Bloody teuchter car

[lkc]

I swear that damn car prefers being in the garage rather than on the road. I could do without yet another car bill too but obviously I'm not going to have that option as the punto has just been escorted home on the back of a recovery truck

Here's what happened

I was inching slowly forward in traffic when suddenly I felt a surge of power go to the engine the way most diesels normally do when they're about to stall - it should be noted that mine has never, ever done this. Clutch in and brake on to prevent stalling and then go to move off again at which point the car did stall. Took the car out of gear, restarted the car, went to put it in gear and it won't go into anything, not forward, second or reverse. Took foot off the clutch and that's when I discovered that the clutch stayed fully pressed to the floor and the only way to move it was by lifting it off with my foot. Tried again and sure enough clutch remained on the floor and I couldn't select a gear. Bugger!

Hazards on I tred a couple more times with people beeping at me. Eventually a very nice gentleman pushed me in to the side of the road and I called recovery. It's chucking it down with rain and Friday evening so naturally everything's busy so it took 90 minutes for the tow truck to arrive very nice bloke who sent me into his nice warm cab whilst he loaded the bloody teuchter car on to the back of the truck. Oh and of course when we arrived at my house the flashing amber lights alerted all the neighbours who curtain-twitched to see my poor car towed home again.

And I had to explain that the other Fiat on the driveway was also out of action

So folks, what do we think is the problem? new clutch or something cheaper? I'm betting the worst case scenario but then when it comes to that sodding car I'm a definite pessimist

 

[M21MFS]

Just thinking out loud could it maybe be the cylinder/slave?

Doesn't sound like slipping so much as loss of pressure?

 

[gengis]

Oh dear...sorry to hear that. It will always happen when it's pissing of rain.

It's probably the hydraulic slave cylinder that's gone (internal seal failed)...easy fix.
Or the hydraulic master cylinder that's gone (internal seal failed)...not so easy fix.

As I don't know the GP I'm assuming it's a hydraulic and not a cable operated clutch, in which case the cable has snapped.

Hope that helps.

 

[mrcinquecento]

Sounds to me hydraulic too.

My guess would be slave cylinder, Masters always seem rarer to go for some reason, but you could never rule it out.

 

[lkc]

I'm hoping it is something this simple and tomorrow morning I'll be badgering my mechanic neighbour, who has the misfortune to live next door to me, asking for his opinion on it.

Thanks all for your input. I'm a lot more hopeful I'm not paying out for the expense of having a new clutch fitted and may even get some sleep tonight

 

[Andi9386]

Sorry to hear about that Katie.

It could be a simple thing like a seal as John said

At least it's not a cable as the GP's have a Hydraulic Clutch.

And I've no doubt you'll be the talk of your neighbours with your GP coming home on the back of a recovery wagon with all the lights flashing.

 

[lkc]

Everyone including the garage are of the same opinion that it's a cylinder fault so now the cost issue is where fiat put the bloody things and whether or not they're going to have to take the gear box apart. I've arranged for the car to be towed up to the garage tomorrow afternoon which will be fun...

 

[mrcinquecento]

Everyone including the garage are of the same opinion that it's a cylinder fault so now the cost issue is where fiat put the bloody things and whether or not they're going to have to take the gear box apart. I've arranged for the car to be towed up to the garage tomorrow afternoon which will be fun...

From memory, Fiat generally have the cylinders on top of the box (at least on petrols), but not sure if it's a GM derived box on yours? the 1.9's were, not sure about the 1.6's. Ford are really bad for putting the slaves in the bellhousing so it's a gearbox off job to replace.

At least it's not a cable as the GP's have a Hydraulic Clutch.

There's a reason most rally cars use cables rather than Hydraulic, much simpler system, much easier to fix "in the field".

Put it this way, would you rather spend 30 minutes changing a cable and be on your way again or potentially removing a gearbox (depending on model)/fiddle about repairing hydraulics, then need to fill and bleed a system?

 

[lkc]

From memory, Fiat generally have the cylinders on top of the box (at least on petrols), but not sure if it's a GM derived box on yours? the 1.9's were, not sure about the 1.6's. Ford are really bad for putting the slaves in the bellhousing so it's a gearbox off job to replace.

I'm really hoping they're nicely accessible because if not it's a really big job and I'm going to be off the road for a while. The garage is booked solid and finding the time to slot this in is not going to be easy

keep your fingers crossed for me please folks.

 

[clock34]

the bit that usually fails on the 1.9 box is inside the bellhousing unfortunatly. just as it goes to the release bearing, its all plastic and ive herd of lots breaking. i hope its not this for yourself.

i know jatkinsons brother had problems with his.

 

[lkc]

Oh gawd, don't tell me things like that Although I'm fairly certain Fiat put a different box in the 1.6 than the 1.9s so let's hope they changed that.

In other news this is probably the first day off this year where I have a completely free day. No helping someone move house, remodelling my garden/house, visiting friends/relatives, road trips, looking after other peoples dogs/chickens/houses etc. Absolutely nothing to do.

I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not [attachment=1:1pxkrx0x]smiley-confused005.gif[/attachment:1pxkrx0x]

 

[lkc]

[attachment=1:3f12vmi7]w00t.jpg[/attachment:3f12vmi7]

It's just a pipe, general wear & tear. Part ordered and I should have the car back Wednesday evening at the latest. Even better I have the bravo tomorrow so no nasty airport bus either.

I am very, very relieved lol

 

[mrcinquecento]

Excellent news Probably the best case scenario result in fact!

 

[lkc]

Yup, cheap and easy to fix solutions are always the best.

:laugh: I also got a lecture from the garage owner on how it wasn't a bad car and certainly not the car from hell as I described it on Sunday when I dropped it off :laugh: He was one of the folks who recommended I take a look at fiat when I was car hunting as he was impressed with the ones he was seeing so I think he was feeling a wee but guilty. When he changed the wheels over for me last Monday I told him not to be surprised to see me again in a few weeks as the car seems to prefer being out at his garage rather than in my driveway. He told me not to be so pessimistic and to have more faith in the car lol

 

[lkc]

£55.85 + VAT for a clutch supply pipe [attachment=1:h23wmt4r]eek.gif[/attachment:h23wmt4r][attachment=1:h23wmt4r]weeping.gif[/attachment:h23wmt4r]

Garage told me apparently it's the acid fumes coming from the battery corroding the parts and this includes the sensor that went a few weeks back. They're seeing it a lot and have started lubricating parts on the cars they get in to try and stop it from happening.