HELP......CLUTCH.......DIABLO!!!

[ufoufo]

Pulling away from the lights rather briskly, I see lots of revs but for a second the car doesnt move..then it does followed by the deaded smell of the clutch. Having had a clutch go on my completely on a NSX, I decided to turn round and head for home - 8 miles of motorway. Only gave it 2,000-3,000 revs and I didnt smell the clutch again until I again had to pull away from some lights by my home. The car is now in the garage and I have the following questions:

1. is the clutch gone and needs replacing?
2. and if so, I am in the North West, who can do it and how much will it cost?

[speedyellow]

You may have just given it too much power before the clutch had engaged, easy to do on these cars..... and expensive if repeated too often!

I always found on the Countach that it was better to get the car rolling and clutch fully in then floor it... still leaves everything else with no problem!

Edited by speedyellow on Saturday 20th January 17:14

[markbe]

speedyellow said:

I always found on the Countach that it was better to get the car rolling and clutch fully in then floor it... still leaves everything else with no problem!

Edited by speedyellow on Saturday 20th January 17:14

OH NO it does'nt...

Mark.

[ufoufo]

speedyellow said:

You may have just given it too much power before the clutch had engaged, easy to do on these cars..... and expensive if repeated too often!

Edited by speedyellow on Saturday 20th January 17:14

So how do you know if the clutch has gone or not?

[speedyellow]

Pull away as normal in 1st gear, light throttle upto about 4k rpm, then floor the throttle, if it just pulls cleanly without slip, everything is OK, if it starts to slip, then you need an expensive new clutch!

[graeme73s]

Take her out for a spin, find a steepish hill and say at lowish rpm in 4th gear floor it to accelerate up the hill. If the clutch has gone it will start to slip probably quite badly, good luck Graeme

[Jonny5]

If poss and you suspect the clutch is about to go i'd replace the clutch before it takes the flywheel with it (£££

[ufoufo]

Thanks guys, I will try this tomorrow and see what happens. If it does need a clutch who would you recommend who is close to Chester/Liverpool, and who much will it cost to replace the clutch?

[TDIPLC]

ufoufo said:

Thanks guys, I will try this tomorrow and see what happens. If it does need a clutch who would you recommend who is close to Chester/Liverpool, and who much will it cost to replace the clutch?

Hi,

Clutch failures are one of the achilles heels of the Diablo

Here is a blog we are doing on one www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=551

We have a centre in Warrington who will be able to do this for you if you can't find anywhere else. I would also urge you to consider installing an uprated clutch as it will last longer.

All the best

[MJK 24]

5th gear, handbrake on, release the clutch. If it stalls, the clutch is ok. If it doesn't,and the revs rise but you don't go anywhere, the friction plate is worn. Don't let it continue and damage the flywheel - you'd just be wasting money.

Fit a new release bearing if you do replace the friction plate. A cheap part that will drive you mad if you don't replace it and it starts to rattle at idle.

Good luck

[Jonny5]

I think auto-italia around leeds have a good reputation, iirc Simonspider has used them.....

[ufoufo]

THERE IS A GOD!

Took it out today and it was fine. Tried the 4th gear up the hill and it just pulled like only a Diablo can! I am really glad, as in the 3 months of ownership this car has been 100% spot on. Not even a drop of oil in the garage floor.
So is it possilbe to slip the clutch without destroying it or was yesterday just the start of the clutch giving up the ghost?

Thanks to everyone for their input.

[crikeymikey]

Andrew. I was about to agree with Greame's advice but you've got to bottom of it already.
Don't give it the berrys untill the clutch is fully engaged. There isn't a clutch in the world that can cope with the Diablo's grunt all in one go. You don't say whether it's a VT or not. The VT is even less willing to spin it's tyres so don't be tempted to arse about too much from stationary.
No permanent damage is likely to have been caused, though.
A picture would now be appreciated.

[nightmare]

ufoufo said:

So is it possilbe to slip the clutch without destroying it or was yesterday just the start of the clutch giving up the ghost? Thanks to everyone for their input.

Yeah, have done it many times over the years....I've also found in the past that if it's really hot (either weather or following long quick drive and then slow bit through town) that it's more likely to slip. Obviously it will wear the clutch out faster but doesnt necessairly mean cos it's happened once that yours is on the way out. I had one day few years back where I thought mine had had it too...the slipping was just awful - even when rolling - but was fine next day. Still dont really know why

[ufoufo]

crikeymikey said:

Andrew. I was about to agree with Greame's advice but you've got to bottom of it already.
Don't give it the berrys untill the clutch is fully engaged. There isn't a clutch in the world that can cope with the Diablo's grunt all in one go. You don't say whether it's a VT or not. The VT is even less willing to spin it's tyres so don't be tempted to arse about too much from stationary.
No permanent damage is likely to have been caused, though.
A picture would now be appreciated.

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=330407&f=63&h=0

Its a VT

[LAM_VT]

I've had the same clutch smell a couple of times in my Diablo after brisk starts. Mine is still fine. Don't stress