Clutch / Geabox Issue - 100HP

Hi,

Got my car booked in at Mangoletsi (Wilmslow) on Thursday morning. Basically over the passed week my clutch pedal hasn't felt right at all. It sometimes doesn't feel like its coming back up quickly and being a bit spongy. I've had quite a few issues where you car refuses to go into gear without several further presses of the clutch pedal. Its even stalled on a couple of occasions as well... Not good when joining a motorway and it won't go into 5th and your slowing down....

Anyone else had similar clutch pedal / gearbox related problems

Car is an 08 plate and has only done 5000 miles.

Andy

Sounds like a hydraulic problem, hopefully easy to fix.

If you told me those symptoms and it was a Coupe, it'd be the clutch slave cylinder leaking, which is fairly common. It could be the same on the Panda, though I can't recall any problems with them. Have you checked the hydraulic fluid level? If you have a leak it'll be low...

DING. A fairly common problem and most likely cause for cars with hydraulic clutches, particularly with the symptoms the OP is describing.

Fortunately its not mega complicated to fix it. New slave or master cylinder and a bit of bleeding. Easily do-able i should think in a days work.

Warranty

It takes about 30 mins to change on a Coupe, and that includes removing the battery tray and bleeding the clutch. If it is the slave cylinder, it should be simple.

Thanks for the comments guys, it does seem fairly intermitent. So hopefully its something fairly trivial to sort out. I'll let you know what the outcome is.

Mangoletsi Dealer Report

"Right sir, it needs a new clutch master cylinder, but theres none in stock. We will call you when one comes in"

Anyone else needed a new master or slave cylinder so soon (5000 miles)

Regards

Andy

I have a Panda 100hp but i thing that they don't have a hydraulic clutch system. Is this true?

Right fully repaired now by Mangoletsi.

New master clutch cylinder old one was leaking fluid. And they also put 1/2 a litre of engine oil in. Cars running perfect now very happy with their service.

Andy

Nope, it's hydraulic alright.

Tallandy, glad it's something simple, could just be manufacturing issues - bit of swarf or muck in which had damaged a seal maybe.