Weird "surging" sensation on my Pug 306 HDI at speed

[sumlin]

Hi folks
Before I start this I should add I am next to clueless when it comes to mechanical issues. All I know about cars comes from what has broken on mine in the past.

So - my Pug 306 HDI Estate is acting up. It's a total shed filled with crisp bags and the fruits of my nose-mining at traffic lights but I do love it.

Something weird's going on though - occasionally as I accelerate the car feels like it kind of surges or almost lurches for a moment. It's a bit like the queasy sensation on a rollercoaster.
You can hear the engine revs increase and labour like they do if I were to drop down a couple of gears or like the sensation you get in an automatic when you plant the throttle to get it to kick down. It lasts a second or so and then it's seemingly back to normal

I've noticed it most in 5th gear on the motorway if I've slowed slightly behind a lorry and then pulled out to overtake. As I accelerate to go past it occurs. I can feel it happening to a lesser degree in lower gears at lower speeds but it's always as I go to accelerate - never particularly hard I should add, just normal increase of speed.

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks...

[TAHodgson]

Clutch slip?

[trickywoo]

TAHodgson said:

Clutch slip?

This.

A good test is to floor it from low revs in fourth up a steep hill. If it does the same its going to be clutch.

[TooLateForAName]

How many miles?

I've seen people report odd surge/hesitation as being down to the crank pulley damping failing. The crankshaft pulley has a rubber component which acts as a damper - this can separate allowing the crankshaft pulley to slip a bit.

I've never seen or experienced it myself but plenty of people have. Look for bits of black rubber coming off the pulley.