Discussion
I'm pretty certain my clutch is thinking about giving me jip again.
[i]Sometimes[/i] the gears feel knotchy and might even crunch when trying to get into say 1st.
I know that may not sound that unusual but TBH since I changed the clutch in mine about 6 months or so ago the gear change in mine has been exceptional, in fact better than many [i]normal[/i] cars I have driven.
So, I [i]know[/i] something's up and I know enough to know that the cause is that occasionally my clultch is dragging. When I say occasionally I mean that the odd gear change each day feels like I've barely pressed the clutch. The last 2 monday mornings it's felt quite bad till she's warmed up - she doesn't get used over the weekend generally.
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I'm interested in people's opinions. I have decided it is one of the following;
[b]1. lack of grease on the clutch spline[/b]
This TBH is where I'm pointing my finger. It fits better that it's worse when the cars been left. Plus when I fitted the clutch the service notes said when applying grease to the spline "use sparingly" I wonder whether I went a bit to far on this advice and haven't put enough on?
Also if it's sticking sometimes, then this might explain the inconsitency of it.
[b]2. Clutch master or slave cylinder seals[/b]
I read a lot about these going? Mine's only 5 years old and done about 26,000 miles. Is this likely? Is there an easy way to tell without going to the hass of replacing them?
[b]3. Air in the clutch line[/b]
I'd be suprised if it's this. But I'm prolly gonna bleed the system at the weekend - more than anything else cos it's a lot easier than pulling the gearbox just to check the grease on the clutch spline ;)
I'd very much welcome anyone's opinion on this - in particular Kevin's as I know you've had lotz of experience in this area :)
Thankyou :)
[i]Sometimes[/i] the gears feel knotchy and might even crunch when trying to get into say 1st.
I know that may not sound that unusual but TBH since I changed the clutch in mine about 6 months or so ago the gear change in mine has been exceptional, in fact better than many [i]normal[/i] cars I have driven.
So, I [i]know[/i] something's up and I know enough to know that the cause is that occasionally my clultch is dragging. When I say occasionally I mean that the odd gear change each day feels like I've barely pressed the clutch. The last 2 monday mornings it's felt quite bad till she's warmed up - she doesn't get used over the weekend generally.
==========
I'm interested in people's opinions. I have decided it is one of the following;
[b]1. lack of grease on the clutch spline[/b]
This TBH is where I'm pointing my finger. It fits better that it's worse when the cars been left. Plus when I fitted the clutch the service notes said when applying grease to the spline "use sparingly" I wonder whether I went a bit to far on this advice and haven't put enough on?
Also if it's sticking sometimes, then this might explain the inconsitency of it.
[b]2. Clutch master or slave cylinder seals[/b]
I read a lot about these going? Mine's only 5 years old and done about 26,000 miles. Is this likely? Is there an easy way to tell without going to the hass of replacing them?
[b]3. Air in the clutch line[/b]
I'd be suprised if it's this. But I'm prolly gonna bleed the system at the weekend - more than anything else cos it's a lot easier than pulling the gearbox just to check the grease on the clutch spline ;)
I'd very much welcome anyone's opinion on this - in particular Kevin's as I know you've had lotz of experience in this area :)
Thankyou :)
Yes, too sparingly is as bad as none. Mine had a small sliver from the factory which didn't last long. Also, depends on what kind of grease you use as both heat and centrifugal force act upon it.
You could check the clutch line for any air, but in general, with the V8 clutch, you can feel the diaphragm plate "flip" while depressing the pedal downward and there should be more travel beyond that. If this "feel" is consistant with temperatures, etc. even with poor shifting, you can pretty much rule out hydraulic related problems.
Hate to say it, but the only way to check for proper spline lubrication is to yank the box. You also need to grease the pivot point on the release arm (inside the housing) and the sleeve the release bearing rides up on during travel.
Regards, KM
2000 V8
You could check the clutch line for any air, but in general, with the V8 clutch, you can feel the diaphragm plate "flip" while depressing the pedal downward and there should be more travel beyond that. If this "feel" is consistant with temperatures, etc. even with poor shifting, you can pretty much rule out hydraulic related problems.
Hate to say it, but the only way to check for proper spline lubrication is to yank the box. You also need to grease the pivot point on the release arm (inside the housing) and the sleeve the release bearing rides up on during travel.
Regards, KM
2000 V8
feffman said:
3) Always (always) drop the car into 2nd before going for 1st gear or reverse.
This is generally what I had to do when I first got the car. Since doing my clutch I mean what I say, she shifts better than many normal cars.
To be honest in my opinion anyone that finds they are doing this and are accepting it needs to have their clutch looked at. All too often it seems to be accepted that Esprit clutches/boxes are just bad and they're not, well certainly the late v8's aren't.
maier said:
You could check the clutch line for any air, but in general, with the V8 clutch, you can feel the diaphragm plate "flip" while depressing the pedal downward and there should be more travel beyond that. If this "feel" is consistant with temperatures, etc. even with poor shifting, you can pretty much rule out hydraulic related problems.
I woz thinking about this on my way in this morning.
My biting point is near the top of my pedal travel, which is what I'd expect if everything is as should be given that the slave self adjusts. Next time it doesn't feel right I'll try and notice whether the bite has moved lower, if it has then it's like hyrdraulics related and if it hasn't then it's pull the box time
I also have a bottle of oil. The oil is fresh as of 6 months ago so no need to change, but I do plan to top it up - when I filled her I put 6 bottles in {3 litres} but it never spilled out of the hole, plus I've got a small leak where one of the drive shafts connects .........
Thanx for your input guys
Esprit V8 HK China
I found the root cause not just come from the spine, try to apply grease to the areas between the intermediate plate and the alloy clutch carrier, especially the 3 retaining pins. Lack of oil in these areas will cause the intermediate plate tilt over on one side causing a clutch drag. You can ascess these areas by removing the plastic cover (Bung.clutch housing A082Q4056K) at the bottom of the housing. The twin plate clutch was a poor design, I have an idea of fixing a small spy video camera to monitor the twin plate clutch behavior when driving. The spine and the clutch plate centre rust in humid seasons, the clutch plate have no damping spring to absorb the clutch releasing impact sometime ended up with crashed teeth in the clutch plate.
Regards
I found the root cause not just come from the spine, try to apply grease to the areas between the intermediate plate and the alloy clutch carrier, especially the 3 retaining pins. Lack of oil in these areas will cause the intermediate plate tilt over on one side causing a clutch drag. You can ascess these areas by removing the plastic cover (Bung.clutch housing A082Q4056K) at the bottom of the housing. The twin plate clutch was a poor design, I have an idea of fixing a small spy video camera to monitor the twin plate clutch behavior when driving. The spine and the clutch plate centre rust in humid seasons, the clutch plate have no damping spring to absorb the clutch releasing impact sometime ended up with crashed teeth in the clutch plate.
Regards
Another top tip - yay you
I woz planning on the pulling the box this weekend {weather dependant}, but it's something I'd like to avoid if poss - the funny thing is the only thing that bothers me is draining the gearbox oil out* - horrible stuff it is
Reckon I'll have a look at the guides and pins first, if they're dry I'll have a go at them first, then see how it is next week.
* I'll tell you a funny story about my gearbox oil. Last weekend I thought I'd bleed the clutch fluid and check that my gear box oil level woz ok.
I took the filler plug out, and felt around the hole - no oil. Checked the end of the plug and there was a bit of oil on there, so I double checked the filler hole still no oil.
Great I thinks, I'll top that up then. I turned round to get a bottle of oil then turns back and there is this awful smell. Looks down by the box and the stuff was pooring everywhere
I woz planning on the pulling the box this weekend {weather dependant}, but it's something I'd like to avoid if poss - the funny thing is the only thing that bothers me is draining the gearbox oil out* - horrible stuff it is
Reckon I'll have a look at the guides and pins first, if they're dry I'll have a go at them first, then see how it is next week.
* I'll tell you a funny story about my gearbox oil. Last weekend I thought I'd bleed the clutch fluid and check that my gear box oil level woz ok.
I took the filler plug out, and felt around the hole - no oil. Checked the end of the plug and there was a bit of oil on there, so I double checked the filler hole still no oil.
Great I thinks, I'll top that up then. I turned round to get a bottle of oil then turns back and there is this awful smell. Looks down by the box and the stuff was pooring everywhere
Funny story about Renault gearbox
I guess when you lifted up the car at the rear end to do the service, the oil trapped at the rear compartment (5th gear rear compartment) need some time to flow back to the main chamber, especially the high viscosity TAF-X need more time to flow back at low temperature. So if you find the level plug dry and take a snap you will smell of the lovely TAF-X. To me the smell of the TAF-X is much better then Christian Dior perfume.
Regards,
Ed
I guess when you lifted up the car at the rear end to do the service, the oil trapped at the rear compartment (5th gear rear compartment) need some time to flow back to the main chamber, especially the high viscosity TAF-X need more time to flow back at low temperature. So if you find the level plug dry and take a snap you will smell of the lovely TAF-X. To me the smell of the TAF-X is much better then Christian Dior perfume.
Regards,
Ed
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