Right.

When the engine is warm to hot when you release the clutch in first, just as it engages the car judders and the revs drop and it takes quite a bit more acceleration than usual to get it going, does not do it with any other gear and usually only does it when the engine is warm and on slight inclines or hills.

One day the shaking got so violent I had to just pull away in 2nd gear all the time.

My clutch has already been replaced about 8 months ago and has a years warranty with it so if it is the clutch itself I should get it done free.

Is it the clutch?

If not, how much to fix it?

And today I noticed a noise similar to the engine idle noise but it goes away if you press the clutch. It's not a whiney noise like it was when the thrust bearing broke the last time.

Thanks

Gaz

Fiat Bravo 1.4sx 75,000 miles P reg 1996

anyone?

Re: Re: Is this a problem with my clutch?

If it only does it in 1 gear, wouldn't you suspect the gearbox? Especially if its taking more power, as this means you are losing more power somewhere, and that somewhere must be in the gearbox if your clutch is not slipping. Is it getting worse rapidly?

Re: Re: Re: Is this a problem with my clutch?

the noise you hear is the gearbox, thats normal.

If you can pull away in second then I'd say its not your clutch at fault.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Is this a problem with my clutch?

Clutch judder on pull away can obviously be a clutch fault (or oil on clutch) but the fact that it does it "on slight inclines and hills" then don't dismiss ignition. I've had a few people thinking they have a clutch fault when it was actually a plug dying on pull away, dropping from 4 to 3 cylinders. The Bravo engines are good at compensating for and disguising an ignition fault.

Was the clutch good straight after it was replaced? (Ok assembly then not warped clutch disc)

Has it been getting progressivley worse (Oil getting on clutch)

Does it get better if you burn the clutch a bit?
(oil on clutch again)

A worn engine mount (pretty common) will make the engine shake on clutch take up but will not be so severe if pulling away in 2nd (are you really having to work at getting smooth gearchanges?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is this a problem with my clutch?

Pulling away in second would make most of what you described WORSE as you'd need to slip the clutch MORE.

Fiat engines in general are very bad at hiding ignition problems in my experience, they work fine but at the slightest fault they stop.

It could very well be an engine problem at low throttle and he is revving the nuts off it to pull away in second so its not as noticable. On a 1.4 that could be caused by the air pressure sensor or the throttle possition sensor.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is this a problem with my clutch?

If you're moving off in 2nd you need to slip the clutch more with higher revs which produces LESS judder. That's why you get a smoother pull away in 2nd even with a good clutch. Oil on the clutch can shake the engine violently in 1st gear as the clutch "grabs" and releases but you can often get away with it in 2nd, not notice it at all in 3rd 4th or 5th. So it gets better the higher the gear.

Do you think it could be pressure plate? Did they actually replace the clutch pressure plate? Bravo clutch bearings score into the pressure plate fingers and then the disc doesn't come up square and produces violent shudder.

Engine mount shot? Whaddya think

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is this a problem with my clutch?

Need to know more info from him, does it idle, start, run ok etc..

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is this a problem with my clutch?

Thanks for the advice so far guys.

It starts first time everytime.

Idle is a bit rough and every couple of mins on idle it shakes a bit but not bad, it is a 7 year old car.

Runs great normally but when the engine warms up it's not as good, the clutch pedal feels spongy when the engine is warm and it shakes as I have said.

I don't know what parts he replaced when he did the clutch, just replaced the whole clutch.

If you have a haynes manual, in the trouble shooting bit it gives solutions to when the car judders when engaging clutch, the bodyshop stole mine when I had new wing mirrors fitted so if anyone could post what it says?

Gear changes are quite smooth.

Don't think it's the leads because it just got serviced last month and that is one of the things they replaced - all of them.

However, the bloke who changed the clutch, who i have the warranty with and who I bought the car from left a hammer in the engine bay which was discovered in the service so...

Gaz

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is this a problem with my clutch?

Maybe the slave cylinder is shot or there is some air in the system? They take a mauling when you change the clutch.