Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

[CitroJim]

Saw this and thought of you Matt...

Borrowed from Facebook

[MattBLancs]

Sorry to hear of your clutch issues Matt Lets hope it can all be easily resolved and the right bit can be found at a good price.

Thanks Jim, I am sure I can fix it, time and the weather are going to be the challenges I think.

There has been a little momentary clutch slip - particularly if you "boot it" hard on the power in 5th and 6th, easy to drive around the issue. Plan was that I'd look to change the clutch in the spring sunshine next year!

I'm intrigued by the electrical connector. Is it to signal a command to the BSI etc. to disengage cruise control when the clutch is operated?

406 has a simple, separate brake light type switch for this task, I guess someone had a great idea of combining different failure modes into one big assembly presumably saving 5 pence on the 308 production line....

[MattBLancs]

I'm hoping, blindly at present, that it's the master cylinder at pedal end.

Let the sun come up a bit and I'll try and have a quick look. Some obvious signs of distress around the master cylinder would be a blessing

[MattBLancs]

This is a good image from Autodoc of the electrical (and hydraulic) connection(s) on a master cylinder:

From Autodoc

Hey, check out SACHS Master Cylinder, clutch in the AUTODOC app https://m.autodoc.co.uk/sachs/12794638

[RichardW]

Does it have push button start, and do you need to press the clutch to get it to start? In which case, that will be the requirement for the electrical connector... having said that I'm pretty sure my 3008 has a clutch pedal position sensor giving a % read out, and that is key start with no need to press the clutch.....

Master cylinder failure is common on C4 Picassos, I would imagine it's the same (plastic!?!) item. Not sure how you would diagnose one or the other?

[MattBLancs]

Does it have push button start, and do you need to press the clutch to get it to start?

Yes and yes - agree that and cruise control (so it doesn't try to rev to infinity if you put the clutch pedal down when cruising up hill!!!)

In which case, that will be the requirement for the electrical connector... having said that I'm pretty sure my 3008 has a clutch pedal position sensor giving a % read out, and that is key start with no need to press the clutch.....

I could not clearly recall if the "Pedal position XX % " I remember seeing on Diagbox was clutch and/or throttle pedal, at least one of them does.

Master cylinder failure is common on C4 Picassos, I would imagine it's the same (plastic!?!) item. Not sure how you would diagnose one or the other?

Interesting, this is my second dead clutch hydraulics as that torpedoed my C5 (and effectively was one of the instigators for actually joining the forum!)

There's loads of different types just finding a match for the C5 was a challenge! In the end the "correct" C5 item was sent back and a "not compatible" but visually identical (and actually was suitable) C4 item was procured and fitted.

The 308 item is completely different at the pedal end to the C5 / C4 items!


Not sure how to diagnose either, so crossed fingers and have a £110 master cylinder awaiting collection from my local GSF. will pick it up in the morning.

[MattBLancs]

Basis for it (hopefully) being this end:

Mucky / oily on the end of here!

[MattBLancs]

Took a video, here's a still image

[CitroJim]

PSA clutch hydraulics seem - going by Husky's and other's experiences - seem a real minefield

May you successfully negotiate it Matt

[MattBLancs]

Fingers very tightly crossed indeed, Jim!

[Huskyxantia]

If you hear that sound like air being drawn when the pedal is worked (clutch) then its pedal end , as a rule once one plays up then the other will follow suit, be alert as ebay is full of Chinese fakes. Might sound daft if you find a 308 being broken for spares I'd go that route , why I hear you say , my Picasso went through several parts off Ebay, I was ready to scrap the car then saw one bein pg broken for parts I purchased the top cylinder that connects to the clutch pedal which was a genuine psa one , and it was confirmed whe it arrived, it felt different the whole material and the feeling of the clutch when pedal being used to changed gears too , the pedal was so much lighter and easy to depress and so on , i sold the car weeks ago and the chap is still driving it around as from 4 days ago , he saw me pointed at the car and big smile on his face and thumbs up , and a little bit of advice from an old fart, dont over think the job on any car, follow your gut , then what you know will guide you to the end result., keep us posted matt. Oh just something to tick off the list , whe or has your car had the whole clucth renewed at all ? As what I've noticed these parts fail if the mass flywheel has age related wear.

[Huskyxantia]

Seems my N button works on my tablet when it gets a good firm press ...sorry about the spelling

[MattBLancs]

Morning Husky,

Thanks for the thoughts!

I've just got back from GSF, £120 less in my pocket but a shiny new clutch master cylinder in my hand. Valeo brand. Hopefully reputable make from reputable source keeps me away from poor quality/fakes!

Hoping this does the trick, as far as I can see this is original clutch, DMF and slave cylinder. Plan is / was! to change at least clutch and probably slave cylinder (DMF tbc) next spring.

[Huskyxantia]

Roll on dry days and more daylight

[MattBLancs]

Roll on dry days and more daylight

Here, here!

Just posting myself a few YouTube links to watch in the morning before hopefully tackling the clutch master cylinder job: