My Clutch...:-(

[Daniel M]

Hello everybody...
After many months of happy motoring, my little baby finally had an argument with me. I was doing about 50mph, when i depressed the clutch to change to 5th, when i heard deep ping like noise, followed by an extremly stiff clutch. The car still goes into gear with the clutch down, and the clutch still fully depresses, until the car is started where it will not go into gear at all and the clutch goes all viagra on me. My Dad seems to think it is possibly the clutch pressure pad. Could he be correct in this assumption? Or is it something else? If anyone has had a similar problem or has had the same, can you shed any light? Also, does anybody know roughly how much i could be looking at to get this sorted-i have a funny feeling because of the location of the clutch, its going to be an engine out job. Ouch x(

So, any ideas welcomed.

Cheers, Dan :(

[Peter Milnes]

It sounds as if the clutch arm has come off it's pivot due to the spring retainer breaking. This results in your being unable to change or engage gears. The arm is removeable without taking the bell housing off and it is possible to replace the arm without any dismantling. However it is an awkward job. Has the clutch ever been replaced or is the mileage at the point where it would be advisable to change the clutch anyway?

All the best, Peter

[Daniel M]

Hi Peter...
Ive managed to book the car in at a clutch repair centre-i dont mind having a go myelf, but its just finding the time, as i have a very busy schedule! The car has done just under 70k, and it has a very comprehensive history, and upon looking there does not seem to be any indication of a new clutch-she had also had 6, yes 6 previous owners, and despite the history she's not always been very well looked after. So i figured the cluth may have lasted a bit longer if she had been looked after well all her life, but i think rather than waste time on seeing if i can get it repaired, i will just replace it. Then hopefully (touchwood) it will see me out through my ownership of her. Thanks for replying, i'll post a reply when i find out what the prob. was.

Cheers, Dan

[Dan F]

Hi.

My clutch on one of my 440s decided to 'go' just like that as well.
I could select gears by getting the revs right and slotting it into gear though, but if you came to a standstill it stalled. That, it turned out, was a broken pressure plate in the clutch. It had literally broken off!

It was expensive, but I remember being surprised by it not being the astronomial bill I was expecting.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Daniel M]

Update...
Well, the car is booked in for a new clutch on Wednesday. Good old Barclaycard!! I got a price from Volvo, just for parts, and a clutch and cable is going to set me back around £130... x( Then i have to get it fitted. x( x( . My uncle would have done it for me, a little cheaper, but i could not wait `til next week to get her in as i rely on my car heavily. So he put me in touch with a place in the next town and they can do the whole lot in a day for £200-parts and labour. So off she goes. Still got to bike an unhealthy distance to work tomorrow, but (touchwood) it will be the last time!

Thanks for all the advice-if there are any more updates, i`ll keep you posted-im sure you are all interested in how it goes!! :9

Dan

[Daniel M]

Hello...
It is sooo nice to be back on the road-its only been 4ish days since it happened, but the old saying "you dont know what you`ve got..." really rang home! Throughout all my 3 cars, i`ve never had a new clutch. It`s unbeliveable, the difference-its been really stiff since i first bought the car, and now it feels like im stepping on thin air-so sensitive, i even stalled it when i first pulled away!! It did cost me £200, but well worth it. So, im off out, to enjoy a nice evening drive!

Thanks for all the help guys. :)

Cheers, Dan :7