Vauxhall 6 speed - hard to shift
Discussion
I have a Astravan 1.7CDTi (57 plate with the 6spd box). The gearbox is probably tired as it whines in 3/4th and often crunches going into 4th - although 5/6th appear fine. It also has a very low clutch bite point (almost at the floor).
When I first had it about a year ago, I asked a local garage to replace the brake/clutch fluid (it has shared reservoir). It was marginally better, but in the last couple of months it has become increasingly hard to change any gear when cold - particularly reverse and first. Movement at the gate feels very stodgy.
Was reading MWStewart's F430 thread and noted that he lost gear change that the clutch fluid was old even though the brake fluid had allegedly been changed - the F430 also shared a reservoir if I recall. Wondering if this might be a cause of my current situation - does the clutch fluid have a separate bleed path to the brakes - even though they share a reservoir, and if that is the case, whether flushing and bleeding (properly!) might improve the change?
Other than that, assume it is a 'box out job to replace slave cylinder (I have read this is a weak point) and probably rest of clutch too..? Or does anyone else have any experience with this box?
Thanks!
When I first had it about a year ago, I asked a local garage to replace the brake/clutch fluid (it has shared reservoir). It was marginally better, but in the last couple of months it has become increasingly hard to change any gear when cold - particularly reverse and first. Movement at the gate feels very stodgy.
Was reading MWStewart's F430 thread and noted that he lost gear change that the clutch fluid was old even though the brake fluid had allegedly been changed - the F430 also shared a reservoir if I recall. Wondering if this might be a cause of my current situation - does the clutch fluid have a separate bleed path to the brakes - even though they share a reservoir, and if that is the case, whether flushing and bleeding (properly!) might improve the change?
Other than that, assume it is a 'box out job to replace slave cylinder (I have read this is a weak point) and probably rest of clutch too..? Or does anyone else have any experience with this box?
Thanks!
If the bite point is just off the floor it could be either the slave or the master cylinder. Is the fluid level dropping in the master cylinder? If so, it could be the slave. If the level isn't dropping, it could be the master cylinder.
On a lot of my cars, I tend to change both at the same time, as I've found that changing one can lead to the other failing shortly afterwards.
On a lot of my cars, I tend to change both at the same time, as I've found that changing one can lead to the other failing shortly afterwards.
I would be looking to bleed the clutch before you get any further into this as it may simply be air in the system.
You say the slave is a known weak point. I don't know the car but would assume in 'weak point' it can only mean it starts leaking in which case you would have come on here saying the level was dropping and you had a pool of fluid under the car.
Steve
You say the slave is a known weak point. I don't know the car but would assume in 'weak point' it can only mean it starts leaking in which case you would have come on here saying the level was dropping and you had a pool of fluid under the car.
Steve
Well - known weak point, inasmuch as every internet post I have seen relating to this gearbox seems to end with people saying 'change slave' ; annoyingly it appears that to change said part the gearbox has to come out and while it is out then "might as well change....".
AFAIK I am not losing fluid. I was for a time but I later found a leak at one of the rear brake callipers. Since then I don't seem to be losing any more. This is what makes me think that the clutch fluid may have weathered, or may be it wasn't even replaced when I asked. I did check the reservoir on getting the vehicle back but it is quite easy to place new fluid at the top of the system and not bleed through the older stuff.
I think I will start again at replacing the fluid in the clutch side and bleeding through. Thanks for the confirmation!
AFAIK I am not losing fluid. I was for a time but I later found a leak at one of the rear brake callipers. Since then I don't seem to be losing any more. This is what makes me think that the clutch fluid may have weathered, or may be it wasn't even replaced when I asked. I did check the reservoir on getting the vehicle back but it is quite easy to place new fluid at the top of the system and not bleed through the older stuff.
I think I will start again at replacing the fluid in the clutch side and bleeding through. Thanks for the confirmation!
Edited by Buffalo on Wednesday 7th December 13:00
Sounds like you need a new slave cylinder but I would try bleeding it first before going to the effort of removing the gearbox. The whine will be the endcase bearing as 3rd & 4th share the same one. The crunch will be the synchro inside the box but it's likely exaggerated by the low biting point which is probably why your also finding it hard to select 1st and reverse. These M32 boxes have more than one known weak point
stevieturbo said:
They s
t bearings, which in turns mucks up the shift and can wreck the end casing.
Generally not a very good gearbox.
If it's the M32 they were an absolutely bloody awful box. One way of telling if the box has gone is to start engine, put it in first, put foot on brake, hold the gear stick, release clutch gradually, if you can feel the gear stick moving slightly back towards neutral the box is knackered. t bearings, which in turns mucks up the shift and can wreck the end casing.Generally not a very good gearbox.
If you bleed the clutch yourself make sure you fill the reservoir almost to the brim otherwise it may not bleed.
mygoldfishbowl said:
If it's the M32 they were an absolutely bloody awful box. One way of telling if the box has gone is to start engine, put it in first, put foot on brake, hold the gear stick, release clutch gradually, if you can feel the gear stick moving slightly back towards neutral the box is knackered.
They still still are an awful box. There's a slideshow on my website that shows what you mention quite wellTook it around corner to local garage for a fluid change and bleed. Very short drive home so too early to tell exactly the difference but perhaps a slight lift of bite point, which will please my calf muscle a bit! It'd be good if this can stretch out the inevitable for a while longer though...
M32GUY - could you PM approximate rebuild/ clutch change work? Be good to have an outline of costs.... thanks!
M32GUY - could you PM approximate rebuild/ clutch change work? Be good to have an outline of costs.... thanks!
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