Technical Clutch/gear problem?

[oldcar]

Hi (yet again!)
I have trouble engaging first gear and reverse, also my clutch pedal goes all the way to the floor and to engage any gear i have to have it fully pressed to the floor. I mentioned this at the garage and they thought the clutch would need to be replaced, short on the pennies atm so is there anything that should be ruled out first? I asked if they needed to check anything first and they said no so was a bit surprised?

They asked if it was slipping, i didn't know what this was oops but i haven't noticed the engine revving more when changing gears if this is what it is? The only other thing is sometimes it's pretty slow to accelerate eg foot to the floor and still takes say up to around 10secs (rough guess) to go from 40ish mph to 60 mph. Don't know if this would be linked?

Also sorry for my ignorance but would anyone know if a Fiat Punto 1996 55s would have a hydraulic clutch or a clutch cable, or is there a way I could I find out without taking bits apart? (As if it is hydraulic, if the fluid is low could this just be the problem and just need topping up?)

Hope you can help, thanks to all who have previously!

 

[oldcar]

Oh and should add, would whatever this is be something that should be fixed soonish or can it wait? I can live with it as it is rather than fork out more money, but travelling on holiday around 170 miles there, some driving there then same back, so if it's something that would make the car inoperable or be dangerous then I would obviously want to be fixing it before going.
Thanks

 

[fingers99]

Could be low fluid or knackered slave cylinder.

55 clutch is hydraulic.

But if the engine revs increase and road speed does not, the clutch is slipping. It'll be worn out, finished, fubar, kaput.

You risk being stranded with no drive (to wheels) and breaking the box.

 

[oldcar]

Thanks for your reply.

Is the hydraulic fluid in with the brake fluid? I can't see where else it would be in the engine (maybe I'm not looking hard enough). If so the brake fluid is topped up to max so guessing that's not the problem...

Not sure if the engine is revs increase while the speed does not. There is no rev counter on my dashboard. It's slow to accelerate uphill but could that be due to other things?

Basically was considering not doing anything for now and seeing if things get worse (then taking it in if they do). Figure if I have to pay to replace it may as well put it off and get all the wear out of it first.....but if it causes extra damage then that's not so good. What do you mean by breaking the box? Sorry for my ignorance!

 

[fingers99]

If it's difficult to get into gear, you risk doing damage by forcing it.

How long since last clutch?

 

[oldcar]

I don't know as bought the car late Nov 11 with no service history records etc. It's been like this since i got it.

 

[fingers99]

I'd be inclined to put a new clutch in. Shop around, though, back street clutch specialists are usually a lot cheaper (and faster) than garages.

 

[oldcar]

Ok thanks, think i'll wait till the next pay day then get it done! Thanks for replies & help.

 

[flisko]

i have played around with the clutch cable nut, and now when changing gears upwards, upon releasing the clutch car slows down a little, same in every gear, so this means i have loosened or tightened the cable too much?

 

[fingers99]

You've got me there.

Think you need someone else to drive it, give you their opinion.

 

[flisko]

got another car which isnt punto and when i switch gears upwards and release the clutch, car jumps forward/accelerates a bit, if u know what i mean

if i got this correct- nut/cable more tight would mean less pedal travel for fully engaged clutch and for a loose nut/cable the opposite?

 

[dumbledore]

He will need to check if the clutch has a cable or is hydraulic first. A visual in the engine bay is what is needed to find this out. If it is a cable then the cable operation needs to be checked out. Heavy clutch pedal will mean the cable will need changing. If it is hydraulic then again check operation and see if the lever on top of the gearbox is moved correctly when you press the clutch. If this appears OK, then the clutch may be on the last legs. My one failed like this before the clutch started to slip. The clutch plate absorption springs went loose and fall between the clutch plate and flywheel with the result that the clutch could not be disengaged by the pedal and then I could not change gears. Needed the AA to get my car back home.

 

[flisko]

clutch got a cable, pedal is not heavy and is working normally, i had trouble switching to reverse gear and i though this would fix it, but it didnt

 

[blu73]

tighten the adjuster makes the clutch start to disengage - thus over tighten and you get clutch slipping. Or if you loosen the adjuster then the pedal needs to move further to disengage drive - too far and you can't properly disengage the clutch and so gears won't slip in as they should.

On a cento to properly adjust it you measure the travel of the pedal, not sure what it should be on a punto but i would imagine its the same (anyone disagree????). For a cinq/sei pedal travel should be 120mm, +/- 5mm

This speed up, slow down after changing gear i can't really comprehend what you mean really. Depends of engine revs and all sorts of things how the engine/car reacts to changing gear. You just want the gears to go in smooth without crunches or grinding whilst not having any clutch slip at all.

 

[flisko]

tighten the adjuster makes the clutch start to disengage - thus over tighten and you get clutch slipping. Or if you loosen the adjuster then the pedal needs to move further to disengage drive - too far and you can't properly disengage the clutch and so gears won't slip in as they should.

On a cento to properly adjust it you measure the travel of the pedal, not sure what it should be on a punto but i would imagine its the same (anyone disagree????). For a cinq/sei pedal travel should be 120mm, +/- 5mm

This speed up, slow down after changing gear i can't really comprehend what you mean really. Depends of engine revs and all sorts of things how the engine/car reacts to changing gear. You just want the gears to go in smooth without crunches or grinding whilst not having any clutch slip at all.

dont know how to explain this better, lets say i switch from 2nd gear to 3rd and release the clutch fast- car loses speed/slows down a little, i want to find out is this cuz i tightened the nut to much or lossened it to much, gears still go in smooth without any grinding or other s_hit

 

[fingers99]

Your timing is off, methinks. The car will slow because your foot is (we presume) off the throttle.

 

[flisko]

yea foot is off the throttle

 

[dumbledore]

A car will always slow down between gear changes. It follows the laws of physics. The effect is more pronounced on cars that are light and have poor aerodynamics (like a punto for example)

 

[flisko]

but if i remember correctly before i started to play around with the clutch, when switching gears upward and letting go off the clutch car would jump forward, opposite to what it is doing now