Clutch gone funny

[kev54]

Advice, pals, please. Fiat Ducato 2013, 2.3 ltr diesel multijet, 3300 kg motorhome. Just set off from Dieppe on a 90 day trip intending to get as far as Granada and back. The clutch suddenly stopped springing back properly. The breakdown guy said “it’s working, nothing for me to do”. It’s Saturday afternoon, of course. Should I stay parked up until Monday - or can I keep going and find a garage to look at it on Monday. If I pump the pedal a few times it springs enough to change gear. Changing down is worse than up. Thanks for any comments from experience

 

[Jackd]

Any updates kev54

 

[kev54]

Thanks for asking Jackd I was going to hold off until the job was completed, but I’m confident its all going in the right direction. Spent the morning phoning garages and found an Iveco truck garage about 2 miles from us! Clutch less workable than yesterday, but just about manageable. Perfect confidence engendered from the moment of driving onto their site. Another motorhome being worked on. It is a new clutch, and I believe the guy. Parts delivered tomorrow, job done Wednesday, 1300 euros (including VAT) - painful, but sounds fair to me. The small drag is that Saumur isn’t exactly 2 days’ worth of riveting and we’ll have to hang about a medium-sized shopping mall while the job is being done. That’s what adventuring / funstering is all about! Saumur Véhicules Industriels - if anyone has need

 

[roadwarrior]

glad your sorted

 

[kev54]

if you have a leaking slave cylinder which explains your foot to the floor, by pumping it you introduce more air into the system, ultimately you wont have any fluid, as it isnt inside the bell housing and connected to the clutch - is there a leak or is it disconected spring ?

I’m told there is no ‘spring’ - but anyway I’d expect total failure to return if that were the problem. The fact that pumping helped it function convinced me that one or other of the cylinders had failed. I’m happy to have found a mechanic in whom I’ve got confidence - that he’s not ripping me off and that he’s going to fix it.

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[kev54]

Fixed! It was on the verge of failure. Now covered 150 miles just as if nothing had happened - which is the whole point. Added about 5 degrees C and stuffed the winter coats, boots and duvets into any available corners. Alhambra here we come! Thanks for all your reassuring comments.

 

[NigelNovice]

It could be the lesser of the 2 evils and be the Master cylinder seals (O ring) going, don't leak just don't hold the pressure thus clutch is not dis-engaging making gear change hard, just had to change it on SWHTBO Seat Leon, only a 2 hour job if you remember to take the little rubber seals out the old cylinder first

 

[kev54]

It could be the lesser of the 2 evils and be the Master cylinder seals (O ring) going, don't leak just don't hold the pressure thus clutch is not dis-engaging making gear change hard, just had to change it on SWHTBO Seat Leon, only a 2 hour job if you remember to take the little rubber seals out the old cylinder first

Thanks NigelNovice but … I’m great at many things - not motor mechanics it might seem easy to you - not to me. I prefer to enjoy driving and exploring - for everything else, there’s money