General Clutch cable snapped again - just 4wks! :-(

[Lloyd's Red Flash]

Hi Guys,
My clutch cable snapped 4 weeks ago, and the t-piece and linkage fell out the bottom of the car, only had the Cinq 3 months, so figured it was old, frayed and needed replacing, I was at low speed exiting a restaraunt carpark so I could recover the fallen pieces, bought a new cable at £11 from wilko motorsave, fitted in 30mins job well done, and back on the road.

However, yesterday in the fast lane of the M1 slowing down, the darn thing went again, bang, pedal hit the floor, have no gears. Managed to get off to the hard shoulder without incident and get towed home eventually thanks to a good friend.

On inspection the cable has gone in exactly the same place after just 4 weeks!? So is there a common problem/manuf fault. or is my shoddy fitting to blame, i.e. not correct tension etc. Anyway to make matters worse the connecting bits have all fell out on the M1, so now my easiest route for repair is going to be finding a cinq in a local salvage yard and stripping the bits off maybe including the cable also, rather than new one?

Nightmare, the car serves me well though, has handled a daily 70mile motorway roundtrip commute at average motorway fast lane speeds since I bought it, I mean it wasn't excatly built for my daily slog, I love the wee beastie - Can't wait to get it back on the road.

 

[Sei_rory]

Yeah i would say its a common fault, mine has snapped 3 times on the little linkage part in the past, take it back to the motorfactor you got it from and they will replace it, i got mine and within 6 months it snapped so i took it back and they exchanged it for me. Most parts have a 1 year parts warranty.

 

[fingers99]

I don't completely understand these peices falling out onto the road: the outer cable is fixed to the shell, what's to fall out?

But, usually, cables break because the clutch is finished. Sounds like new clutch kit time.

 

[Tone34]

I understand the losing bits. It is the 'pad' as Fiat call it which holds the cable into the linkage on top of the gearbox. Also the locking nuts. Lost mine when my clutch cable went last year. Cost me about £10 for new one from Fiat dealers.

Tone

 

[Lloyd's Red Flash]

I understand the losing bits. It is the 'pad' as Fiat call it which holds the cable into the linkage on top of the gearbox. Also the locking nuts. Lost mine when my clutch cable went last year. Cost me about £10 for new one from Fiat dealers.

Tone

That's what I'm referring to yes, many thanks for that, good news re Dealer availability and cheap cost. I shall make enquiries.

Thanks again to all who have posted, very much appreciated

 

[Lloyd's Red Flash]

I don't completely understand these peices falling out onto the road: the outer cable is fixed to the shell, what's to fall out?

But, usually, cables break because the clutch is finished. Sounds like new clutch kit time.

Hi Fingers, there may be some truth in your comment there, as the gears have been 'snecking' for want of a better word before and after the clutch cable replacement. Supposedly the car had a new clutch fitted 2 months before I purchased it, which means if it was done, it was approx 5-6mths ago, with heavy use whats the average lifespan on the little fiats clutch

Thanks again.

 

[rallycinq]

Change the clutch before it happens again.

Cheers

PD

 

[fingers99]

I'd say life expectactancy is 40 -50k miles. It's often the release bearings which go first.

 

[rallycinq]

We've just changed a clutch on a Forester that had done only 4000 miles!

Worst case scenario was on old boy who got 249 miles from a Daihatsu Charade clutch.

Cheers

PD

 

[Lloyd's Red Flash]

OK Guys, I hear you, I shall look into buying and fitting a new clutch, are they cheap as chips and reasonable easy to fit like every other part i have had dealings with on my little fiat so far

Thanks again for all the feedback/advice

 

[Lloyd's Red Flash]

We've just changed a clutch on a Forester that had done only 4000 miles!

Worst case scenario was on old boy who got 249 miles from a Daihatsu Charade clutch.

Cheers

PD

Wowsers!!! 249miles!? LOL

Well I have covered approx 5-6k since buying the car just over 3mths ago now, and the clutch if the seller is to be believed is now approx 5-6mths old.

So, who know's, but best to replace it after the two clutch cables snapping, and its snecking gear shifts, I guess. The cars total mileage is 68K.

 

[fingers99]

New clutch kit less than £50.

Like all FWD cars, a bugger to fit (gearbox off job).

 

[beau]

imo- fit a valeo clutch kit, and a fiat clutch cable, and you should be good for a long time.

 

[rallycinq]

New clutch kit less than £50.

Like all FWD cars, a bugger to fit (gearbox off job).

Not quite true, there are some FWD cars that can be done without taking the box off, and I am sure most RWD and 4WD cars need the box off too.

But

In this case, its box off, but if its an 1108 its not too difficult.

Cheers

PD

 

[fingers99]

It's probably as much about space as anything. I recon I could change the clutch on a Fulvia (FWD, but longitudinal) in a third of the time it takes to do a Cinq.

 

[Lloyd's Red Flash]

imo- fit a valeo clutch kit, and a fiat clutch cable, and you should be good for a long time.

Will do, top suggestion. Found an exploded diagram of the Cinq's clutch setup from an EPC online yesterday, getting the cable and connectors from local Fiat Dealership Parts Desk today, hopefully they will offer next day delivery...

OK Guys, thanks for the advice regards new clutch fitting, shall use the assistance of a 'mechanically handy' friend for the clutch swapping job. May be tempted to see how it drives with the new fiat revised cable first...

Thanks again to all who have posted, very much appreciated, great forum, and your a friendly n helpful bunch arent ya

 

[Chris@souls]

We always find that aftermarket cables seem to be the wrong length, try a fiat one they arent really expensive

 

[Lloyd's Red Flash]

We always find that aftermarket cables seem to be the wrong length, try a fiat one they arent really expensive

Hi Chris, Ordered the Fiat Cable and connectors which have fallen on M1 from local dealer this morning £45! Cripes, be here Friday, back on the road for the weekend

 

[fingers99]

That seems a bit on the expensive side. Next time use Fluffy the Impaler!