Hei.

Since posting in the Ritmo/Strada section did not work, I post my problem here, as it is not a particular Fiat model problem.

It is propably the clutch.

The engine / gearbox / transmission / clutch has worked fine for 6 months. All in a sudden it became difficult to change gears when driving. Had to "lurk" it into gears with engine at idle speed when driving. Gears started grinding, and now it is impossible to change gears. Can not get it in 1st gear after engine has started, and ofcourse can´t drive...

When my brother pushes the clutch pedal, there is very little movement in the clutch plate when looking into the hole on top of the gearbox.

The movement is only when the pedal bottoms. No movement on the rest of the pedals stroke length.

The clutch pedal rests higher than the brake pedal when released.

The clutch adjuster nut is tightened to the max - this is a cable operated clutch.

Has the clutch wandered to the eternal hunting fields? Or is there another problem.

Morten.

Seized thrust or release bearing?

Liam

bloomfieldliam said:

Seized thrust or release bearing?

Click to expand...

Thanks for replying, Liam - but... what are those? And what do they do? Do the symptoms point towards these problems? Do I need a new clutch with these components? Have never touched any of these things / problems...

Morten.

Erm not to clued up on them to be honest, my guess was just that.

Will PM the thread shortcut for you to someone who maybe able to assist.

Liam

Assuming it's not just wear, and hasn't reached the limit of adjustment:
if the release lever at the gearbox moves the normal amount when you press the pedal, but the clutch doesn't release, it'd certainly point to internal clutch failure.

My Marea clutch packed in all of a sudden - release lever moved fine, everything looked ok from the outside, but one of the small springs inside the clutch plate had broken free and jammed everything up.

Hei Morten,

It sounds like part of the clutch release mechanism has failed, as pointed out by FixItAgainTomorrow.

First thing to check is to whether it is the clutch or gearbox that is at fault.

Can you engage gears ok with the engine not running? If you can, then the gearbox should be ok. If not, it could be a gearbox problem.

Secondly, with the engine off and the car in any gear (not neutral), can you turn the engine over on the starter? If you can't, then it most likely points to clutch failure.

Maybe what has happend is that the clutch release fork which operates off the release arm has broken/ bent it's teeth. Or the release bearing itself has broken up.

You need to identify first whether it is the clutch or gearbox that is the culprit. Either way, it sounds like you will have to remove the gearbox to confirm the fault.

Hope you get it fixed.

Thanks for replying.

Have done some tests as mentioned above. Since the gearbox is 1 of 3 weak points on the 130TC, I dare not to start the car in gear. The gearbox has shattered before...

Anyway: To change gears at standstill with the keys in my pocket works perfectly.

There seems to be at least 5 mm left of the "friction-pad-thing". This moves when the clutch is depressed. The lever on top of the gearbox moves all the way with the pedal movement, but this "pad" that can be seen through the little rectangular hole in the gearbox starts to move just when the clutch pedal reaches the bulkhead.

It was mentioned "seized thrust or release bearing" earlier by Liam. My brother went and got a brand new clutch. Are the "thrust and release bearing" internal parts of the clutch, or will they have to be bought separately? I´m pretty green at this area...

Morten.

Hei Morten,

Any decent clutch kit should include a new release bearing, but not always. Most look like a ball bearing race, a round thing that fits into the centre of the clutch and is operated by the release arm. It is separate from the clutch plate.

It is possible that if the old clutch was fitted by a garage then they might have simply reused the old bearing causing it's possible failure. Not an unheard of occurance...

First thing you need to check is what the problem is. Has the Strada not been used for some time? A seized clutch can also give very similar symptoms. It is possible for the clutch plate to rust/ stick to the flywheel causing it to not disengage. But this normally occurs if a car is left to stand unused for a few months or more rather than gradually getting worse as the car is driven.

It might also be worthwhile checking the condition of the clutch cable. Maybe it has somehow stretched so much that it can no longer be adjusted to work correctly? I would check the clutch cable from the clutch pedal to the gearbox and make sure it is all working and connected as it should. Has the plug that goes into the firewall/ bulkhead somehow pulled through causing the cable to not adjust properly? I've also seen that happen on a number of cars.

Might also be worth mentioning that on my Uno the cable was frayed at the outer sheathing and started to rust. When I didn't drive it for three months then came back I had the opposite problem to you, in that my clutch would slip badly and the cable made all sorts of creaking noises and was prone to sticking. It didn't slip before I left it three months back, but it did have a tendancy to baulk into gear sometimes and was a little difficult changing gears.

Anyway, I fitted a new cable and had no more slipping and it changed gear a lot better. So before you start pulling the Strada apart, I'd recommend fitting a new clutch cable. It would be a cheap and easy job in comparison to removing a gearbox and changing a clutch!

If that fails, then unfortunately you have no option other than to remove the gearbox and see if anything is wrong inside.

Let the board know how you get on, and hope you get your Strada fixed soon!

Also, you might find the following link of interest as it concerns a Strada Abarth project. Very amusingly written too!

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jimbonet/130tcproject.html

If that doesn't work try this link and scroll down for the 130TC link:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jimbonet/

Here we go - or drive again...

It is now fixed. Thanks to everyone helping. Due to lack of time it took some while to get fixed. Not an easy clutch to find on the market either. So as suggested, the gearbox was separated from the engine. No sign of failure.

Then the clutch was taken off. Then it was obvious where the fault was. Some round part was cracked making the cluctch inoperatible and it has actully scratched the clutch internally aswell. I have no idea what part it is or what it does. Will take a photo soon.

New clutch in - gearbox on. Summer air intake mounted. RRRROOOOAAARRRR 130 bhp twincarbed twincamed insane FIAT engine is back on the street. Bhp might be wrong, these are stallions, not horses... bsp.

Life is good behind the steering wheel of an Abarth.