Technical Help clutch problem!! Picture inside!

[Xplode]

Hi all

i was happily nipping up loughborought road today just about to turn into boundary road pushed the clutch in and changed 2 2nd all was swell. Took my foot off the clutch and ARGH[:0] the clutch pedal stayed there OMG! Luckily i didnt panic to much and i was goin fast enought to roll into the nearest car park 20meters away from where i lost power!!

So had a look around the car and saw this!
The plastic bit had snapped!

So got a mate to tow me home phoned up fiat garage in nottingham and explained the problem so they have ordered a new plastic triangle bit and a new pin to attatch the cable to the clutch! Does anyone know if somewhere like halfords sell these parts cus it takes ages for fiat to get the bits!

But my problem now is how do i get it off does any one know an easy way!
need to unattatch it from points 1 and 2 any help please!

Has this happened to anyone else is it a normal thing??

cheers all

Andy

 

[HP]

To get no.2 off, there's a split pin and washer on the link rod at the back of the plastic triangle. To get no.1 off, it looks like you lever it out as it just clips in - there's no nuts or anything to be undone for this one.

Was just waitin' for daylight to pull mine apart and have a look!

Good luck.

Pete.
Cinq sporting 1242cc
http://mysite.freeserve.com/close_to_cracking_up/

 

[Donz]

now thats what you call a helping hand!

SEI-POWER​

 

[rodanmk2]

this happened to me too - dropped down into 4th to overtake someone and the clutch pedal stayed down. Not good. Cost £80 incl labout to get it fixed.

 

[Evil-Punto]

Having changed 3 of these buggers in 8 months I consider myself somewhat of an expert.
The plastic triangle just pulls off.
Im considering having a few made from steel or aluminium.
The only weak link then will be the "L" part of the clutch cable, all of mine have broken there.
Im thinking of extending the clutch cable, looping it into the plastic triangle and back on itself to spread the load a little more.
The only other way would be a hydraulic clutch. Im surprised they didn't have them in the first place.

 

[HP]

I'm led to believe that a heavy clutch and frequent cable snappage can be down to clutch arm pivot bush failure inside the gearbox....

Pete.
Cinq sporting 1242cc
http://mysite.freeserve.com/close_to_cracking_up/

 

[Evil-Punto]

Craps! that sounds like a gearbox out type repair to me.

 

[paula]

hello same prob 3 clutch cables and 2 split pins its getting expensive
is the triangle thing the clutch quadrangle think thats what the garage called it as they refused to take out the dash to fix it
£150 for the main dealer to do it
is there an easyway to get to the plastic bit behind the dash on the passenger side?
dealer was asking £350 for a new clutch too
(and £800 of other repairs the **** taking bastards)
i swore a bit as i left
fiat seicento sporting 2003
paula
xx

 

[arseofbox]

is there an easyway to get to the plastic bit behind the dash on the passenger side?

If its anything like the Cinq...its 3 screws securing a plate that covers the cable end!

Then its about 1 hrs work for a pro or 2-3 for an amateur with lots of swearing!

£150 is an absolute joke! Its AT MOST £50 in labour (1hr) and £20 in parts IMO

 

[rallycinq]

Sei is a bit more difficult with the all enveloping dash moulding, but £150 is still taking the wee.

Cheers

D

 

[paula]

so is there and easy way to get to it or is it a keyhole surgery jobby?
paula

 

[rallycinq]

Taking the passenger seat out helps a lot.

Cheers

D

ps 'jobby' in Scotland is something you don't want in your car.

 

[daisy-dcat]

Hi, like many of you, i have had clutch problems with sei sporting. First of all, clutch has always been heavy. Driving back from a funeral, depressed the clutch and there was a clang and the pedal went flat to floor. Called AA and roadside mechanic gave up after 1 1/2 hrs trying to refettle plastic fulcrum triangle in the p**sing rain.....cable wasn't snapped nor was the fulcrum broken. The clutch lever he reported was so stiff that he could hardly move it. Took it to garage and they reconnected the linkage with a new fulcrum (£90). Clutch was still very heavy and now 3 weeks later it has gone again. Will a replacement clutch cure this problem? Is a good clutch nice and light or are clutches on sei's and cinq's always heavy? I had noticed a slight occasional high-pitched whine when pulling away and a difficulty engaging reverse occasionally. Any advice would be welcomed.:bang:

 

[fingers99]

A good clutch is nice and light. Almost invariably the cable or the quadrant break because the clutch is at -- or past -- the end of life. Face it. I can't remember ho many times rallycinq and I have said it. Denial stops here.

It's completely and totally unecessary to remove the dash on Seis to replace the quadrant and/or clutch cable.

If your local dealer doesn't have the parts in stock, try Fluffy the Impaler (search here) or Shop4Parts (Google).

 

[Nick600]

I just replaced my clutch and quadrant for a total cost of £55. The quadrant was £5 from Fiat, it's very very fiddly to fit but not difficult. The clutch was fairly easy, but having someone who knows what they're doing around is handy for the first time.

 

[Pep0]

Just to confirm a clutch and gear box in normal condition, 80k miles, should be feather light and positive, so it will go between the gears with no effort.The pedal should hit the floor like the clutch was not there.

Except from 1st to 2nd when the synchro and dog clutches will complain, i.e. there will be some resistance and jar through the wrist from the gear lever, but you will only get this if you are drag racing, a GTI off the lights.

It is a girls car in the effort required, or should be.

But even if the pedal is light and the gear box perfect the clutch can fail and the clutch cable or triangle can snap, so if there is any effort required expect to have to replace cables and plastic bits regular. Simpler to replace the clutch, saves annoyance.

My clutch is real light but I carry a spare cable.

It (the cable) is a pig to change in a Sei, my solution is to use wooden wedge to hold the plastic dash away from the bulkhead for access, you also need a flashlight and a pair of needle nosed pliers, it helps if you are 4'6'' or less as well.

Noel

 

[Bryster]

Just replaced the quadrant myself............... bit of a pain as I'd only replaced a sticking cable last week! Found the easiest way of doing it is to disconnect clutch cable and then disconnect the rod from the pedal end. The rod then pulls out and you can replace the quadrant away from the car. Re-thread through and reassemble, took an hour. If you aren't replacing the clutch cable...... make sure it is very slick or you will be doing the job again, and again. I now have a very nice light clutch and will keep a spare cable and quadrant in the boot. If either should go again soon, do as rallycinq & fingers 99 say, get a new clutch fitted.