Technical Stuck on Clutch or Gearbox issue

[edbremner]

Hi Guys,

Wonder if you could help diagnose my Cinqy clutch/gearbox problems in any way.

Recently I changed the clutch on my Cinqy and it has been in and working for 3 or 4 months and most probably done about the same thousand miles. It has been adjusted, settled down and as far as I was concerned was a job done and dusted.

Yesterday, I was coming down a very steep hill (Porlock Hill, in case anyone knows it) and as the car was heavy and full to brim, was running in a lower gear than I would feel normally right, for the engine breaking, but in no way hard revving at all.

I went to change gear and the clutch felt fine, if a little heavier than normal, but it was really hard to get it into any new gear.

I stopped to find that although the clutch felt fine, I was totally unable to get it into any gear at all.

When I was rescued, the guy jumped in, tried it and said the clutch seemed fine but that the gear selectors had jumped or were not working. I have since checked in case it was as simple as the mushroom joints jumping off, but no luck, not that simple and the gear selectors seem fine.

So to be clear.

The clutch feels fine, if possibly a little stiffer than it was, the cable is not broken and is moving the clutch release mechanism, and all looks fine from the outside of the clutch housing.

The gear lever, when engine is not running, can select gears 1-3 with ease, and 4,5 and reverse with a little jiggling. The gear lever is moving the selector on the outside of the gearbox and there does not seem to be any problems that I can see at all - at least externally.

When the engine is running, and the clutch fully down, you simply can not push it or even force it into any gear at all.

The clutch feels fine, if possibly a little stiffer than it was.....the gearbox feels fine when engine not running.

It feels like the clutch plates are just jammed together and not separating. Is this possible? I have never had a problem like this before.

What are your thoughts? Any ideas? What are my next steps in diagnosis or fixing this.

cheers

eib

 

[Honeymonster]

The fact you can change gear without the engine running would strongly suggest clutch fingers/clutch arm.

Unfortunately best thing to do is pull the box and have a look.

 

[edbremner]

Yes, I think pulling the box off is going to be the only option. Damn it!

Wonder when this rain is going to stop!

eib

 

[Honeymonster]

Yes, I think pulling the box off is going to be the only option. Damn it!

Wonder when this rain is going to stop!

eib

You pulled this off yet? everyone wants to see inside.

 

[edbremner]

Thanks Honeymonster,

yeah I do to!!

But when it rains it pours, in this case both metaphorically and literally!

Immediately before the cinqy clutch went, we were told our Landie needs £500 of welding to get through the MOT....grrrr... so that's being done as too big for me to do in a hurry, at least at this time of year, in this weather.

The yard is full with an A30 on blocks waiting for work....welding again.

So I don't have anywhere dry to put the cinqy and as you might of gathered, it has been a little breezy and wet in SouthWest Cornwall recently....so don't feel like dropping the gearbox until the weather settles down a bit. So fingers crossed for next w/end.

Will post as soon as I can drop the box.

eib

 

[edbremner]

Finally got a free day when it wasn't pissing down with rain....

so got under the cinq and dropped the gearbox and pulled out the clutch.

The problem was pretty obvious:

Lost a set of anti-judder springs from in the clutch plate.

Really surprised there was not more noise when this went.....and the other weird thing is that at moment, I can't find the springs anywhere, although the broken spring retainer fell out as I pulled the box off. I think that either the broken bit or one of the springs (wherever they are) was jammed in the clutch somehow making it unable to disengage.

So, now the question is whether Valeo will replace the clutch under guarantee. It was only a couple of months old, so I hope so.

So anyway, there you go.

problem diagnosed if not yet solved!

eib

 

[jatkinson]

Wow , that is supriseing , Valeo will not Repalce it was it fitted by a garage ect , as they will use that as a way out as you could of "fit in error" you wont of but these are all way out of them refunding you , take the clutch back to the place you got it from and Kick off

 

[edbremner]

Luckily, I bought the clutch kit from Big Mick at EuroCarCare.

I sent him an email and picture and a new one was straight with the courier and should arrive tomorrow.

Wonderful service! I am a very impressed customer.

cheers, and thanks Mick

lets hope we get some good weather next w/end

eib

 

[jatkinson]

Good service from Bigmick again