C8 Clutch Problem

[rich5315]

Hi All after a bit of advice see if anyone knows the problem. Bought a C8 2005 2.2hdi with 100,000 miles on the clock 2 years ago, the garage that sold it told me they fitted a new clutch and would give 3 months guarantee. Ive done 40,000 miles since then. 

Yesterday after a 300 mile trip i started the car as normal, pressed the clutch pedal down and it suddenly vanished sort of underneath the bulk head. i pulled it out with my hand its in the normal position now but ever since im unable to press it down like its jammed, and unable to drive the car.

  To get home i started the car in gear and got nearly home as i had to stop at a junction. When i tried to restart in gear the battery was flat so ended up being towed home. Also i was getting lots of electrical problems like "air bag" fault "immobiliser " fault, allsorts going off. 

Has anyone any idea what the problem could be, i would expect a clutch to last longer than 40,000 miles and even if its gone i would still be able to depress the clutch pedal,Can anyone help PLEASE :-) 

regard Richard

[Rookie2]

Hi Buddy, not as bad as you might imagine (I hope)

 

Your clutch is operated by a hydraulic slave cylinder. The sytem is prone to failure and you probably require a new slave cylinder and possibly the master cylinder which the pedal presses.

 

Here are the parts you will probably need..

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BOLK-Clutch-Slave-Cylinder-fits-Citroen-Xsara-1-4i-2-0-16V-2-0i-16V-1-9-D-/191961376803?fits=Model%3AC8%7CCars+Type%3A2.2&hash=item2cb1ca2823:g:3h4AAOSwOdpXytY1

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRW-Master-Cylinderclutch-for-FIAT-SCUDO-PEUGEOT-EXPERT-CITROEN-JUMPY-C8-PND220-/291578767843?fits=Model%3AC8%7CCars+Type%3A2.2&hash=item43e372e9e3:g:ENYAAOSwPc9WyfxU

 

Either one or both of them have become defective, not a hard job to do but sometimes can a be apain to bleed the air out.

[paul.h]

When bleeding the clutch master/slave cylinder I find using a Mityvac vacuum pump on the slave cylinder bleed nipple works well to suck the air out and fresh fluid in. Need to be careful that the fluid level in the reservoir does not go too low though since its take off is usually part way down the side and not at the bottom as for the brakes. Just using the clutch pedal does not work as well as for brakes since the spring in the clutch cover is trying to push the slave cylinder back.

 

The apparent electrical faults may be due to the flat battery and hopefully will clear after it is charged up and put back on the car. This is from the C3 Common Problems topic:

20. Odd electrical problems caused by wrong battery disconnection procedure.

If you need to disconnect the battery and not do a BSI reset procedure, I have found the following has not given me any problems on a 2004 and 2007 C5 and a 2003 C3:

- remove the ignition key from the car

- open the bonnet

- wait a few minutes for the BSI to shut down

- disconnect the battery negative terminal

 

When reconnecting

- ignition key out of the car

- reconnect the battery

- wait a few minutes

- insert the key in the ignition and wait a minute

- turn the key to the first position and wait a minute

- turn the key so the dash lights come on and wait a minute

- start the engine

- take the windows down and up to reset the anti pinch

- reset the clock (and radio on the C3).

[rich5315]

Hi Paul thanks for that, still a garage job for me but at least not a £600 repair job, i presume the slave cylinder is under the bonnet and not in between the engine and gearbox?

[paul.h]

If one of the cylinders has failed you might have brake fluid leaking out of it but not always. The master cylinder might be at the side of the clutch pedal on some models and the slave cylinder is on the clutch bellhousing. Both take about 1 hour to replace but reading the procedures it could be a lot less.

[Rookie2]

Rich5315

 

Having done a little more research, does your C8, like mine, have a duall mass flywheel (DMF). If it does then the likelihood is that your slave cylinder will be fitted inside the gearbox ( a concentric slave) which means removal of the gearbox to replace.to replace.

 

If you are lucky enough to have a normal flywheel then it is likely your slave cylinder is on top of the gearbox.

Edited March 25, 2017 by Rookie2

[paul.h]

I had a C5 2004 with the 2.2 hdi 136 hp engine and now the 2007 with the 2.2 173 hp engine and on both the slave cylinder is on the outside, so hopefully it will be the same here, always assuming it is a cylinder - if not it might be a clutch out job to replace the release bearing or clutch.

[rich5315]

Hi rookie not sure gonna have to take it to the garage for repair :-( as i dont have the facilities to do the job myself, thanks paul h mine is a 136bhp model

[Rookie2]

Hi

Just be aware that many garages will fit a cheap clutch (such as a National Clutch) and charge for a top quality one. Stipulate that you want a "Sachs" Clutch which is one of the better after market ones.

[paul.h]

It is always difficult to try diagnosing faults remotely without seeing a car. We still do not know if it is a slave or master cylinder fault, so best not to ask for a new clutch yet since if you book it in for one, then a garage may just fit one. It might be when the clutch pedal was pulled up the connecting rod on the pedal has come out so that it can not be pushed back down.

[hugh3lf]

Had the same problem - unfortunately not the hydraulics but the release bearing that had pulled out.  On inspection the DMF was on its last legs too, so had the lot replaced with a Solid Flywheel conversion kit.  That was a year ago - so far works fine and no problems.