Clutch on the way out, how long have I got?

[98elise]

About week ago I was coming off a roundabout and the clutch slipped for a second or after changing into 3rd. I thought it was probably a bad gear change, but yesterday it happened again, on normal smooth change. The car has 85k on it so its not unreasonable for the clutch to go.

How long have I got before it goes completely? Do they just go, or will it progressively get worse before finally going?

The car is a mk3 mondeo if its has any bearing on the problem.

In 20+ years of driving I've never had to replace a clutch before

[davepoth]

Get the car into 5th, and floor the accelerator. if it slips it's time to get it done.

[RyanB88]

Clutch on a Mondeo shouldn't be an expensive job on the plus side!

Probably got a bit of life left in it yet, get it in the highest gear and floor it from low revs and see what happens. If it's ok then I'd suggest the clutch has a good bit of life left yet, but every clutch is different so it's impossible to say for sure.

My mate had a car that showed no signs of wear on the clutch at all, we went to Devon and it didn't take kindly to a hill and it had to be recovered to the West Midlands, but that's another story

[firman]

Got exactly the same problem in my E36 just now, only slips when I sink the boot in in 1st through 3rd. Got an online qoute from Mr Clutch for £329 so going to get it done in the next 2 weeks after I have shopped around.

[HustleRussell]

Hope it's not a TDCI/TDDI, if it is you're in for a bill of £600 minimum for a new flywheel, clutch kit and concentric slave.

[NiceCupOfTea]

I thought clutches were expensive on Mondeos? Was that the Mk.2?

IME (had a few clutches fail) the bite point gets higher and higher, you get the odd bit of slippage when flooring it, and it gradually gets worse. Personally I'd get it down ASAP, it'll only get worse, but if you baby it, gentle acceleration, it should be ok for a little bit. Make sure your breakdown cover is up to date though!

Edit: and for God's sake don't go to Mr.Clutch!!

[horza]

HustleRussell said:

Hope it's not a TDCI/TDDI, if it is you're in for a bill of £600 minimum for a new flywheel, clutch kit and concentric slave.

This.

You'll be lucky not to need a new starter motor also.

[ollie j]

NiceCupOfTea said:

I thought clutches were expensive on Mondeos? Was that the Mk.2?

IME (had a few clutches fail) the bite point gets higher and higher, you get the odd bit of slippage when flooring it, and it gradually gets worse. Personally I'd get it down ASAP, it'll only get worse, but if you baby it, gentle acceleration, it should be ok for a little bit. Make sure your breakdown cover is up to date though!

Edit: and for God's sake don't go to Mr.Clutch!!

Bad experience perhaps? On the other hand, they changed mine for far cheaper than anywhere else and have done a good job.

[catman]

RyanB88 said:

Clutch on a Mondeo shouldn't be an expensive job on the plus side.

The problem with the Mondeo is that you have to drop the sub-frame to get the gearbox out. This is what makes it expensive.

I have a mk2, and the pedal has been at the top of its travel for around 18 months! The only thing that's helped me, is being a driving god.

Tim

[98elise]

HustleRussell said:

Hope it's not a TDCI/TDDI, if it is you're in for a bill of £600 minimum for a new flywheel, clutch kit and concentric slave.

Its a petrol, but its expensive on all the Mk3's. Its about 700 at Mr clutch, and you won't get much change from 1k from ford. A mobile mechanic has quoted just under 500.

[98elise]

davepoth said:

Get the car into 5th, and floor the accelerator. if it slips it's time to get it done.

I'll give that a go. On the plus side I had to pull away on a very steep hill yesterday and it felt ok. That said 1st puts least pressure on a clutch.

[98elise]

NiceCupOfTea said:

I thought clutches were expensive on Mondeos? Was that the Mk.2?

IME (had a few clutches fail) the bite point gets higher and higher, you get the odd bit of slippage when flooring it, and it gradually gets worse. Personally I'd get it down ASAP, it'll only get worse, but if you baby it, gentle acceleration, it should be ok for a little bit. Make sure your breakdown cover is up to date though!

Edit: and for God's sake don't go to Mr.Clutch!!

Sounds exactly like mine, its feels a bit high, and I'm just at the odd slip stage. I'm driving like a pensioner at the moment. I just need to nurse it for a week or so until the mechanic can sort it. We have a couple of kids, so an elise isn't going to work as the main car!

[davepoth]

98elise said:

Sounds exactly like mine, its feels a bit high, and I'm just at the odd slip stage. I'm driving like a pensioner at the moment. I just need to nurse it for a week or so until the mechanic can sort it. We have a couple of kids, so an elise isn't going to work as the main car!

Now's a good time to learn how to shift without using the clutch.

[NiceCupOfTea]

ollie j said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

I thought clutches were expensive on Mondeos? Was that the Mk.2?

IME (had a few clutches fail) the bite point gets higher and higher, you get the odd bit of slippage when flooring it, and it gradually gets worse. Personally I'd get it down ASAP, it'll only get worse, but if you baby it, gentle acceleration, it should be ok for a little bit. Make sure your breakdown cover is up to date though!

Edit: and for God's sake don't go to Mr.Clutch!!

Bad experience perhaps? On the other hand, they changed mine for far cheaper than anywhere else and have done a good job.

Nothing personal, all hearsay, but a quick Google tells me all I need to know There was a story on here within the last week, the guy's car spat all its oil out on the way home!

[entwisi]

My Honda diesel started slipping @150k if I was booting it in 3 Rd or k. Still does it @ 186k.... Be gentle, don't sit there trying to hold the car on hills on the clutch and it will be fine for ages. If you are keeping the car for a couple of years then fair do get it changed. For me if I can nurse this thing to 220k then it's served it's purpose and will be punted put for whatever on flea bay do chucking possibly 1k at a clutch and flywheel seems silly waste of money.