Clutch pedal getting hard, auto adjust cable at fault?

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 30 Aug 2010, 15:03

Looking at my auto adjusting clutch cable this morning as my pedal has started getting harder the last few months. I know for a fact that it can't be the clutch as it was replaced last year all with pukka Citroen branded bits.

The cable itself isn't seized as if I unclip it from the 'box it slides lovely. I've taken the cable off back to the adjuster and taken that off too. If I pull off the rubber gaiter I can see a spring, if I compress this spring nothing happens with the adjuster. If I pull the inner cable away from the outer cable at the gearbox end the spring compresses on the adjuster, If I then let this go, the spring expands back out to full again. I had the idea that there should be some ratchet system for sorting out the cable length?

The clutch pedal itself is at the top of its travel and the small amount of the biting point is very near the top.

Any ideas?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 30 Aug 2010, 17:15

Hi Kev,

Sounds to me like the auto adjuster is at the wrong end of its travel. The bite point should really be in the middle or a bit lower. It's heavy because you're pressing it far more than it needs to be.

May I suggest that you reset the auto adjuster and give it another go. Unfortunately I know nothing of the auto adjuster - I've never come across one....

Maybe the auto adjuster mechanism is broken.

I leave to my more learned colleagues in this area to comment further.

Is it possible to replace the auto adjuster cable with a normal manually adjusted cable assembly?

spider · Unread post by **spider** » 30 Aug 2010, 17:41

If its the same as the cable's fitted to Peugeot's (again I am not sure) the 'adjuster' is part of the cable itself, typically fitted about midway (around the subframe)

When these malfunction (to be fair its quite rare) a new cable is required as its part of the cable itself.

If you take the cable off the release arm ontop of the transmission you should be able to pull it and hear it ratchet, but it will move back to where it was, if that makes sense. It does not 'lock' as such otherwise when the clutch was worn out there would be no way to reset the cable when the new clutch was fitted.

Not sure if that's any help for your issue though.

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 30 Aug 2010, 21:02

That's very helpful Andy. I think that was what it was doing though I will grab an assistant tomorrow to double check.

Thinking about it a bit more, if the cable was out of adjustment would this not mean the clutch release arm on the 'box would be always slightly pushed? I'm beginning to think that maybe something is not quite right with this side of things.

Plan of action will be to check the ratchet sound and then wait for the CXM where I may check on another Xantia with a push cable clutch.

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 31 Aug 2010, 10:15

How new is the clutch itself?

My S1 td was very heavy when I got it, then started to slip, however, after a new clutch all was brill and light again..

paul

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 01 Sep 2010, 11:23

Hi Kevin, I may try a auto-manual cable swap soon, as I have the manual cable sitting doing nothing at home.. if it can't be done I will just get an auto cable and fit that..

soon being week or two

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 01 Sep 2010, 12:39

Have I read that correctly? If so, theres no difference with the Auto adjust cable to the manual in only that theres no thread on the end for you to adjust the 13 and 10mm nuts...

So its completely simply to put either cable on! They are only fitted for reduceing servicing time,

Paul

Unread post by **RichardW** » 01 Sep 2010, 13:22

Not quite Paul, there is a different spring arrangment at the pedal between the man and auto cables. Man cable uses a spring around the shaft which pushes the pedal down, auto cable uses a coil spring acting on the pedal which lifts the pedal up (although it may act as an over-centre spring such that it initially lifts the pedal then pushes it down once it gets near the bottom - 306 HDi I helped change the clutch on was like this). I suspect the man cable would work with the later spring, although the cable might rattle a bit, whereas the auto cable will probably not work with the earlier spring, as the spring may be required to keep the tension on the cable to hold the auto adjuster.

Or something like that

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 01 Sep 2010, 20:50

Actually Richard, thats a pedal modification, All S1's to 1997 had the coil spring arrangement that you can never put back after a clutch clip replacment... were as the spring on 1997 onwards fit simply, and actually WILL hold the pedal UP for you....

Im sure either cable WILL fit either setup as the clutch clip is the same on both..

Paul

Unread post by **RichardW** » 01 Sep 2010, 21:17

Clutch cable part number changes at the same time as the pedal spring - although the picture in service.citroen still shows it as a manual adjust (but I think that's artistic licence - or laziness!)

Only one way to find out if the manual cable will work with the later spring....who's up for it?

Not me, I've got a hydraulic one

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 01 Sep 2010, 21:19

Done it! Im sure, on a 1997 R reg model, thats how I know

Paul

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 02 Sep 2010, 07:30

The clutch has only been fitted around 9 months. Its an OEM Citroen one. I can hear the ratchet sound if I pull the 'box end of the cable and its a smooth movement. I'm begining to wonder whether it's my mind playing tricks on me as getting into the Xant yesterday morning, it somehow felt lighter

If anyone is about at the CXM this weekend, feel free to test out my clutch pedal.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 02 Sep 2010, 07:33

red_dwarfers wrote:If anyone is about at the CXM this weekend, feel free to test out my clutch pedal.

Compare it with my Activa Kev. If it feels about the same as that then no worries..

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 02 Sep 2010, 08:10

Ill be there... all weekend ...

Paul

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 02 Sep 2010, 09:13

CitroJim wrote:
red_dwarfers wrote:If anyone is about at the CXM this weekend, feel free to test out my clutch pedal.
Compare it with my Activa Kev. If it feels about the same as that then no worries..

Oh you're a cheeky monkey Jim!