Combo Van - Hyd Clutch Issue HELP!
Discussion
Actually asking on behalf of our dog walker, she has an 08 plate ex-Royal Mail combo van which is having recurring issues with the clutch.
Initially it wasnt changing gear as I recall, new master cyl.
Then it started slipping and had a new clutch fitted, for £800.
End of last week issues not changing gear again! Garage says master isn't bleeding.
Today she got it back and half way into the morning it's slipped a bit, then loads, then nothing.
Apparently it's now had a second new master cylinder, a new slave, and a new pipe.
My only thought is that someone's adjusted something, or the linkage has issue, so the master travel range is wrong?
She only had this van 8 months much of which she was off work due to lockdown, but is about ready to throw in the towel with it, take out another loan, and start afresh with another used van!
Can someone suggest anything I can pass on, is there anything known about these vans clutches being funny or hard to get right?
Daniel
Initially it wasnt changing gear as I recall, new master cyl.
Then it started slipping and had a new clutch fitted, for £800.
End of last week issues not changing gear again! Garage says master isn't bleeding.
Today she got it back and half way into the morning it's slipped a bit, then loads, then nothing.
Apparently it's now had a second new master cylinder, a new slave, and a new pipe.
My only thought is that someone's adjusted something, or the linkage has issue, so the master travel range is wrong?
She only had this van 8 months much of which she was off work due to lockdown, but is about ready to throw in the towel with it, take out another loan, and start afresh with another used van!
Can someone suggest anything I can pass on, is there anything known about these vans clutches being funny or hard to get right?
Daniel
The only thing that springs to mind is that hydraulic master cylinders normally open the circuit to the reservoir in the very last bit of travel; if the piston doesn't travel back far enough when your foot is off the pedal, it may be keeping the circuit sealed. That might account for the problems bleeding it and perhaps also the problems with it building up pressure leading to slip. (In that case, cracking the circuit to release the pressure proves the diagnosis.)
I've only seen this cause problems on a brake circuit (causing binding brakes when the calipers got hot) but I don't see why it couldn't affect a clutch similarly. On brakes it could be caused by a lip worn in the m/c or build-up of dirt preventing the piston from reaching the end of its travel, or the pushrod to the pedal being adjusted up too tight.
I've only seen this cause problems on a brake circuit (causing binding brakes when the calipers got hot) but I don't see why it couldn't affect a clutch similarly. On brakes it could be caused by a lip worn in the m/c or build-up of dirt preventing the piston from reaching the end of its travel, or the pushrod to the pedal being adjusted up too tight.
You got two separate and very different issues here surely
One is that the Clutch isn’t dis-engaging properly hence difficulty selecting a Gear
And the other is that the clutch isn’t engaging either, hence the slippage
The two seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum of Clutch faults and it seems very weird that she’s experiencing both
Poor dis-engagement would surely be an Hydraulic issue or a tired Pressure Plate
Slippage would be a worn or contaminated friction lining
Would she, or the garage, feel able to drive it for test purposes as a Crash Box, ie with the Clutch Hydraulics disconnected entirely (and temporarily capped off) to see whether the Clutch continues to slip? Therefore potentially isolating the problem to the Clutch / Freewheel.
If the van’s future is potentially the scrapyard, any damage done to the Gearbox in the course of clutch-less gear changes might well be considered to be insignificant.
One is that the Clutch isn’t dis-engaging properly hence difficulty selecting a Gear
And the other is that the clutch isn’t engaging either, hence the slippage
The two seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum of Clutch faults and it seems very weird that she’s experiencing both
Poor dis-engagement would surely be an Hydraulic issue or a tired Pressure Plate
Slippage would be a worn or contaminated friction lining
Would she, or the garage, feel able to drive it for test purposes as a Crash Box, ie with the Clutch Hydraulics disconnected entirely (and temporarily capped off) to see whether the Clutch continues to slip? Therefore potentially isolating the problem to the Clutch / Freewheel.
If the van’s future is potentially the scrapyard, any damage done to the Gearbox in the course of clutch-less gear changes might well be considered to be insignificant.
Thanks for the replies
As I understand it she hasn't had both issues concurrently.
It was failing to disengage first, then after a being in the garage, the fault of it slipping started.
It's now had a new clutch, two masters, a slave, and the pipe.
Not my can, haven't driven it, or asked how it's getting on this week. But she's currently in a temporary alternative van.
Daniel
As I understand it she hasn't had both issues concurrently.
It was failing to disengage first, then after a being in the garage, the fault of it slipping started.
It's now had a new clutch, two masters, a slave, and the pipe.
Not my can, haven't driven it, or asked how it's getting on this week. But she's currently in a temporary alternative van.
Daniel
dhutch said:
Has a catch up on the situation today, as she is still in a temporary van, which turns out to be one the garage bought to part-out!
Apparently it has the 'wrong' flywheel on it for its age/spec, ie the Post Office garages have created some sort of frankenstein bodge up.
Daniel
It might not be the Post Office garage fault. I had a similar fault with a 08 Astra van a few years ago, same owner from new. Fitted a full LUK kit but struggled getting gears. It turned out that for a certain year range, Vauxhall fitted a different flywheel that was machined out about 2mm where the drive plate sat. Got a genuine clutch and it was fine. There was a Vauxhall technical service bulletin about it if memory serves.Apparently it has the 'wrong' flywheel on it for its age/spec, ie the Post Office garages have created some sort of frankenstein bodge up.
Daniel
Little Pete said:
It might not be the Post Office garage fault. I had a similar fault with a 08 Astra van a few years ago, same owner from new. Fitted a full LUK kit but struggled getting gears. It turned out that for a certain year range, Vauxhall fitted a different flywheel that was machined out about 2mm where the drive plate sat. Got a genuine clutch and it was fine. There was a Vauxhall technical service bulletin about it if memory serves.
Ah right, might well be.Either way, this is what is thought to be the issue. She paid £800 for the clutch to be done, other work on top, so more than enough for it to be genuine but I expect its a LUK nonetheless!
Will pass on the info.
Daniel
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