Hey!

I've been experiencing some issues with my 2004 JTD MULTIPLA since the clutch was replaced in the mechanic.
The clutch was ok but we had to replace the cable again as it seems that this mechanic didn't do a honest job.
Since then - early February - we are experiencing a hard gear. We start the car no problem, then a few minutes later, if we have to park, already gets hard to put reverse or first. Almost impossible. Even if we put, it's really hard to put neutral. So we have to switch off the car, put the gear (when the car is off, the gears become ok again) and then park it.

We go to the mechanic who makes an adjustment just so the car goes fine for the next week....

We bled the clutch and the gear box... No leaking issues, so it seems..

Did it happen with any of you? Do you have any idea of what can this be?

Thanks in advance
Maria

`There's a couple of points to clear up first, perhaps then it will be possible to suggest what is wrong and hopefully, where.

You said you had to replace the cable again -

a: what was wrong with cable

b: did the clutch feel different immediately after the cable was replaced?

c: what was the makers name of the new clutch

d: what type of clutch was fitted (DMF or standard?) It's probably not DMF but it just needs clarifying.

d: you said you bled the clutch, this is not needed on a cable clutch, so what did you bleed?

e: I'm not sure what you mean by bleeding the gearbox - please explain.

There are a lot of people on this site with years of knowledge regarding 'our' beloved 'Ugly Bugs', but they need to know as much as possible in order to give you any help, anything - it doesn't matter how small can help the helper give you an answer.
Also, depending what area you are in, there maybe someone near that can come to help you.
All the best
George

Oletimer said:

`There's a couple of points to clear up first, perhaps then it will be possible to suggest what is wrong and hopefully, where.

You said you had to replace the cable again -

a: what was wrong with cable

b: did the clutch feel different immediately after the cable was replaced?

c: what was the makers name of the new clutch

d: what type of clutch was fitted (DMF or standard?) It's probably not DMF but it just needs clarifying.

d: you said you bled the clutch, this is not needed on a cable clutch, so what did you bleed?

e: I'm not sure what you mean by bleeding the gearbox - please explain.

There are a lot of people on this site with years of knowledge regarding 'our' beloved 'Ugly Bugs', but they need to know as much as possible in order to give you any help, anything - it doesn't matter how small can help the helper give you an answer.
Also, depending what area you are in, there maybe someone near that can come to help you.
All the best
George

Click to expand...

Hey! Thanks for your response! I will try to explain better and give you the details you refer to. (Sorry for bad English and our lack of experience )

We are now trying to understand what happened to the 1st mechanic, which we think has not done the right job. MULTIPLA is not a common car in Portugal and this mechanic is a standard one - not a Fiat's official.


We had the clutch changed in the beggining of February, after the cable broke away from home, and we had the car towed to that mechanic. The problems started shortly after.

a: what was wrong with cable
When the clutch was changed, it felt a bit different (bit harder), but thought it ws normal. Soon after, the "hard gear changing when warm" started to happen. We took the car to our local mechanic (different than the 1st) who tightened a bit the gear (don't know where, under the car...) He noticed the new cable becoming ripped off and suggested to replace it soon.
We WD40 under the clutch pedal as it was really hard and it became normal. this, even before we changed it.



b: did the clutch feel different immediately after the cable was replaced?

After this WD40, the clutch was normal and continued normal after this second cable change.



c: what was the makers name of the new clutch
Don´t know. The receipt only mentions DMF clutch kit


d: what type of clutch was fitted (DMF or standard?) It's probably not DMF but it just needs clarifying.
Supposely DMF..


e: you said you bled the clutch, this is not needed on a cable clutch, so what did you bleed?
We bled the break/clutch reservoir - it´s the same reservoir for both. This oil was supposely new (According to the receipt) but it was completely black when we bled it.


f: I'm not sure what you mean by bleeding the gearbox - please explain.
We bled the gearbox reservoir and fill in with new valvoline. Both these oil changes (break/clutch and gearbox) didn´t make any notable difference. Every 15 days we have to go in and tighten the gearbox.... We know this is wrong, but the 1st mechanic is far from home.

Best wishes
Maria

I'm having difficulty understanding the problem you are experiencing.

I know you had a clutch change, a cable needed changing soon after and you are still having trouble with the clutch.

My thoughts are:

1/ A clutch has been fitted that was not for this car

2/ The clutch arm is not correct for the new clutch

2a/ The release bearing is either not fitted correctly or is wrong one.

3/ The dirty clutch/brake fluid wouldn't/couldn't make any difference in a cable clutch system.

4/ I do not have enough info to work with.

Did you say you are in Portugal?

Yes, Portugal.

The problem is that that when I start the car, it's fine. After a few minutes driving, when the car is warmer, it gets almost impossible to put 1st and reverse. Others get really hard, but 1st and RV won't go..

This issue became after all this clutch situation.


Thanks again for your answer.
We're going to the mechanic who put the clutch....

Oletimer said:

I'm having difficulty understanding the problem you are experiencing.

I know you had a clutch change, a cable needed changing soon after and you are still having trouble with the clutch.

My thoughts are:

1/ A clutch has been fitted that was not for this car

2/ The clutch arm is not correct for the new clutch

2a/ The release bearing is either not fitted correctly or is wrong one.

3/ The dirty clutch/brake fluid wouldn't/couldn't make any difference in a cable clutch system.

4/ I do not have enough info to work with.

Did you say you are in Portugal?

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