Disconcerting Clutch Feel - Cable operated, Xantia 1.9

[ecohouse1]

Since owning my Xant TD for 18 months I occasionally get this wierd feel on the clutch pedal which feels like the pedal moves a few mms before it grabs the cable and there is a bit of creaking/clicking etc. At first I thought the pedal pivot needed lube but it was OK. Most of the time its fine but I get it every so often. The clip has been replaced before I got the car and the clutch is pretty new (I had it fitted last year)

I have noticed the clutch sometimes feels lighter after a bout of it. I wondered if its the auto adjuster working on the cable?

Freaks me out when I am a long way from home sat in a traffic jam. Have visions of the clip pinging off and being stranded!!

[jgra1]

could be worth throwing a new cable on as the other two bits are new anyway

[ecohouse1]

I did think about it, but had a clutch cable snap on my BX TZD reversing out my drive (thank fully) and it was the devils worst job to get the new one fitted and that was without the joys of clips and auto adjusters!

If I thought it was likely to die imminently I would change it!

Any signs of a clutch cable on its way out?

[jgra1]

with yours it does sound a bit like the inner and outer cables are not free from each other, i.e. binding.. assuming nothing is wrong with the clutch itself (which you would hope not)

I dont think its the worst job ever.. do the clip end first, get the pedal down from its mounting and once that's done it's quite plain sailing on a decent pair of ramps.

[ecohouse1]

Thanks jgra1 - do I need to take the drivers seat out to get better access at the pedals as I am even struggling to see the tops of the pedals let alone get spanners etc on them? I take it I undo the trim above the pedals?

[Hell Razor5543]

I have replaced the cable on Gracie, an 90HP HDi Xantia. IIRC it took me a couple of hours, but I am not really mechanically minded. I am reasonably flexible, so I did not need to remove the drivers' seat. You will need to get the front of the car up on stands, as the cable comes down from the bulkhead, across the subframe (where it is loosely held by a C Clamp), and then up again by the battery tray towards the gearbox.

Get your cable from GSF (about £21), while Citroen want £43. ECP don't show the cable on their system. Assuming your car uses an auto adjustor cable, wrap packing tape around the adjustor, bellows and securing clip before fitting. On my first attempt the clip came off, and the adjustor hit its end stop, so I couldn't use it. I got another cable and fitted it, and managed to reset the first cable (so I now have a spare).

There are guides on replacing the cable on the forum. The trick is to find the one that works best for you.

[NewcastleFalcon]

I have done the contortionist thing in the drivers footwell many times, but really the seats are so easy to remove and put back that next time I would definitely remove the drivers seat. Feet up on the back seat lying upside down has got to be more comfortable than either bending double, or worse still lying with your back bent the wrong way across the sill of the open drivers door. Six (correction 5 (T40)) easily removed torx bolts I think from memory, with a bit of sliding the seat forwards/backwards to expose them.

regards

Neil

[jgra1]

agree chuck the seat out..
headtorch will be useful - well , invaluable..