Help! My Chimaera is possessed...
Discussion
Last night I went to get reverse gear and the car started rolling backwards immediately. I thought perhaps I didn't have the clutch pedal the whole way down, so pushed it flat to the boards and still the car kept chugging backwards on its own accord. The clutch drag was so bad I couldn't take it out of gear and I had to cut the engine to stop it.
The clutch itself is virtually brand new. It was installed a couple of months ago and has only covered around 250 miles since. Is there any chance this could be a question of adjustment? Otherwise I guess it points to a hydraulic problem.
Chris
The clutch itself is virtually brand new. It was installed a couple of months ago and has only covered around 250 miles since. Is there any chance this could be a question of adjustment? Otherwise I guess it points to a hydraulic problem.
Chris
Chris, have a look at this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Hopefully a simple fix.
Hopefully a simple fix.
Tyre Tread said:
Chris, have a look at this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Hopefully a simple fix.
Thanks. Some good points to check.Hopefully a simple fix.
Did you ever get to the bottom of it with yours? My clutch was installed recently by a TVR specialist so I'm hoping they put the right amount of fluid in and bled it correctly. Wouldn't be the first time a professional garage has slipped up, though... Not even the first time this week, actually. I noticed it was losing a bit of oil and traced that to the oil filter, which was loose.
It's odd that the clutch issue would suddenly flare up after doing 180 miles without incident on Sunday morning. Fingers crossed it's nothing too serious.
Not sure they would even need to disturb the hydraulics to replace the clutch plate and pressure plate.
I would have thought they'd have spotted it if the arm was damaged but not beyond the realms of possibility that the new clutch has put additional strain on the arm and is damaging it.
I spoke to a relative who was a RAF engineer for 25+ years and worked on hydraulic systems for many years therafter and he advised that it is not unusual for tiny amount to seep past seals; such tiny amounts that they are virtually unnoticeable until all of the fluid has gone.
Can't find a reason on mine so I am just keeping an eye on it.
I would have thought they'd have spotted it if the arm was damaged but not beyond the realms of possibility that the new clutch has put additional strain on the arm and is damaging it.
I spoke to a relative who was a RAF engineer for 25+ years and worked on hydraulic systems for many years therafter and he advised that it is not unusual for tiny amount to seep past seals; such tiny amounts that they are virtually unnoticeable until all of the fluid has gone.
Can't find a reason on mine so I am just keeping an eye on it.
My ex-Chimaera of 93 vintage displayed similar and when I checked the master cylinder it was empty...-8-)) It was about 15/16 years old by then??
Upon refilling, and after a thorought check around the foot well, there was evidence of a leaking MC -I then replace the MC with new seals and it remained full until the clutch waa changed a year after that.
How old's yours.....notwithstanding that a "Dealer" has replaced the clutch (edited to add) and have you crawled into the foot well to see if there some fluid about, if you find the MC empty??
T
Upon refilling, and after a thorought check around the foot well, there was evidence of a leaking MC -I then replace the MC with new seals and it remained full until the clutch waa changed a year after that.
How old's yours.....notwithstanding that a "Dealer" has replaced the clutch (edited to add) and have you crawled into the foot well to see if there some fluid about, if you find the MC empty??
T
Edited by K4TRV on Wednesday 4th September 14:01
Tyre Tread said:
Not sure they would even need to disturb the hydraulics to replace the clutch plate and pressure plate.
Fair point. Thinking about it, the clutch hydraulics could be original.The fact it still more or less works makes me think it's unlikely to be the release fork. From memory, a beefed up release fork was fitted with the new clutch.
I was late for a night out by the time I got it back in the garage last night, but will check for hydraulic fluid in the carpets, floor etc. this evening.
All fun and games, ain't it?
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