What is it with Cerbs & clutches at the moment?
Discussion
After all the posts I've been seeing about clutches recently I thought I'd add my 2p.
Picked the Cerb up from Austec Racing yesterday after having the cats removed. Nice Christmas present for the neighbours to go with the sports exhaust I bought for them last year. Thanks to Mike and the guys - it really does sound the nuts, The popping and banging on the overrun is something else.
Joining the M25, I went merrily bombing up the sliproad enjoying the noise and scaring an old dear in a Nissan Micra as I went past when, Oh Sh1t, I'm stuck in 2nd! The gearlever wouldn't budge and the engine carried on screaming even though I had my foot on the clutch.
I managed to pull up on the hard shoulder and knock it out of gear only to watch aforementioned little old lady cruise past at a steady 40mph (her top cruising speed for the motorway) with that smug, superior smile that only those who drive ultra-reliable yet oh-so-boring Japanese shopping trolleys can have.
Got the car home thanks to the RAC. Went to check the clutch fluid level, but where's the reservoir? A quick check on Pistonheads told me but who the hell decided to put it there, right under the air intake box and then smother it with a ton of mastic? 2 hours later, I've got half the induction system dismantled, the screws removed but still can't get the bl00dy cover off. I gave up in the end 'cos I couldn't feel my fingers anymore.
I doesn't look like it has ever been removed in the 5 years the car has been alive. I'm wondering if it is just a case of the fluid dropping slowly over time and has now reached a point where it will play up or if it certainly means a seal has failed somewhere. There's no fluid around the pedal and nothing on the garage floor either. Anyone have any reassuring words or should I sell the other kidney?
The most annoying thing is it looks as though I'll be Cerb-less over the Christmas/New Year
Picked the Cerb up from Austec Racing yesterday after having the cats removed. Nice Christmas present for the neighbours to go with the sports exhaust I bought for them last year. Thanks to Mike and the guys - it really does sound the nuts, The popping and banging on the overrun is something else.
Joining the M25, I went merrily bombing up the sliproad enjoying the noise and scaring an old dear in a Nissan Micra as I went past when, Oh Sh1t, I'm stuck in 2nd! The gearlever wouldn't budge and the engine carried on screaming even though I had my foot on the clutch.
I managed to pull up on the hard shoulder and knock it out of gear only to watch aforementioned little old lady cruise past at a steady 40mph (her top cruising speed for the motorway) with that smug, superior smile that only those who drive ultra-reliable yet oh-so-boring Japanese shopping trolleys can have.
Got the car home thanks to the RAC. Went to check the clutch fluid level, but where's the reservoir? A quick check on Pistonheads told me but who the hell decided to put it there, right under the air intake box and then smother it with a ton of mastic? 2 hours later, I've got half the induction system dismantled, the screws removed but still can't get the bl00dy cover off. I gave up in the end 'cos I couldn't feel my fingers anymore.
I doesn't look like it has ever been removed in the 5 years the car has been alive. I'm wondering if it is just a case of the fluid dropping slowly over time and has now reached a point where it will play up or if it certainly means a seal has failed somewhere. There's no fluid around the pedal and nothing on the garage floor either. Anyone have any reassuring words or should I sell the other kidney?
The most annoying thing is it looks as though I'll be Cerb-less over the Christmas/New Year
Is yours a 4.5 or a 4.2? In my 4.2 it was easy enough just to pull the cover off to get at the master cylinder without having to remove the airbox.
The only comfort I have for you is that my clutch pedal felt spongey and was difficult to engage one day a month or so ago. Looked in the master cylinder and it was half full so I filled it up and checked for leaks.
No leaks and a month later it is still going strong, had it checked out by topcats and they thought it was fine.
I'm guessing that the change in temperature of winter coming on, changed the pressure levels slightly and the fluid level was just at the crux of operation.
Yours sounds a bit more terminal than mine, but the change in weather could be a reason for the failing clutches.
I'm expecting mine to give up the ghost at some point as the fluid has to have gone somewhere, but it's still working at the moment...
The only comfort I have for you is that my clutch pedal felt spongey and was difficult to engage one day a month or so ago. Looked in the master cylinder and it was half full so I filled it up and checked for leaks.
No leaks and a month later it is still going strong, had it checked out by topcats and they thought it was fine.
I'm guessing that the change in temperature of winter coming on, changed the pressure levels slightly and the fluid level was just at the crux of operation.
Yours sounds a bit more terminal than mine, but the change in weather could be a reason for the failing clutches.
I'm expecting mine to give up the ghost at some point as the fluid has to have gone somewhere, but it's still working at the moment...
I have a 4.2 Cerb. The reservoir is easy to get to - just remove the plastic covering wotsit in the engine bay (windshield end of engine bay) It's under there on driver side. Mine was housed under some heat resistant stuff someone had glued on. Could be if reservoir gets hot fluid could boil off/ escape.
In my case the reservioir was empty, but on inspection by Mole Valley I had a leak in the clutch slave master/ cylinder which had to be replaced...
Symptoms were sticking gears, hot gearstick and spongey clutch leading to clutch pressure failure.
have fun. happy xmas to all
In my case the reservioir was empty, but on inspection by Mole Valley I had a leak in the clutch slave master/ cylinder which had to be replaced...
Symptoms were sticking gears, hot gearstick and spongey clutch leading to clutch pressure failure.
have fun. happy xmas to all
Thanks for the replies, guys.
The symptoms sound the same so I'm sure they'll be no fluid in the reservoir when I get in there.
Mine is a 4.5 and a complete
to get to. I can't even get a screwdriver on the screw without taking off the airboxes.
I'll fill it up, bleed it through, and keep an eye on it for a few days and get it checked over asap after the New Year.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year everyone
The symptoms sound the same so I'm sure they'll be no fluid in the reservoir when I get in there.
Mine is a 4.5 and a complete
to get to. I can't even get a screwdriver on the screw without taking off the airboxes. I'll fill it up, bleed it through, and keep an eye on it for a few days and get it checked over asap after the New Year.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year everyone
Remember reading this thread and other about clutches before Christmas and hoped my Cerbera would behave over the holiday period. But alas no, although she was three miles from home. Ended up on the A1 at junction7 after clutch pedal started going sppongey then complete failure of pressure. Had a quick look under car and saw some fluid but recovery firm so quick that I was home in no time.
Had a quick look under car today and saw some fluid and checked clutch pedal and only small moisture but could not see properly. I have assumed that it is the slave cylinder and prepared for the worst but may be lucky and could be master cylinder. Thinking about removing the cover as a 4.2 and easy to get at, but learnt over the years that jobs that look simple end up bloody hard leading to gashed knuckles!
Just looking through some of the threads about clutches etc and intend getting Offords to have a look and repair. Suspension may get some TLC as well.
Must admit to taking peoples advice and banking cash (HAVE NO WARRANTY)as knew clutch was a weak area as well as suspension/brakes. This is the first blip in 3 months and 3000 weekend miles of ownership.
Hope all Cerbera owners have a great new year
Had a quick look under car today and saw some fluid and checked clutch pedal and only small moisture but could not see properly. I have assumed that it is the slave cylinder and prepared for the worst but may be lucky and could be master cylinder. Thinking about removing the cover as a 4.2 and easy to get at, but learnt over the years that jobs that look simple end up bloody hard leading to gashed knuckles!
Just looking through some of the threads about clutches etc and intend getting Offords to have a look and repair. Suspension may get some TLC as well.
Must admit to taking peoples advice and banking cash (HAVE NO WARRANTY)as knew clutch was a weak area as well as suspension/brakes. This is the first blip in 3 months and 3000 weekend miles of ownership.
Hope all Cerbera owners have a great new year
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