Weird clutch after driving through a flood

[geg1992]

Hi all,

Hope everyone is well!

I have a strange issue after driving through a flood but I have no idea what could be the actual issue.

99% of the time the clutch is fine. I have no issues changing gears, no rattling once released, no slipping etc etc.

However, if I sit in traffic with the clutch pedal down for say 10 seconds or longer, I have strange sensations through the pedal.

One or more of the following happens.

The bite point changes and is usually more aggressive.
The pedal doesn't come back up as quickly so it can make it difficult to pull away
the next gear change can be difficult but then it's completely fine after that.

After the initial pull away or gear change after being idle with the clutch down, the car returns to being completely normal.

I've been getting around the issue by putting it in neutral whenever I stop, but I'm worried about a potential future breakdown.

Could it be I need to change the clutch fluid?

Many thanks for any input, much appreciated.

the car is a 2008 Honda civic 2.2 CTDI diesel.

[GeniusOfLove]

2008 car?

That wants ignoring.

Joking aside yes maybe worth changing the fluid,it's MILES easier if you have an ez-bleed. Besides that.... it wants ignoring.

[kambites]

Unless the flood water came up to the clutch fluid reservoir (which is generally mounted on or by the master cylinder in the pedal box, right at the top and back of the engine bay), there should be no way for water to have got into the clutch fluid! I suspect your engine would have hydrolocked and killed itself long before the flood got that high.

My gut feeling from the symptoms you describe is that the thrust bearing is on the way out. If water got into the bell-housing I guess it's possible that it's washed away some of the bearing grease, but I think it's equally likely that the flood is coincidence. If you tend to sit at traffic lights/in traffic with your clutch pedal down, it wont have had the easiest of lives.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 10th August 11:43

[Haltamer]

Easiest to start with the accessible parts - Flush the clutch fluid, very easy with a helper.

Whilst you're there at the slave cylinder, check the clutch release arm - There's a ball and socket joint coming out of the slave cylinder, check that is lubricated, pull back the rubber boot covering the internal mechanism and check that is lubricated too.

[carinaman]

kambites said:

Unless the flood water came up to the clutch fluid reservoir (which is generally mounted on or by the master cylinder in the pedal box, right at the top and back of the engine bay), there should be no way for water to have got into the clutch fluid! I suspect your engine would have hydrolocked and killed itself long before the flood got that high.

My gut feeling from the symptoms you describe is that the thrust bearing is on the way out. If water got into the bell-housing I guess it's possible that it's washed away some of the bearing grease, but I think it's equally likely that the flood is coincidence. If you tend to sit at traffic lights/in traffic with your clutch pedal down, it wont have had the easiest of lives.

I think the link I posted mentioned grease loss.


DMF failure and driving through the flood is coincidental?

https://www.phoenixfriction.com/t-symptoms-of-dual...


The clutch and DMF in the same powerplant in the Accord necessitates subframe removal so expensive labour costs compared to parts prices.


Seems subframe removal not required to change clutch in Civic:

https://www.civinfo.com/threads/2-2-cdti-clutch-ch...

Edited by carinaman on Thursday 10th August 12:00

[kambites]

Having reread it, I've realised I might have misunderstood... do you have the "strange sensation through the pedal" while your foot is down, or just when you are raising the pedal? If the latter, it's probably something in the clutch release fork assembly and/or the linkage which connects that to the hydraulics.

[geg1992]

GeniusOfLove said:

2008 car?

That wants ignoring.

Joking aside yes maybe worth changing the fluid,it's MILES easier if you have an ez-bleed. Besides that.... it wants ignoring.

Haha very true! I bought it as a stop-gap car that has become more permanent due to a lot things going wrong in life this year!

Thank you, I'll try the fluid first.

[geg1992]

kambites said:

Unless the flood water came up to the clutch fluid reservoir (which is generally mounted on or by the master cylinder in the pedal box, right at the top and back of the engine bay), there should be no way for water to have got into the clutch fluid! I suspect your engine would have hydrolocked and killed itself long before the flood got that high.

My gut feeling from the symptoms you describe is that the thrust bearing is on the way out. If water got into the bell-housing I guess it's possible that it's washed away some of the bearing grease, but I think it's equally likely that the flood is coincidence. If you tend to sit at traffic lights/in traffic with your clutch pedal down, it wont have had the easiest of lives.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 10th August 11:43

thank you! I assumed that once the clutch is released at idle, you'd hear the rattling sound if it's the thrust bearing, but it's completely silent. Or am I thinking about something else?

[geg1992]

Haltamer said:

Easiest to start with the accessible parts - Flush the clutch fluid, very easy with a helper.

Whilst you're there at the slave cylinder, check the clutch release arm - There's a ball and socket joint coming out of the slave cylinder, check that is lubricated, pull back the rubber boot covering the internal mechanism and check that is lubricated too.

thanks very much, I will get the fluid changes and check the other parts.

[geg1992]

carinaman said:

I think the link I posted mentioned grease loss.


DMF failure and driving through the flood is coincidental?

https://www.phoenixfriction.com/t-symptoms-of-dual...


The clutch and DMF in the same powerplant in the Accord necessitates subframe removal so expensive labour costs compared to parts prices.


Seems subframe removal not required to change clutch in Civic:

https://www.civinfo.com/threads/2-2-cdti-clutch-ch...

Edited by carinaman on Thursday 10th August 12:00

thank you. To be honest, the car is probably worth the same amount as changing the clutch / DMF with the labour costs involved, so I'll probably just keep running it until it eventually breaks.

[geg1992]

kambites said:

Having reread it, I've realised I might have misunderstood... do you have the "strange sensation through the pedal" while your foot is down, or just when you are raising the pedal? If the latter, it's probably something in the clutch release fork assembly and/or the linkage which connects that to the hydraulics.

Sorry, perhaps I didn't make it clear.

ONLY in the process of releasing / immediately after it is released.

Other than that it is completely fine. It also only happens when the clutch is pressed down for a longer period. It made me assume there could be air or something in the fluid but I couldn't find any similar posts on the issue.

Thanks very much.

[carinaman]

It could keep going for years.

[Tyrell Corp]

geg1992 said:

Hi all,


I've been getting around the issue by putting it in neutral whenever I stop, but I'm worried about a potential future breakdown.


the car is a 2008 Honda civic 2.2 CTDI diesel.

Awful driving skills, keeping the clutch down whilst waiting in traffic and a sure way to wear out your thrust release bearing.
My neighbour (bless her) goes through a clutch every year, I suggested she might go for an auto next time around.

If you feel hear roughness when clutch pedal is down then it is your thrust bearing on it's way out soon.

[geg1992]

Tyrell Corp said:

Awful driving skills, keeping the clutch down whilst waiting in traffic and a sure way to wear out your thrust release bearing.
My neighbour (bless her) goes through a clutch every year, I suggested she might go for an auto next time around.

If you feel hear roughness when clutch pedal is down then it is your thrust bearing on it's way out soon.

Honestly, I didn't realise. But now I do, I'll be sure to avoid it!

[Pica-Pica]

Do nothing. Changing clutch fluid is a waste of effort, how has the fluid been affected? Oh, and select neutral when waiting in traffic.

[Gary C]

Tyrell Corp said:

Awful driving skills, keeping the clutch down whilst waiting in traffic and a sure way to wear out your thrust release bearing.
My neighbour (bless her) goes through a clutch every year, I suggested she might go for an auto next time around.

If you feel hear roughness when clutch pedal is down then it is your thrust bearing on it's way out soon.

Or the DMF is breaking up

When my 407's went it made really horrible sounds (but only if you were outside the car, the soundproofing in a 407 is enormous) and it 'felt' really funny. Not linear and strange.

[Cold]

Some years back my Series 11A Land Rover suffered similar symptoms. Once up on axle stands I split the bellhousing from the block in preparation for a new clutch. About three litres of flood water dropped out. So I bolted it all back together again with no ill effects.

So top tip, fit your wading plugs before going wading. That might not be applicable to a 2008 Honda Civic though.

[mat205125]

Possibly release bearing related if it's only with the clutch pushed down.

Try not to sit in traffic with the clutch in would be the first tip.