Ducato Clutch about to give up?

[Hooflungdung]

We’re currently touring in Spain and planning to head up into the Picos de Europa today. However, when we arrived at the site a couple of days ago and I was reversing the front wheels onto the blocks to get the van level she struggled a little bit and the clutch must have been slipping a bit as there was that lovely aroma of ‘clutch a la scorchio’.

I’ve never had that experience before in the 100+ times I must have used the chocks and I’m a bit concerned that the clutch might be trying to tell me something! Me thinks driving up some of the highest mountains in Northern Spain on a bank holiday might not be the smartest move if the clutch is just about to give up.

I will test it before I do anything by trying to pull off in 1st with the hand brake on but would appreciate any thoughts/advice. BTW Doris is 2011 Ducato with 44,000 miles on the clock.

Looking forward to some (comforting) responses.

Cheers

Mark

 

[PeterCarole29]

You know your van better than anyone
Once you do a test which will be an indication if it’s slipping at least or if you have just burnt it

 

[MichaelT]

I think its normal and I've had it before especially when putting a lot of strain when going up ramps and slopes.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Probably hot as well after a trip.
Mike.

 

[Lenny HB]

You should never reverse onto ramps it nearly always causes clutch problems as reverse gear is a lot higher than first.
Clutch is probably OK if you have only had the burning smell on the odd occasion just don't do it again.

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[BouncyBoatFolk]

Sometimes it's unavoidable but I read many post with advice about not reversing onto ramps as reverse gear is a bit weak a d higher geared than 1st gear.
Mike.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

2 minutes to slow

 

[gpat]

Yes. I agree with Lenny HB . I had a brand new rover 600 and used it to reverse our caravan up our drive. It wasn't steep but slightly uphill. Overpowering smell of burnt clutch. It went on to do another 100K miles with no problem.

It was a company car but I still never did it again.

 

[The Wino]

As an aside I used to see a lot of people thrashing the nuts off their engine going up ramps I found it best to not touch the accelerator at all and just use the clutch. What do others do? This is tempting fate but I've never had a new clutch on any vehicle apart from a 50 year old triumph vitesse of unknown mileage.

 

[robnchris]

I have to admit that we usually alway reverse up ramps and have never had any problems, come to that we have reversed up some pretty steep inclines in our 11 year old Ducato 2.3L which has been remapped with no problems at all.
Unlike our 2010 3L Ducato that suffered from the dreadful Clutch Judder.

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[BouncyBoatFolk]

Gentle rolling forward motion, with one foot over the clutch and the other feathering the throttle, but ready to brake when I hear our pre-placed squeaker telling me were near the top. It's easier to go to high, and roll back, than try and get those last few inches when your already on the ramps incline.
Mike.

 

[Figaro]

Gentle rolling forward motion, with one foot over the clutch and the other feathering the throttle, but ready to brake when I hear our pre-placed squeaker telling me were near the top. It's easier to go to high, and roll back, than try and get those last few inches when your already on the ramps incline.
Mike.

I'm interested in hearing about your pre placed squeaker. That's a good idea, do you put it on top level or the one you want to be on, what type of squeaky do you use please ?

 

[poppycamper]

2 minutes to slow

Yea... he is quick is our Lenny HB

 

[Hooflungdung]

Thanks for the advice - hopefully the clutch still has a lot of life - I will know in a bit.

Incidentally, I always try and drive onto the ramps forward (for the reasons stated) but as the ground was wet and more rain forecast I wanted to be able to roll forward off of the pitch as opposed to rolling back further onto soggy ground.

Will update accordingly.

Cheers

 

[poppycamper]

You should never reverse onto ramps it nearly always causes clutch problems as reverse gear is a lot higher than first.
Clutch is probably OK if you have only had the burning smell on the odd occasion just don't do it again.

I am sure Milenco Quattro and Triple ramps have stamped on them not to reverse onto them!!

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[Lenny HB]

Thanks for the advice - hopefully the clutch still has a lot of life - I will know in a bit.

Incidentally, I always try and drive onto the ramps forward (for the reasons stated) but as the ground was wet and more rain forecast I wanted to be able to roll forward off of the pitch as opposed to rolling back further onto soggy ground.

Will update accordingly.

Cheers

You gave the impression you had reversed up them 100+ times.
You could have just turned the van round.

 

[Lenny HB]

I have to admit that we usually alway reverse up ramps and have never had any problems, come to that we have reversed up some pretty steep inclines in our 11 year old Ducato 2.3L which has been remapped with no problems at all.
Unlike our 2010 3L Ducato that suffered from the dreadful Clutch Judder.

You have been very lucky, the Ducato is one of the worst for clutch problems when reversing up ramps due to the high reverse gear.

 

[gus-lopez]

I will test it before I do anything by trying to pull off in 1st with the hand brake on b

You test by putting in 4th gear & with handbrake on, attempting to move.It should stall.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

I'm interested in hearing about your pre placed squeaker. That's a good idea, do you put it on top level or the one you want to be on, what type of squeaky do you use please ?

I posted a thread a while ago on it, but succinctly. It's just a dogs squeaky toy inside a piece of inner tube. You just place it on the ramp with the squeak part facing outwards. As you drive over it the squeak lets you know you're near the top. I try and place it higher than needed as the adjustment for level is then done on the brakes, rather than blaying the life out of the clutch.
It works for me and cost about £1. which is lot cheaper than running off the highest part of the ramps if you get things wrong.
Mike.

 

[Figaro]

Thanks for that, I'm going to try that next time I need ramps.
I don't care what the dog says about his toys

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[BouncyBoatFolk]

Thanks for that, I'm going to try that next time I need ramps.
I don't care what the dog says about his toys

It attracts dogs.

 

[Guigsy]

Put the ramps on the downhill side. Then move forwards or reverse on to them. That way you aren't fighting gravity. With the bonus that it's effectively chocking the wheels, so it's safer if your handbrake fails.

Toasting your clutch a bit once isn't good, but as long as your not doing it every time, wheel spinning every time you pull away and powershifting into 2nd, you're probably ok.

When you're on an empty bit of road, get rolling, and with the clutch out, floor the throttle up to at least 2500rpm. I think it's best done in a higher gear? If the clutch is goosed, you'll get slip.

 

[Abacist]

I use ramps as little as possible. It’s very easy to become anal about being level which is quite unnecessary. The fridge works quite happily with a slight list fore and aft or side to side! My van is 3 litre & 5 ton laden and prone to clutch overheating. Had to reverse out of Setenil de las Bodegas 300 yards and clutch overheating warning light came on the dash. Fine again once cooled off!

 

[Hooflungdung]

Ok. So. The story has a happy ending (so far!). Did the clutch check and all good. Drove up the mountain and all good - well as far as the clutch goes anyway. Going up narrowish 2 lane road up the very pretty gorge to Potes when a Wally in a Ford Puma/Kuga comes round the bend towards us with two wheels on our side of the white line and eyeballs fixed on the scenery. Swerves back onto his side at the last second and there is a loud bang as he passes us. I thought he hit our mirror but it hadn’t moved. ‘Er indoors thought he’d hit us further back. We pulled over at the first chance which was a mile or so up the road and checked the van and could find no damage so can only presume that the plonker over corrected and walloped his mirror or another part of his vehicle on the wall on his side which had been placed there specifically to keep motor vehicles out of the gorge.

Like I said, happy ending for us - probably not for the plonker in the Ford - one of Life’s great lessons!

I have presumed said plonker was of the male persuasion - it goes without saying that the plonker may have been an alternative flavour.

 

[Hooflungdung]

You gave the impression you had reversed up them 100+ times.
You could have just turned the van round.

Turning the van round wasn’t an option. The Kampenfuhrer was very insistent that I reverse onto the pitch (which is generally good practice when the ground is wet).

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[gus-lopez]

The fridge works quite happily with a slight list fore and aft or side to side!

Mine will accept slight side to side out of level but nothing fore & aft.

 

[trappers]

Hi this is your man ask for David