Feel Engine Through Clutch - Long Biting Point

[Guest Jimmy H]

Hi all, we have a C5 2002. I have noticed that you can feel the engine through the pedal when it is depressed. The biting point starts at the very bottom of the pedal, but does not finish until you reach the very top.

 

I am assuming this is a sign of a new clutch (oh dear) or can the clutch be tightened.

 

I have never noticed a pedal to "throb" before, you can feel this even when the car is stationary.

 

Any idea's

 

Jimmy

[techbod]

it cant be adjusted like the old ones as its hydraulic ( have you checked the level of the filler container) its like a break tank/header top up and many with these cars tend to bypass it when checking things out because they think the hydraulics work it all when it don't :( .

[Guest Jimmy H]

it cant be adjusted like the old ones as its hydraulic ( have you checked the level of the filler container) its like a break tank/header top up and many with these cars tend to bypass it when checking things out because they think the hydraulics work it all when it don't :( .

 

 

Thanks for the tip - I will check this out, and come back.

 

*Update *

 

Just got worse!! The wife has gone out and the clutch has failed. You can put the car into gear if the engine is switched off and then the car will drive - but you can not disengage the gears.

Turning the engine off and then you can put the car into neutral.

On checking the filler container - it was below the danger mark (not good I know). I did have some DOT 5 and I filled up to half way, but the problem is the same.

 

So do you think that the clutch has gone or could there be an air block?

 

Cheers Jimmy

[Randombloke]

So do you think that the clutch has gone or could there be an air block?

 

Can you see a leak? Has the slave cylinder failed? Are the seals on the master cylinder badly damaged? If the level has dropped it sounds like a leak.

 

I would try pumping the clutch seriously and seeing if I could get it to disengage.

 

I would make 100% sure that the hydraulic side was working before suspecting the clutch itself.

[techbod]

I would agree with randombloke here it does sound like the slave cylinder leaking because you lost the gearing in such a short time ( I doubt its a clutch fail because of that ) but as its inside the gearbox you might as well fit a new clutch because the tranny has to come off.

 

a couple of pictures of the slave cylinder here.

 

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...%26tbs%3Disch:1

 

 

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...%26tbs%3Disch:1

 

if im wrong though and its an external slave cylinder then the tranny doesn't need to come off

[coastline taxis]

Your hydraulics are fine its a clutch that your wanting. when replacing check the condition of the dual mass flywheel (if fitted) also do yourself a favour and replace the sleeve that the thrust bearing sits on (about £10) also the fulcrum arm(about £20) renew the clutch fluid and the jobs a good one

[Guest Jimmy H]

Thanks for all the advice, I have topped the container up to about half full, and did some serious pressing of the clutch, after a while the sound produced by the clutch changed and I managed to get it into reverse - unfortunately the clutch did not hold and the car moved off, quite exciting really.

 

Needless to say it is just the same.

 

The sound produced when the clutch is dipped, it sounds like a pump is either drawing air or struggling. I could not see any obvious leaks.

 

My mechanical skills are not strong enough to be messing with the clutch - so it is off to a garage.

 

When it is repaired, I will post on to the forum to let others know.

 

Indecently, when the clutch is dipped, the pedal vibrates and actually moved your leg up and down a couple of millimeters!

 

Cheers Jimmy