im Axle Specialists

Technical Squeaky clutch, burning smell & a stalling feeling

Currently reading:
Technical Squeaky clutch, burning smell & a stalling feeling

D

dvdfever

New member
Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
64
Points
17
Location
Mytown
I have a 2008 Punto Grande 1.2 and while I was mostly fine driving to work this morning, occasionally as I had to slow down at a junction, my car felt like it could stall.

Then on the way home (a 30-min journey each way), my clutch was squeaking any time I pressed it, and when I eventually got home I could smell a slight burning smell. I say "eventually" as I had to stop at three different places to get all the groceries I needed, and the squeaking was really pronounced after the second one and I was wondering if it was going to break down before I got home! :(

I've tried to have a look on here but I'm not technical and I don't know what might apply to it. Before today, I had no problems of this nature. (or any of the three)

Can anyone help, please? Thanks.

PS. Luckily(!), I'm off on Monday and have no plans to drive anywhere tomorrow so I'm thinking I'll call the garage Monday morning. At least, if it breaks down now, it'll only be on the way to the garage. I had an MOT about a month ago and there were some advisories which I think involves buying some new brake pads so I don't know if that's the issue. I need to find the paperwork about that.
 
dvdfever said:
I have a 2008 Punto Grande 1.2 and while I was mostly fine driving to work this morning, occasionally as I had to slow down at a junction, my car felt like it could stall.

Then on the way home (a 30-min journey each way), my clutch was squeaking any time I pressed it, and when I eventually got home I could smell a slight burning smell. I say "eventually" as I had to stop at three different places to get all the groceries I needed, and the squeaking was really pronounced after the second one and I was wondering if it was going to break down before I got home! :(

I've tried to have a look on here but I'm not technical and I don't know what might apply to it. Before today, I had no problems of this nature. (or any of the three)

Can anyone help, please? Thanks.

PS. Luckily(!), I'm off on Monday and have no plans to drive anywhere tomorrow so I'm thinking I'll call the garage Monday morning. At least, if it breaks down now, it'll only be on the way to the garage. I had an MOT about a month ago and there were some advisories which I think involves buying some new brake pads so I don't know if that's the issue. I need to find the paperwork about that.
Click to expand...

It's possible that the brake pads have worn down to the metal. Get them checked asap. Squeaky clutch is hard to define. Potential stalling could also point to brakes binding and slowing the car down more than needed. get it to a garage and ask them to check brakes at bare minimum.
 
Sounds like the clutch release bearing is/has failed. Time for a new clutch!
 
KenMavor said:
It's possible that the brake pads have worn down to the metal. Get them checked asap. Squeaky clutch is hard to define. Potential stalling could also point to brakes binding and slowing the car down more than needed. get it to a garage and ask them to check brakes at bare minimum.
Click to expand...

Cheers for the input. That sounds dangerous, esp. with the brakes feeling a little spongy at the same time. I've no plans to drive anywhere else tomorrow, so I'll call the garage first thing and take it down, even if I just end up leaving it with them for the day until they can fit it in.

Just checked my MOT advisories and they were a couple of tyre issues, plus all four coils eroding. I don't know whether to just get them fixed now to save them breaking down again in future, but then again I didn't know this was going to happen with the brake pads.
 
moby125 said:
Sounds like the clutch release bearing is/has failed. Time for a new clutch!
Click to expand...

Ouch. That sounds expensive.

BTW, is it just me or does the clutch release bearing kit look like an artefact from the Tomb Raider games?
 

Attachments

  • clutch-release-bearings-fiat-punto.JPG
    clutch-release-bearings-fiat-punto.JPG
    13.7 KB · Views: 239
It'll be a 3-part clutch kit. Like the picture above. Make sure that fit a kit made by a company called LUK. It should cost around £110, with labour on top.
As for the springs, ask the garage. Yes corrosion will occur. One of mine snapped overnight, obviously wear and tear (potholes, speedbumps, rough road conditions), could of been a factor, fatigue in a the metal, or in my case temperature, a cold night in January.
 
Last edited:
moby125 said:
It'll be a 3-part clutch kit. Like the picture above. Make sure that fit a kit made by a company called LUK. It should cost around £110, with labour on top.
As for the springs, ask the garage. Yes corrosion will occur. One of mine snapped overnight, obviously wear and tear (potholes, speedbumps, rough road conditions), could of been a factor, fatigue in a the metal, or in my case temperature, a cold night in January.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I didn't actually ask when I had the conversation on the phone as he told me the price, as it all went a bit quickly, but as it turned out it was a LUK (they only fit LUK, it seems) and it was £87.28 + VAT so that's about £105. Labour was 3.5hrs on top.

And because it was being done today, I got a free flux capaacitor thrown in! :D

Re: springs - what happens when they snap? Does the car come to a halt altogether or does it give you some indication beforehand? Ta.
 
Mine snapped overnight, while I was asleep, so nothing happened to me. Next morning, just saw some rust on the ground as I reversed off the driveway, didn't think much of it. As I drove off down the road, started to hear a rattling sound.
Obviously if a spring snaps when driving, you'll hear a loud bang. The danger is the spring will expand and could cause damage to steering linkages, suspension linkages, driveshafts and worse brake lines!
I was lucky it happened overnight and no damage to those parts mentioned.
If a brake line fails then you are in trouble!

Did the garage inspect them?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Technical Stalling
Replies
2
Views
428
GrandePunto PL
GrandePunto PL
AnthonyH
Technical Slipping clutch
Replies
14
Views
564
paloskii
paloskii
C
Technical Clutch slave cylinder
Replies
4
Views
320
Cargaard
C
D
Technical CLUTCH/ACTUATOR
Replies
0
Views
416
Damummy
D
L
Technical Clutch switch always in depressed position
Replies
0
Views
307
Luisc
L
Back
Top