Technical Clutch bite almost on the floor

[tarathedog]

I've just bought my wife a 2001 Multipla JTD and I have noticed that the clutch disengages when the pedal is almost on the floor. My wife is ony small and is struggling to press the clutch all the way down even when the seat is as far forward as it will go.

As it is a hydaulic clutch I cannot find any adjustment and I have tried bleeding the system just in case there was air in it but there was no change.

Has anyone any ideas how i can move the position it bites a little higher.

Thanks

 

[glbell]

sounds to me like your master cylinder or the spring inside is on the way out.

I recently with the help of this forum detected i didnt need a new clutch - i couldnt get it into gear and there was a lot of play on the clutch . Turns out the spring insde the MS had gone...a new MS is a horror and very costly job but another post on this site told you how to replace the broken spring in the MS...whichthe garage follwed and I got the whole job done for less than £100 as opposed to the £600 quoted...

 

[tarathedog]

Thanks glbell,
Can you remember where the post is or the title so I can find out how its done and what I need

 

[aeroadster]

It would be useful to put that "spring fix job" as a posted article at the top of the forum.

A lot of us might find it useful.

 

[missionary]

Well can I add my name to the list for the link to the clutch pedal repair ?

I just bought an 83,000 mile JTD and although the clutch works OK it really is biting right on the floor. But there is plenty of spring in the pedal and it appears to function normally - if only I knew what that is in one of these cars ! (Otherwise it drives really well).

This car has a towbar so I assume that although the last owner did not tow, that the clutch has already been replaced at some time.

I read elsewhere that there should be 10mm freeplay on the pedal ,so looked at it expecting to see the usual threaded rod and locknut, and all I find is a thin rod entering a thin plastic sleeve and then a larger rubber grommet just above the floor, and the other end goes into a plastic coated ball joint on the pedal lever. So I would like to know where the adjustment is. Unless of course you extract the split pin holding the joint onto the pedal lever and turn the rod into the floor.

Any ideas please ? And a link to that story as well please?

TIA

mish

 

[Emm]

A 'sticky' is what your after, you need to PM a Mod and ask them to do it

 

[missionary]

I would hope that the moderators read new postings !

mish

 

[a1ant]

I think this is the thread you are after..... HERE

I cant make it a sticky because i don't have the privilege of being a mod lol

Hope that helps,
Alan

 

[missionary]

a1ant - there are gentlemen and there are heroes. You are both, thank you.

cheers
mish

PS at the mission we need more helpful people like you - want to work for nothing in the jungle for a year?

 

[a1ant]

a1ant - there are gentlemen and there are heroes. You are both, thank you.

cheers
mish

PS at the mission we need more helpful people like you - want to work for nothing in the jungle for a year?

Lol no problem!

 

[missionary]

Just to update on the situation.

I found that the spring was not broken though about 2mm shorter than the new replacement. So I replaced both the spring and piston. Any improvement in bite? - none.

The bite is still just off the floor, although the clutch does dis-engage and there are no crunches when changing. I have also tried swinging the starter with the clutch depressed when in 1st gear and there is no tendency for the car to move forward. So again, proof that the clutch is dis-engaging fully.

So unless anyone has more ideas then I will just have to wait to see how it goes, though not very happy.

cheers
mish

 

[equaliser]

It sounds like you have a worn clutch, not the friction plate but the pressure plate. The release bearing wears out the pressure plate 'fingers' after a while. It's normally caused by sitting with the clutch depressed in slow moving traffic etc. I've actually seen the release bearing wear a hole in the pressure plate! I take it your clutch is the original?

 

[missionary]

Thanks EQ that is interesting.

As the car is new to me I don't know all the service/repair history. But It does have a consecutively stamped service book. As the last service was definitely done by a Fiat dealer a thousand miles ago and he did not put anything on the invoice - which I have - then its even more interesting !

From reading other forums etc. it seems 65,000 miles is the life of a multi clutch. But this car has a towbar, not fitted by the previous owner, so I would gues that the clutch has already been done at some time. But its just a guess.

So in your experience, how long do you think it will be before I get to the point of renewal? I must say though that I am getting used to driving it this way and its feeling more 'normal' though still quite wrong mechanically.

I have yet to take out a warranty as I am getting through the small print. I see that some naturally will not pay for the friction disc or any other parts, (Warranty Direct for example), but as an example 'click4warranty' only exclude the friction disc, list the other parts they will cover and also list the labour costs. Another advantage is that c4w also cover 'wear and tear' from day one, others want a 90 day moratorium on claims.

oh so much to understand !

cheers
mish

 

[equaliser]

If it is the pressure plate then it will go with a bang once the release bearing finally eats it way through the fingers. Only true way of knowing is to take the gearbox out and if your going this far a new clutch is a must. Is the weight of the clutch pedal heavy?

 

[TinyUK]

Just out of interest, whats a Multi' clutch like to change?
My bite point is about 50mm from the floor, so I guess somethings amiss with mine too.
The pedal sits nice and high though.

 

[missionary]

Thanks,

The clutch pedal is not heavy and seems well balanced, though not as light as the Mondeo I have been driving temporarily lately. There is also no noise coming from the release bearing, which would usually indicate a problem there.

I would not want to wait till it goes though. I believe in preventive maintenance. So which warranty policy would stand it if I claim after a month into the contract . Click4warranty seems a contender !

cheers
mish

 

[Zundapp]

There's an issue in modern diesels with the dual mass flywheel failing prematurely. In many instances they're not lasting nearly as long as is acceptable.

This shows itself in various clutch problems which can be trivial and livable with to complete and expensive failure.

It's generally accepted that the materials used to bond the flywheel parts together fails due to heat. I imagine that a warranty insurance assessor would try to explain the excessive heat by claimimg that the heat is caused by the driver riding the clutch at traffic lights/slow moving/stationary traffic. And try to prove otherwise!

I think there's a replacement one piece flywheel available for the Multi and I'd like to hear anyone's experiences of this, ie increased vibration or noise which the dual mass flywheel is supposed to reduce.

 

[JTDman]

Dual mass flywheels were also made to cope with the extra torque the modern day cars create , the crank would need to be thicker to cope so the flywheel was adapted (cheaper easier) otherwise a the engine would not rev as freely.

 

[Maddog02]

Had to get clutch replaced on my 2000 model 110JTD at 75,000miles. This cost £580 - not a Fiat dealer but smaller (reliable) business. Pig of a job apparently. Not for the faint hearted or weak bodied fellows!. This is in fact third Clutch as it was (alegedly) replaced at 25K when we bought the car second hand. Seems poor to me as my Cavalier didn't need a new clutch till 110,000miles. Now at 146,000miles. This only cost £150.

 

[tarathedog]

Thanks for all your comments and advice, but i think it is the pressure plate that is worn, I have now noticed that the thrust brearing is getting noisy.

I hope it lasts till the weather warms up as it looks like i will have to change the clutch,

Not looking forward to it but can't afford to pay a garage.