Car suddenly does not change gear engine switched on

[Robb.s]

Hi all,

Hoping someone can help me out and give a bit of advice, I did post on another forum but haven't had a response yet and would like some other opinions.

As the title says, the car was working fine yesterday but suddenly now won't change into gear with the engine running, although I can change with the engine off, though the clutch does feel a little spongy too. Have been suggested conflicting information saying that it could be the master/slave cylinder or that it is the pressure plate that is likely to have gone and whole clutch needs replacing.

If it is the case of either, does anyone have an idea of costs I should expect? Some garages have quoted between £600-£800 which isn't ideal for me to shell out just before I am about to move!

Any help or pointers would be great, I'm a novice and currently at work today so difficult to check anything right now.

[Dr Jekyll]

The first thing to look at is the clutch cylinder, it's likely to have lost it's fluid and should be easy to check. If it's still full of fluid then worry about the clutch itself.

Of course you can drive without being able to disengage the clutch providing you match the revs OK, starting from rest is a bit tricky though.

[Robb.s]

Thanks Dr Jekyll, how would I go about that?

The car is a Megane 1.9 I did also try to check the fluid level but difficult as its hidden under other components to see if the level is low though I did think about topping it up after work today and see if that could identify an issue?

[Dr Jekyll]

Robb.s said:

Thanks Dr Jekyll, how would I go about that?

The car is a Megane 1.9 I did also try to check the fluid level but difficult as its hidden under other components to see if the level is low though I did think about topping it up after work today and see if that could identify an issue?

I was lucky when it happened to me. opened that bonnet and there was a clearly visible cylinder with a leak at the bottom and vapour coming out of the top, not so easy to see on modern cars.. Trying to top it up is worthwhile though.

[Steve_D]

Do you know, or work with, anyone who knows cars?
If so then either get them to look at it or recommend a mobile mechanic who can come and look at it for you.

Tell us where you live then possibly someone on here is close and can give you some pointers.

Steve

[sospan]

Are you in AA/RAC etc?
Good cheap diagnosis and possible fix if simple.

[Robb.s]

Hi all, unfortunately I've not had time to get anyone out and needed it fixed by close of play tomorrow as urgent meetings Wednesday. Phoned around 7-8 garages they all indicated its more likely a clutch replacement on this type of car not likely to be master/slave issue or anything else. Quotes came in at £600-£900 labour only which is eyewatering to say the least!

Made an executive decision and found a mobile mechanic and negotiated £500 all in for replacement pressure plate, clutch plate, master/slave replacement if needed and 2 year warranty - not sure if that is good but his reviews were good and he said he can come out tomorrow and complete same day.

If I had more time I would do some more investigation, but thanks anyway

[Robb.s]

Hi guys, just as an update the guy has come out but unfortunately hit into more problems. Apparently he said there is a clutch conversion kit on the car instead of a dual fly mass (I think) and it shouldn't have been on there in the first place.

So he says he has to put on a new flywheel setting me back another £260 alhtough he says he's only going to charge cost price for it if I agree to pay his fuel as he has to come back due to none in stock. Nightmare!

[HustleRussell]

Your car had a dual mass flywheel which a previous owner has replaced with a single mass flywheel. Hence a clutch kit must be available which works with the single mass flywheel. What your mechanic is saying sounds legitimate but a cost saving could be realised if you wanted to stick with the single mass flywheel and your mechanic was willing to source and fit the non-standard parts (which, understandably, he may not be).

[Bennachie]

What car is this?

DMF conversion shouts VW or Ford to me.

If VW then concentric slave cylinder is likely...........

Ford?..............Cable or hydraulic clutch. The cable jobbies were known to give up easily as the ratchet went........

More info please.

'course if the DMF has been done way with and it is a diesel (likely) then it could be a goosed box................
or the conversion release bearing isn't...........

not enough info.

[HustleRussell]

Robb.s said:

The car is a Megane 1.9

[Robb.s]

Yes it is a 1.9 Megane diesel. He showed me the issue and one of the four springs on the pressure plate had broken off or snapped. He also ga e me the choice as to whether I wanted to keep the conversion kit and replace the part or have the dual mass put on and when he phoned round for prices on each they conversion part came in 12 quid cheaper.

He also said that if I opted for the conversion kit then it's likely to last about 12 months before I need replaced again. Another point he said is that they would normally mark it as being a conversion but in this case they didn't which he found odd but that's besides the point now.

Just a hell of a lot of money to pay!

[Mikey G]

Oh, so another DMF has been converted to a more 'reliable' SMF which has subsequently failed causing future owner more walletache,, why are people doing this?
I have seen this so many times->
"My DMF has failed, whats more reliable" crowds of people start shouting 'single mass conversion' bearing in mind the original clutch has been fine for 100-120k miles and they are looking for something new to last 50k+? Stupid people IMO.

[HustleRussell]

Mikey G- I am not a mechanic but this is the first time I've heard that SMF conversions don't last. Surely if you buy a decent one it should last just as well as the factory DMF / clutch combo?

[Mikey G]

If a factory system is lasting 100k, why change to a system untested as far as OEM goes to? Too many people jumping on the DMF failure bandwagon IMO and then finding out 50-80k down the road the SMF conversion route wasnt any better...

[stevieturbo]

Mikey G said:

If a factory system is lasting 100k, why change to a system untested as far as OEM goes to? Too many people jumping on the DMF failure bandwagon IMO and then finding out 50-80k down the road the SMF conversion route wasnt any better...

100k is pathetic for a flywheel. Parts like that should last the life of the vehicle ( although to be fair on a French car that could be short lol )

[Mikey G]

stevieturbo said:

Mikey G said:

If a factory system is lasting 100k, why change to a system untested as far as OEM goes to? Too many people jumping on the DMF failure bandwagon IMO and then finding out 50-80k down the road the SMF conversion route wasnt any better...

100k is pathetic for a flywheel. Parts like that should last the life of the vehicle ( although to be fair on a French car that could be short lol )

Of course it is, but I think the point I was trying to make is that you can spend the same amount of money on an SMF conversion for the first time after DMF failure than it would cost to replace with an original DMF that is likely to outlast a standard car the second time around.
A lot of the kits ive seen are cheaply made to be competitive with DMF replacement, not necessarily the flywheel but the clutch components themselves and can quite often not be up to the job and therefore fail earlier than a quality kit.
If your making other modifications for power then fair enough, but your then likely to buy a kit rated for the use and abuse the vehicle will get and will probably be expected not to do the mileage.
Or maybe the car is a taxi, lots of town driving, clutches have a short life, so if your changing plates on a regular basis an SMF makes sence. But for a standard daily run around SMF's are pointless, all IMO lol

[Little Pete]

One of the biggest problems with SMF conversions is the quality of the kit. Too many people buy on price and then wonder why they have problems later on. There are some good quality kits available but they are not cheap, and seeing as most people will only fit one clutch in the time they own the vehicle, my advice would be to keep the DMF.

[Robb.s]

Well just had the car delivered to my work, clutch definitely feels different but in total £798 for the parts and labour which I guess I can't complain since I was quoted that for labour on its own.

The conversion was apparently done by the previous owner 6 months before I got it and is unfortunate considering I'll be getting a company car next year. Never mind, just hoping this is the last of the problems before then!

Thanks for your help anyway