C5 HDI clutch problem ?

[cachaciero]

It will be the same gearbox and clutch on the 140 Mondeo, its the same unit.

Well maybe, but having spent some time trawling through the web on a limited range of manufacturers, PSA and GM get lotsa hits Renault quite a few Toyota (Avensis) quite a few and Ford not so many.

Interestingly cylinder failure and contamination seem to figure quite highly as does failure of engine / gearbox shaft seals rarely does it appear to be the clutch itself, though there seem to be theorys about clutch plate material in the case of GM. In all cases one gets the feeling that manufactureres are being extremely reticent about coming clean in most cases, trying very hard not to meet their warranty requirements even point blank refusal in many cases even when it is plainly within warranty.
It does not look good to me and even taking into account that more people complain than say how good things are I smell a very dead whale, given that for all manufacturers clutches flywheels DMF etc. probably come from the same place.

So much so that having decided to give up automatic boxes for manual in the name of economy I now wonder if that might be false economy.

cachaciero

[steelcityuk]

Until running 'new' cars I've never had clutch judder or a brake lining coming unbonded.

Steve.

[RichardW]

The clutch on my Mate's C5 2.0 HDi 138 had done 90k when we changed it in Jan. There was minimal 'wear' on the friction plate (<30%), but the DMF was goosed, and the release bearing fell in two. 'Wear' could be a subjective term! If you have a car with a DMF at all costs avoid overheating it - no holding it on the clutch on hills, avoid racing starts, and don't ride the clutch. It should last the life of the car then. Replacement is £££££ - my mate paid £400 for the 4 part clutch kit - and that was the cheapest he could get it

[Citroenmad]

If you have a car with a DMF at all costs avoid overheating it - no holding it on the clutch on hills, avoid racing starts, and don't ride the clutch.

Thats what i do, minimal use of the clutch, always have driven like that. A lot of people do drive with the above styles which might explain a rapid clutch failure rate on occasions.

Though the oil leaking onto the clutch is a different matter, that is a bit worrying, as there isnt much you can do to prevent that if a leak occurs it occurs.

The poeple posting in here with slipping clutches, does your clutch judder when pulling away too?

[Xantidote]

The majority (all?) modern diesels seem to have DMFs. I assume petrol engines have "ordinary" clutches? So maybe some of us will give up on diesels because the DMFs are not "fit for purpose", and the exorbitant price of regular DMF replacement

[Citroenmad]

Yes most if not all modern diesels do have DMF.

However, its not just limited to diesels, many petrol cars have them now too.

[old'uns]

So maybe some of us will give up on diesels because the DMFs are not "fit for purpose", and the exorbitant price of regular DMF replacement

god knows what's in mine then, DMF or 'normal',212k still on original clutch, no signs of giving up just yet, xx fingers.

[Citroenmad]

It should have a DMF, all HDI C5s do. If its original then it will still be on its DMF.

They are not all bad! Depends how they are treated im sure.

[myglaren]

Long time coming but here is the promised photo of the slave cylinder:


(Clickable thumbail)

I couldn't locate the leads so downloaded to a laptop, dragged the photo's to a dongle, put the dongle in this computer and as I did - there are the leads, still connected and tucked under the computer, out of sight
Now if only I could find the dongle with the passwords on it

I had my DMF and clutch done at 120,00 miles. A mis-diagnosis as it turned out but they were close to needing it anyway.
I think I was at least partly responsible for slamming it into third on a steep downgrade while doing 90mph - every evening.
Saved wear and tear on the brakes