Very stiff clutch

[funkyrobot]

Test drove a 52 plate Honda CRv earlier that has done 122k miles. Its only for sale at £750, so will be used as a shed runabout.

Engine seemed ok and it drove fine. It had front tyres with barely legal tread on, knackered bushes (which made the steering feel odd) and a habit of pulling left. Fair enough, its a cheap car and none of the above would worry me.

However, it also had a clutch pedal that was immensely hard to depress. It was really, really stiff and even when fully pressed (it didn't have a lot of travel) the gears still grinded a bit.

I'm not a mechanic, so wondered if this means it'll need a new clutch? This would put me off the car as I guess a new clutch is at least a few hundred quid?

The seller told me they had a problem with it recently and they changed something on the bulkhead. I think it hasnt cured it though.

Any thoughts on this issue? Is it something that would put you off a shed car? I can live with dodgy bushes, but it will need tyres and if it needs a clutch too,i'll be spending a lot of the purchase price to put it right.

[funkyrobot]

Why has this been moved to car buying? Its as much a mechanical advice post than a buying one.

[jmsgld]

I had a 53 plate CRV for 4 years for my girlfriend, the clutch was very light. (It did make an annoying noise where a spring on the pedal fouled on something, but that is nothing more than an annoyance)

We sold that in January with similar mileage, winter and summer tyre sets, full mot, roof rack and generally in fantastic condition for £1900.

I would look elsewhere, they're two a penny and you should be able to get similar without a potentially expensive clutch issue... did you check the fluid levels?

[Mr2Mike]

If its a cable operated clutch (unlikely on a Honda) then it might just need a new cable, but far more likely the clutch is tired. On many cars the clutch becomes heavy and drags well before it starts slipping,

[Pete Eroleum]

Probably just the dust from the clutch friction plate gumming up the release bearing. Best to change the clutch, no big deal really.

[funkyrobot]

Clutch change it is then if I want the car.

Did check fluids. Power steering at min level, oil at min level after running it for 10 seconds (chap reversed it), other stuff seemed ok.

It'll need a few hundred spending on it and at this price point, it isnt worth it. Will keep looking.

Thanks.