Technical clutch barchetta

[Cuesta84]

Hello Everybody!

This year I bought a Fiat Barchetta of 1998 and I have some questions about the clutch. I am not use to drive cars from 90´s, my other cars are frem 00´s (BMW e46 and GolfV) and I fell the clutch softer than in the Barchetta. I asked to the seller if it´s normal, and he said me that he had other Barchetta before and the clutch was hard too.

The question is how hard is the clutch of the Barchetta and If this feeling could be a sign to change the clutch. Also you can heard a little noise If you dont release the clutch suddenly

Thank you for your time

 

[bugsymike]

Hello Everybody!

This year I bought a Fiat Barchetta of 1998 and I have some questions about the clutch. I am not use to drive cars from 90´s, my other cars are frem 00´s (BMW e46 and GolfV) and I fell the clutch softer than in the Barchetta. I asked to the seller if it´s normal, and he said me that he had other Barchetta before and the clutch was hard too.

The question is how hard is the clutch of the Barchetta and If this feeling could be a sign to change the clutch. Also you can heard a little noise If you dont release the clutch suddenly

Thank you for your time

Many modern cars have a "self servo" action on the pedal which makes clutch operation smoother.
Having said that, if yours is cable operated then first I would try a new good quality cable as that can help. Even a heavy clutch should have a smooth pedal operation in it's travel.
Finally if clutch is old and car has been standing you may still benefit from new clutch assembly and checking the release arm mechanism, especially if as you mention, noisy action.
What I have suggested is general, Barchetta owners may have specific advice for your model.

 

[Cuesta84]

Many modern cars have a "self servo" action on the pedal which makes clutch operation smoother.
Having said that, if yours is cable operated then first I would try a new good quality cable as that can help. Even a heavy clutch should have a smooth pedal operation in it's travel.
Finally if clutch is old and car has been standing you may still benefit from new clutch assembly and checking the release arm mechanism, especially if as you mention, noisy action.
What I have suggested is general, Barchetta owners may have specific advice for your model.

Thank´s for your recomendation

 

[FBe69]

classic signs of a worn clutch

• Clutch slipping: the engine revs increase but the car doesn’t really accelerate (often noticeable uphill or during hard acceleration).
• Difficulty shifting gears: especially first gear and reverse.
• Jerky starts: the car shudders or lurches when pulling away, even with smooth clutch control.
• High biting point: the clutch engages very high in the pedal travel (sign of advanced wear).
• Poor acceleration / loss of power: the car feels sluggish even though the engine is running fine.

On my car, the clutch is quite stiff (manly?) but it engages at the beginning of its travel so I remain confident

 

[348azeus]

Clutches can become harder to press as they get older. It’s not always a sign of imminent failure but it’s getting towards the end of its life , sometimes the springs in the pressure plate harder and so become stiffer and subsequently harder to move. Generally people don’t notice the difference on a daily basis as it is so gradual only noticing a dramatic difference when the clutch is changed.
My Barchetta has a much stiffer pedal than my friends car I bought a new clutch kit 10 years ago but still haven’t fitted it !

 

[bugsymike]

Clutches can become harder to press as they get older. It’s not always a sign of imminent failure but it’s getting towards the end of its life , sometimes the springs in the pressure plate harder and so become stiffer and subsequently harder to move. Generally people don’t notice the difference on a daily basis as it is so gradual only noticing a dramatic difference when the clutch is changed.
My Barchetta has a much stiffer pedal than my friends car I bought a new clutch kit 10 years ago but still haven’t fitted it !

I went to a broken down Peugeot one time that another mechanic had fitted a new clutch cable twice and each time on first press it broke the plastic hook end, I managed to get them out of trouble to drive it back by oiling through the bell housing as the cause was people resting their foot on the clutch pedal causing a wear groove in the pressure plate diagphragm so the first part of the travel tended to jam and strain the cable.
I did tell the driver a new clutch would be required, but at least I was able to get him on his way.

 

[Cuesta84]

Thanks for your answers

classic signs of a worn clutch

• Clutch slipping: the engine revs increase but the car doesn’t really accelerate (often noticeable uphill or during hard acceleration).
• Difficulty shifting gears: especially first gear and reverse.
• Jerky starts: the car shudders or lurches when pulling away, even with smooth clutch control.
• High biting point: the clutch engages very high in the pedal travel (sign of advanced wear).
• Poor acceleration / loss of power: the car feels sluggish even though the engine is running fine.

On my car, the clutch is quite stiff (manly?) but it engages at the beginning of its travel so I remain confident

Thanks for your answer,

Actually I don´t feel any of this syntoms in mi clutch. Even after the weekend journey the feeling of the clutch is better, still being harder than the other cars, but the whisper has desappeared.

Thanks

 

[Cuesta84]

Clutches can become harder to press as they get older. It’s not always a sign of imminent failure but it’s getting towards the end of its life , sometimes the springs in the pressure plate harder and so become stiffer and subsequently harder to move. Generally people don’t notice the difference on a daily basis as it is so gradual only noticing a dramatic difference when the clutch is changed.
My Barchetta has a much stiffer pedal than my friends car I bought a new clutch kit 10 years ago but still haven’t fitted it !

Thanks a lot, nice to know people with the same car and the same feeling. Wich is yor friend car? other Barchatte? I will review the cabel and i also will chenge the brake fluid to try to fell something diferent.

Thanks

 

[348azeus]

My Barchetta is a silver special edition 1998 but my friend has a 1995 yellow car