Clutch slip issue

[TheTalentedMr]

Dusted off the car for the first time since last October today and instantly felt an issue. It was absolutely fine up to when I retired it for the winter but today, as soon as I accelerated hard, the clutch spins up for about 2-3 seconds and then engages again. If I drive it at mid throttle or keep it under 4,000rpm there's no issue at all. Bite point is fine (mid pedal) and there is no sign of slip on pull away, even checked it on a hill start. It did happen once as well when I floored it in 4th, with gear already engaged for a period of time.

I did a bit of digging before posting and found this topic http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=8&a...

I don't like the suggestion that it's standard on the 240 cars as it was fine before the winter. Also, if it is normal and you can't change up at high rpm in the second cam what good is that.

In another topic someone mentioned a valve which controls the clutch engagement on LC/VTC cars can be the fault. They didn't elaborate on how this works or if it can be replaced so I'd like to know a little more about it before I contact a dealer.

Questions are:
1, Has any other Exige 240/260 owner experienced this (from what I've read the 220 isn't affect due to no LC)?
2, Can this valve be replaced? what is the expected cost?
3, Will it ruin the clutch if I continue to drive it?
4, Am I talking rubbish and it's just the clutch on its way out?

Help appreciated as I don't want to opt straight for a new clutch and the issue remains.

[zasker]

Hi I've got an Exige RGB and had an issue with the clutch but mine was more the other way around to yours. Sometimes in traffic when you depressed the clutch it would not dis-engage which was quite disconcerting when you were in nose to tail traffic and all the car wanted to do was drive you into the car in front. Lotus replaced both the clutch and the hydraulic valve (whatever it is) under warranty, that was almost 2 years ago and not had the issue since.

[TheTalentedMr]

This is the valve in question. The top hose is on the Exige S 220, the bottom hose is on the 240/260 cars. It restricts the flow to the slave cylinder to stop the clutch engaging too quickly and overloading the clutch plate when launch is enabled.

My problem seems to be it's failed and thinks every high rpm gear change means I'm in LC mode. It's only a mechanical valve so must be a seal failure or something. Spoke to my dealer today and they had never come across the issue before, said its probably been caused by lack of use which is embarrassing for me really. They suggested doing a long run or a few of them to try and get it working again, however, as it causes the clutch to spin severely I'm at odds what to do. On one hand it might get it operating again but on the other I could destroy the clutch in the process.

Guy at Stratton's recommended I speak with Lotus customer services to see what they think. I'd really like to remove it and put the standard pipe in so the issue never arises again but this has the potential to cause other gearbox/clutch issues.

After reading a good tread on Lotus Talk it would seem this has been a very common fault on the US cars so thought it was worth posting something about it on here.

Thanks for the response anyway Zasker and yours does sound like a more dangerous situation than mine.

Edited by TheTalentedMr on Monday 3rd March 17:12

[Flatinfourth]

Looking at it from a basic principles point of view: In a car with a hydraulicly actuated clutch, once you have pressed the clutch down, there is a column of fluid holding the release bearing out. once you release the pedal any partial siezure of the release bearing/slave cylinder, restrictor valve (nasty excuse to enable fitment of an inadequately specced clutch) or master cylinder will result in hydraulic pressure remaining in the line afte you release the pedal, which is a very bad thing. This will result in slip!
If an assistant can release the bleed valve and get a squirt of fluid after you have lifted off the pedal you know where the fault lies, and i would also lose the restrictor or at least bleed the clutch to get dirty fluid away from blocking it as you lift off the pedal. on infrequently used cars master cylinders tend to sieze more than slaves

[will_968]

Flatinfourth said:

(nasty excuse to enable fitment of an inadequately specced clutch)... ...and i would also lose the restrictor or at least bleed the clutch to get dirty fluid away from blocking it as you lift off the pedal. on infrequently used cars master cylinders tend to sieze more than slaves

I bet changing the fluid does the trick. Agree with the above; the valve seems like a crappy solution to counteract a under-specc'ed part, adding complexity and as proven here, additional possible points of failure. Personally, I would lose the valve and fit an upgraded clutch.

[TheTalentedMr]

will_968 said:

Flatinfourth said:

(nasty excuse to enable fitment of an inadequately specced clutch)... ...and i would also lose the restrictor or at least bleed the clutch to get dirty fluid away from blocking it as you lift off the pedal. on infrequently used cars master cylinders tend to sieze more than slaves

I bet changing the fluid does the trick. Agree with the above; the valve seems like a crappy solution to counteract a under-specc'ed part, adding complexity and as proven here, additional possible points of failure. Personally, I would lose the valve and fit an upgraded clutch.

Agreed, it's a poor design but fitting an upgraded clutch is an expensive solution to the problem.

I spoke with Lotus this morning and funnily enough the valve fitted to the new Exige V6 and Evora S has now moved to a solid disc restrictor with no moving parts! Something tells me they knew this was a weak point.

They suggest I don't remove the valve as it was designed to be in the circuit. I think I'm going to go for a like for like replacement for now and use the car a bit more this year.

Chances are I've got to upgrade the clutch anyway so does anyone have a suggestion on which offers the best feel and durability. Some of the upgraded parts can make the pedal really stiff and a b##ch to drive in traffic. Opinions please.

[TheTalentedMr]

Just to tie up this thread for anyone searching in the future.

The valve pictured cured the problem completely so, if you ever suspect the clutch is failing it could definitely be worth replacing this first, it's a far cheaper fix.

[TarmacT]

Had this problem 6yrs ago now, even when the valve is working correctly it can still give clutch slip when at high revs and changing gears fast. Solution is to remove it all together and replace with the std pipe. Its there soley for the launch control system to dampen the effects of slamming the clutch in. If you dont use the launch them get rid ot the valve.

[mikeerhymes]

Any chance someone has the part number for the pipe without the valve?

I never use the launch so I'm happy to do without it!

Cheers👍

[mikeerhymes]

For anyone else, it looks to be this part no: C120Q0003F

Cheers

[TheTalentedMr]

As this is my old thread I thought it best to report that even after the replacement of the pipe with the valve there is still signs of slipping at high RPM. Nothing like it was when the valve failed but evidence none the less. To be honest I wish I'd have just opted for the standard pipe as suggested. I will get this fitted when the clutch is replaced in the near future.