Vantage "impossible" to reverse on full lock....????
Discussion
...without stalling: is it just my car, or am I doing something wrong?
I bought the car in July, and have always found it a tricky little bu**er to balance the throttle and clutch when pulling away, particularly uphill; the difference between stalling and 4k rpm a mere brush of the throttle apart.
A recent revelation, read on here a few weeks ago, was the technique of not touching the throttle at all and letting the ECU deal with matters throttle. This works very well, except when on or about full lock, when I find it almost impossible to reverse the car up hill without stalling it - and any attempt to keep it running by brushing the throttle results in instant revving accompanied by a nasty smell of clutch and a wince from the wallet area thinking about that 2.5k clutch replacement....
I've never had this problem with any other car I've driven, so don't think it's a lack of skill on my part - does the tricky throttle ring a bell with anyone else? Does anyone else notice the same full-lock problem?
Thanks in advance,
Phil.
I bought the car in July, and have always found it a tricky little bu**er to balance the throttle and clutch when pulling away, particularly uphill; the difference between stalling and 4k rpm a mere brush of the throttle apart.
A recent revelation, read on here a few weeks ago, was the technique of not touching the throttle at all and letting the ECU deal with matters throttle. This works very well, except when on or about full lock, when I find it almost impossible to reverse the car up hill without stalling it - and any attempt to keep it running by brushing the throttle results in instant revving accompanied by a nasty smell of clutch and a wince from the wallet area thinking about that 2.5k clutch replacement....
I've never had this problem with any other car I've driven, so don't think it's a lack of skill on my part - does the tricky throttle ring a bell with anyone else? Does anyone else notice the same full-lock problem?
Thanks in advance,
Phil.
well not with the full lock on but the rest of what you have experienced I can empathise with! When I first got the V8V I stalled it a lot until I learned the idiosyncracies of the throttle. Reversing was and remains challenging. I have to reverse up a lengthy drive with a turn at the end and if I don't slip the clutch the car tends to shoot off and I risk hitting one of the other cars there. So I've took to dipping the clutch right down but I too think of the costs! For me it was a question of getting used to it - you are certainly not alone, unless we are both crap drivers of course!
steveatesh said:
well not with the full lock on but the rest of what you have experienced I can empathise with! When I first got the V8V I stalled it a lot until I learned the idiosyncracies of the throttle. Reversing was and remains challenging. I have to reverse up a lengthy drive with a turn at the end and if I don't slip the clutch the car tends to shoot off and I risk hitting one of the other cars there. So I've took to dipping the clutch right down but I too think of the costs! For me it was a question of getting used to it - you are certainly not alone, unless we are both crap drivers of course!
Thanks for replying, and let's not consider your final point.... 
PhilSm said:
and any attempt to keep it running by brushing the throttle results in instant revving accompanied by a nasty smell of clutch
PhilI'm reading that and thinking that you are not touching the clutch while brushing the throttle? Is that correct?
That being the case then you should not get a nasty clutch smell as the clutch should stay fully engaged, no slip = no smell.
Are you 100% sure you're not riding the clutch unintentionally. I know that reversing these things can be kind of nasty. Only time we get a nasty smell is when I intervene with the left foot.
If it does, I'd get that looked at as it shouldn't do that,
Gotta agree, reverse gear is truly bonkers. How that got signed off remains a mystery to me. I've not tried but I reckon 50 in reverse should be entirely do-able.
I am happy to add myself to the list (either as a crap driver or one who thinks it's very hard to control a reversing manoeuvre without revving madly or slipping the clutch, and nigh on impossible on full lock).
Peterr96 - are you suggesting that you are able to reverse with the clutch fully out? It feels to me like the minimum speed doing this would be 10 or 20mph and have never dared to do it!
Ian
Peterr96 - are you suggesting that you are able to reverse with the clutch fully out? It feels to me like the minimum speed doing this would be 10 or 20mph and have never dared to do it!
Ian
I have nothing empirical, but I suspect reversing uphill will be one of the biggest causes of premature clutch failure.
Balancing the car on the clutch when going up hill is tricky, but can be done. However, I'd avoid having to as often as possible.
Why are you having to reverse on full lock? I would have thought that to be a nightmare in many cars.
Balancing the car on the clutch when going up hill is tricky, but can be done. However, I'd avoid having to as often as possible.
Why are you having to reverse on full lock? I would have thought that to be a nightmare in many cars.
cellardoor said:
I am happy to add myself to the list (either as a crap driver or one who thinks it's very hard to control a reversing manoeuvre without revving madly or slipping the clutch, and nigh on impossible on full lock).
Peterr96 - are you suggesting that you are able to reverse with the clutch fully out? It feels to me like the minimum speed doing this would be 10 or 20mph and have never dared to do it!
Ian
Exactly so. It goes way quicker than you'd ideally like though so better take some spare undercrackers with you.Peterr96 - are you suggesting that you are able to reverse with the clutch fully out? It feels to me like the minimum speed doing this would be 10 or 20mph and have never dared to do it!
Ian
I recall quite vividly the first time I had to reverse it up a hill. The stink! (of clutch!)
peterr96 said:
Phil
I'm reading that and thinking that you are not touching the clutch while brushing the throttle? Is that correct?
That being the case then you should not get a nasty clutch smell as the clutch should stay fully engaged, no slip = no smell.
Are you 100% sure you're not riding the clutch unintentionally. I know that reversing these things can be kind of nasty. Only time we get a nasty smell is when I intervene with the left foot.
If it does, I'd get that looked at as it shouldn't do that,
Gotta agree, reverse gear is truly bonkers. How that got signed off remains a mystery to me. I've not tried but I reckon 50 in reverse should be entirely do-able.
No, I am holding the clutch a biting point to go from stationary to moving backwards slowly, for example when parking, when you can't fully engage the clutch. The clutch doesn't slip when fully engaged.I'm reading that and thinking that you are not touching the clutch while brushing the throttle? Is that correct?
That being the case then you should not get a nasty clutch smell as the clutch should stay fully engaged, no slip = no smell.
Are you 100% sure you're not riding the clutch unintentionally. I know that reversing these things can be kind of nasty. Only time we get a nasty smell is when I intervene with the left foot.
If it does, I'd get that looked at as it shouldn't do that,
Gotta agree, reverse gear is truly bonkers. How that got signed off remains a mystery to me. I've not tried but I reckon 50 in reverse should be entirely do-able.
Phil.
Murph7355 said:
Why are you having to reverse on full lock? I would have thought that to be a nightmare in many cars.
The quick answer is "only when unavoidable"! - last night's example that prompted the question was the need to do a a three-point turn in a cul-de-sac (after visiting a friend), that necessitated reversing into someone's driveway, which was up a slight incline. It was dark and unlit, so a clutch out 8 mph wasn't an option!As I said, I've never had a problem in any other car I've driven, so thanks to everyone else who's confirmed it doesn't appear to be just me.
Phil.
PhilSm said:
The quick answer is "only when unavoidable"! - last night's example that prompted the question was the need to do a a three-point turn in a cul-de-sac (after visiting a friend), that necessitated reversing into someone's driveway, which was up a slight incline. It was dark and unlit, so a clutch out 8 mph wasn't an option!
Ah well yer screwed in those situations! I think we've all been there. We're 35,000 up on the original clutch.I believe others have even higher milages.
If you do this on the odd occasion I wouldn't worry too much.
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