V

VxAndy

New member

Joined

Mar 8, 2008

Messages

56

Points

15

Location

Bury Lancs

• Jul 8, 2014

• #1

Clutch cable has gone (again ) on my daughter's 52 plate Seicento. I can see where it's broken ...... just after the split pin on the cranked end in the passenger foot well. (is it allowed to link to other forums for pictures?)
My question is ...... how the hell do you gain access to the blasted thing? I had a quick look yesterday, removed a box of electrickery and still couldn't even get my hands in. Does the 'glove box' come away from the upper part of the dash? I've a handful of the dash bolts out ..... centre of dash, a couple in the 'glove box' and one behind the left dash vent ..... in the hope that I can move the whole dash enough. I gave up then. :bang:

TIA

Ooops! 18 posts in 6 years

 

Last edited: Jul 8, 2014

fingers99

Patron member

Parked in the garage Written a guide

Joined

Mar 20, 2006

Messages

27,743

Points

4,561

Location

Liverpool

• Jul 8, 2014

• #2

A few people remove the dash. Access to the cable is by removing the steel box thingy which covers the end of the brake servo. The top screw is difficult to get to due to the dash, but can be "massaged" clear enough to get to it.

It's a really stupid design.

As always, a broken clutch cable usually means new clutch time.

 

OP

OP

V

VxAndy

New member

Joined

Mar 8, 2008

Messages

56

Points

15

Location

Bury Lancs

• Jul 8, 2014

• #3

Thanks Fingers. I shall look later in the week when I'm not in work ....... I'll let you know how it goes.
Why a new clutch though

 

fingers99

Patron member

Parked in the garage Written a guide

Joined

Mar 20, 2006

Messages

27,743

Points

4,561

Location

Liverpool

• Jul 9, 2014

• #4

Usually there comes a point where the clutch becomes so heavy (often due to the reease bearing eating through the pressure plate or generally giving up the ghost) that t5he cable or the quadrant break.

Best tip for long life of FIRE engine clutches is general good practice -- when at a standstill, engage handbrake, neutral and take foot off clutch.

 

OP

OP

V

VxAndy

New member

Joined

Mar 8, 2008

Messages

56

Points

15

Location

Bury Lancs

• Jul 9, 2014

• #5

fingers99 said:

Usually there comes a point where the clutch becomes so heavy (often due to the reease bearing eating through the pressure plate or generally giving up the ghost) that t5he cable or the quadrant break.

Best tip for long life of FIRE engine clutches is general good practice -- when at a standstill, engage handbrake, neutral and take foot off clutch.

Click to expand...

Ah! See what you mean. It doesn't appear to be heavy, but I rarely drive it & I normally just have 2 pedals in my cars.

 

C

colleyboy

New member

Joined

Jul 11, 2014

Messages

6

Points

1

• Jul 11, 2014

• #6

Think on them the glove box does come apart, million screws and popper parts though i think

 

OP

OP

V

VxAndy

New member

Joined

Mar 8, 2008

Messages

56

Points

15

Location

Bury Lancs

• Jul 11, 2014

• #7

colleyboy said:

Think on them the glove box does come apart, million screws and popper parts though i think

Click to expand...

I tried at the outer end, but it seemed to be glued/bonded together.

Anyway it's done & dusted .

It's incredible how a simple job can be made so bl**dy difficult due to a lack of access .

 

OP

OP

V

VxAndy

New member

Joined

Mar 8, 2008

Messages

56

Points

15

Location

Bury Lancs

• Nov 8, 2016

• #8

These clutch cables don't seem to last long! Emily's car arrived on a recovery truck again the other day due to a failed clutch cable ... in truth, I've not looked yet, but the cable has been bought ready on the say so of the recovery driver ..... we were away at the time.

It does seem to point to something being partially siezed, because 12 months ago I was replacing the pedal box due to one of the pivot points (converting LHD to RHD) had sheared, the Fiat breaker where the new pedal box came from said he'd never seen one shear like that. The pedal seems to be easy to operate to me though.

I think Emily just likes driving my Smart Fortwo Passion

 

Metalguru3

Member

Joined

Mar 22, 2013

Messages

281

Points

116

Location

Tamworth

• Nov 8, 2016

• #9

In the motor trade i had to recover plenty of cars with broken clutch cables, it would be irresponsible of me to describe here how to drive a manual car without a clutch pedal ( i would receive claims by the dosen for broken gearboxes), but i think it is a useful skill if you can master it. I taught all my mechanics how to do it and if you havent got quick access to a recovery truck or the vehicle has stopped in a precarious place it can be a lifesaver.
If you can find someone who can do it, get them to show you what to do - the best way to learn - and you wont be stuck on the roadside if it happens again.

 

OP

OP

V

VxAndy

New member

Joined

Mar 8, 2008

Messages

56

Points

15

Location

Bury Lancs

• Nov 8, 2016

• #10

Emily was amazed that you could do it when it last happened ... I showed her how it's possible to do it, but all my cars now have just 2 pedals, Emily's is the only manual in the house
Emily is covered by my Green Flag recovery & the first I knew of this 'breakdown' was when she phoned to ask whether to get recovered home or to a local garage I sometime use.

Anyway, after carefully considered 'modification' of the lower dash, the end of the cable was much more accessible which made the job soooo much easier. Just need the plastic 'nut' now though that the cable screws into at the clutch arm .... the original is presumably in a gutter somewhere.