Civic juddering in first
Discussion
Before I take the car into a garage I thought I'd seek some independent advice.
On Friday I drove my 57 plate 1.8 petrol civic (it's the OH who drives it daily) I noticed a juddering when i lift the clutch up in first. I've tried to narrow it down to holding the biting point and under lowish revs it happens.
I can pull away in 2nd on level ground well enough which isn't making me think it's the clutch. It had a full service last spring Inc new plugs. When the car gets going it's totally fine and changing gears from 1st to 2nd and the rest there isn't any juddering.
Finally my OH said it happens on a steep hill on her way to work when she has to stop and set off.
Anyone got any ideas so that I might be able to fix it myself / tell the garage what I think it might be so I can get them to look there first.
On Friday I drove my 57 plate 1.8 petrol civic (it's the OH who drives it daily) I noticed a juddering when i lift the clutch up in first. I've tried to narrow it down to holding the biting point and under lowish revs it happens.
I can pull away in 2nd on level ground well enough which isn't making me think it's the clutch. It had a full service last spring Inc new plugs. When the car gets going it's totally fine and changing gears from 1st to 2nd and the rest there isn't any juddering.
Finally my OH said it happens on a steep hill on her way to work when she has to stop and set off.
Anyone got any ideas so that I might be able to fix it myself / tell the garage what I think it might be so I can get them to look there first.
Disclaimer - I'm not an expert. But I've had clutch judder before on a couple of cars (esp. with aftermarket clutches) and it's been a non-issue long term.
Forgive me being blunt, but it sounds as if you're answering your own question.
- you don't drive it daily
- you've found it only happens at low revs while holding the bite point, or on hill starts
It's almost certainly the clutch. Judder implies contamination or wear. The full service last year doesn't tell you anything about the state of the clutch, unless it was changed at the time - which you haven't mentioned.
Even then it could still be worn dependent on mileage, type of driving, and driving style e.g. due to poor driving habits such as holding it on the bite point excessively, e.g. when stopped in traffic.
How much of an issue is it - is the clutch slipping or juddering under normal driving? If no to both, I'd be inclined to accept it as a slight nuisance. The short term answer is probably 1. be a bit more brisk when releasing the clutch, and 2. don't hold it on its bite point any longer than necessary.
Longer term answer is clearly replacement. An inspection requires getting the transmission out, so you'd just as well replace the clutch at this point regardless. This isn't the easiest or cheapest job on EP Civics, would be surprised if FNs were much different. I'd just keep a weather eye on it, were it me - I may be wrong.
Luke
Forgive me being blunt, but it sounds as if you're answering your own question.
- you don't drive it daily
- you've found it only happens at low revs while holding the bite point, or on hill starts
It's almost certainly the clutch. Judder implies contamination or wear. The full service last year doesn't tell you anything about the state of the clutch, unless it was changed at the time - which you haven't mentioned.
Even then it could still be worn dependent on mileage, type of driving, and driving style e.g. due to poor driving habits such as holding it on the bite point excessively, e.g. when stopped in traffic.
How much of an issue is it - is the clutch slipping or juddering under normal driving? If no to both, I'd be inclined to accept it as a slight nuisance. The short term answer is probably 1. be a bit more brisk when releasing the clutch, and 2. don't hold it on its bite point any longer than necessary.
Longer term answer is clearly replacement. An inspection requires getting the transmission out, so you'd just as well replace the clutch at this point regardless. This isn't the easiest or cheapest job on EP Civics, would be surprised if FNs were much different. I'd just keep a weather eye on it, were it me - I may be wrong.
Luke
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