Kia Picanto (Mrs car not mine honest! ) Clutch Problem

Kia Picanto (Mrs car not mine honest! ) Clutch Problem

Author
Discussion

ConnorB93

Original Poster:

1 posts

64 months

Sunday 18th November 2018
quotequote all
My other half's 2011 Picanto (it's the 2011-2017 model) has massive problems with getting into gear. I'm fairly certain that it is down to the clutch. It is extremely hard to get it into all the gears in particular 2nd, eventually it will go in but with a lot of grinding and crunching. Around 6 weeks ago the problems started and got worse progressively, it is now almost impossible to drive. Things are extremely tight financially and so we haven't taken it to the garage but due to having the kids, work etc. we have had no choice but to keep using it. To make matters worse my focus failed it's MOT and was going to cost more than it was worth to repair, so we scrapped it leaving us with just the Picanto. You have to have your foot on the clutch to start the car, I've had the gearstick in the position for first but my foot flat on the clutch which I think would technically mean it isn't in gear, right? The car will jump forward a little as a car without this feature will do. That's what made me first think it was the clutch. I'm not that clued up with cars. I've checked the clutch fluid reservoir and that was full. I've looked online and apparently it might be the master slave cylinder?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

E-bmw

9,101 posts

151 months

Sunday 18th November 2018
quotequote all
You say it is difficult to get into gear but then go on to say that you are starting it in gear with your foot on the clutch, but not why you are doing this.

Do I assume right in thinking that you are doing this because you can't get it into gear once it is running?

If so it sounds like you could be on the right track with the clutch.

Do you know anyone who knows stuff about cars has tools/jack/axle stands as you say you aren't that clued up about cars?

Athlon

4,998 posts

205 months

Sunday 18th November 2018
quotequote all
It is the clutch, it is either the release bearing collapsed or it has punched through the pressure plate, both common on this model.

E-bmw

9,101 posts

151 months

Sunday 18th November 2018
quotequote all
1. You need to check that what you say about the reservoir is actually right, it may not be as obvious as you think. Most cars share 1 reservoir for brake & clutch & have a weir in the middle so that if the clutch hydraulics leak you still have brakes, so what may look like it is full may only be full in one half if that makes sense.

2. You need to check for leaks (and fix ay that are found) from the clutch lines/slave cylinder after you have ensured the reservoir is actually full.

3. You need to then bleed the clutch once it is leak free & that may be enough if the fluid has just been drawn in by the clutch needing more fluid as it has worn the plate down.

4. If a leak is found from either the slave or master cylinder it is likely it will need replacing.

If you don't know anyone with the stuff to do this, why not tell us where you are, there may be someone out there in internetland willing to help.

E-bmw

9,101 posts

151 months

Sunday 18th November 2018
quotequote all
Athlon said:
It is the clutch, it is either the release bearing collapsed or it has punched through the pressure plate, both common on this model.
It is distinctly possible that you are right & I won't argue the point but surely if that ere the case the "loss of clutch" would have been pretty much instantaneous whereas the OP talks about it getting progressively worse.

mighty kitten

431 posts

132 months

Sunday 18th November 2018
quotequote all
Done a few of these with a heavy pedal and struggling to select gears . Never seen a bearing broken up or gone through the cover but seem the odd finger on the cover diaphragm distorted .

Athlon

4,998 posts

205 months

Sunday 18th November 2018
quotequote all
E-bmw said:
Athlon said:
It is the clutch, it is either the release bearing collapsed or it has punched through the pressure plate, both common on this model.
It is distinctly possible that you are right & I won't argue the point but surely if that ere the case the "loss of clutch" would have been pretty much instantaneous whereas the OP talks about it getting progressively worse.
No, it's a slow fail, did one last week that drove in (just) and when we pulled the box there was pretty much nothing left of the bearing! As it fails they get notchy first so it feels like there are two different pressures as you press the pedal. I might be wrong as a clutch can fail in many ways and without seeing and trying it it's all guesswork.

Mignon

1,018 posts

88 months

Monday 19th November 2018
quotequote all
90% it'll be the slave cylinder. Sat at the front of the engine they get all the water and road muck. Just did the one on my Rio last year. Luckily they're nice and easy to get to.

E-bmw

9,101 posts

151 months

Monday 19th November 2018
quotequote all
Athlon said:
E-bmw said:
Athlon said:
It is the clutch, it is either the release bearing collapsed or it has punched through the pressure plate, both common on this model.
It is distinctly possible that you are right & I won't argue the point but surely if that ere the case the "loss of clutch" would have been pretty much instantaneous whereas the OP talks about it getting progressively worse.
No, it's a slow fail, did one last week that drove in (just) and when we pulled the box there was pretty much nothing left of the bearing! As it fails they get notchy first so it feels like there are two different pressures as you press the pedal. I might be wrong as a clutch can fail in many ways and without seeing and trying it it's all guesswork.
OK, I potentially stand corrected.