quite decent C5's around and you could probably pick up a Mk2 for less than £800 if you look around. I don't worry too much about mileage with the diesel's as they are renowned for doing very high mileages. Mine has done 240k and runs better than my wife's 100k 1.6. More relevant is the electrics and suspension system as that's generally where most of your money on repairs and parts would go in my experience. Although to be fair I'm pretty handy on mechanicals!! Quote
LollysC5 Posted February 17, 2015 Author Posted February 17, 2015 The current C5 I only purchased for £200 with a years mot and road tax until march 2015 ,and that was in august, there was an issue with the suspension not raising, discovered it was a blow fuse (open circuit) since then no problems with the suspension raising and lowering. Not sure what caused the fuse to blow. I've only had to do some work ie full service and the exhaust, cracked pipe in the middle and rear back box (I found an old big bore I had laying in the garage and that is now on there) if you cannot see me coming down the road, you will certainly hear me. Although some people dont. The clutch is slipping in 4th and 5th slightly. Road tax expires end of march 2015. Im still looking..... but will take my time on choosing. Quote
LollysC5 Posted March 23, 2015 Author Posted March 23, 2015 Hi, just a quick update, clutch is still going strong...... no difference in the slipping (other than being intermittent). I'll renew the road tax for another 6 months. Quote
paul.h Posted March 23, 2015 Posted March 23, 2015 With a bit of luck, you will be posting the same message in September. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.