Clutch issue

[Jonathancilia]

Hi, my citroen saxo 1.5 diesel is having a bit of trouble shifting lately, mainly into first and reverse, not all the time, sometimes it magically goes away and then comes back.

Gear linkages are new, clutch cable is new, clutch is adjusted a bit high because if it is adjusted the same height as the brake pedal it doesnt go into gear.

This leads me to think its the clutch at fault, any ideas?

[Gibbo2286]

Does that have an L shaped lever at the box end like the BX? If so have a close look to see if it's split at the middle of the L , they open and close under tension and don't open the clutch enough to clear.

Just guessing really, can't remember the Saxo set up.

[Jonathancilia]

It has a lever with a circle in the end where the cable goes in, that is fine its not broken or anything

[JohnD]

Hi, my citroen saxo 1.5 diesel is having a bit of trouble shifting lately, mainly into first and reverse,

How does it shift with the engine not running? Either the clutch is worn or the pedal is incorrectly adjusted. Between fully up and down to the floor, the pedal pad should measure 130mm plus or minus 5mm. That measurement will probably put the pedal a bit higher than the brake pad.

[Jonathancilia]

Shifts fine when off. Clutch pedal was adjusted 130mm or so but was difficult to go in first or reverse, so i adjusted it abit higher and now its abit better

[white exec]

Check that the oil in the box is 75W-80 GL-4 (eg Total Transmission 8), and not GL-4/5 or -5, or anything heavier, such as 75W-90. Difficulty in engaging gears can result from incorrect oil.

[Jonathancilia]

75w80 is in the box at the moment

[white exec]

...and GL-4 (the important bit) ?

Just thought that was worth checking, especially as you've already checked out pedal movement and mechanism.

[JohnD]

If you do find that you need a new clutch there are some great offers for Saxo clutches on eBay just now. There's a Borg&Beck 3 parts for £60 including delivery (in the UK) Yesterday I bought an original three-part + the alignment tool from a Peugeot garage for £68 including carriage. I guess the demand for them has fallen away.

[Jonathancilia]

No. GL5 i got in mine. But it has been in there for 25k kms if its bad it will exhibit symptoms from the beginning no?. Im going to buy a sachs clutch kit. For my diesel engine im told i need a 180mm clutch diameter. With the pressure plate with the bolt holes evenly spaced as opposed to the early model which has the bolts spaced in pairs. Is this right?

And are there any differences in the clutch release bearing? Or are they all the same

[Jonathancilia]

Clutch pedal is adjusted at 150mm height at the moment. If i go lower it will be difficult to engage gears

[white exec]

GL-5 it seems can progressively compromise the smooth action of the brass synchronesh rings used in PSA (and some other) gearboxes, resulting in notchy or difficult gear engagement, which is why GL-4 (with a different level of of anti-friction additives) is specified.

Good few of us who have realised this easy mistake, and have switched to the correct oil, have found improved gearbox function. In my own case (same error on both XM and RAV4) the improvement was noticeable, but took a couple of weeks of running to fully work in.

You could well have a clutch problem. The reason I suggested a GL-4 check was simply because it is so straightforward (and cheap) to do.

[Jonathancilia]

I will change it out if gl4 is the correct oil then. Im thinking that the clutch is at fault because it is relative to the clutch adjustment. And this happened from a day to another. One day it was good the other it started to grind gear.

[Jonathancilia]

I will buy a clutch kit just in case. It is due anyway, the adjustment in the clutch is almost all the way back, so its wise to buy one for when it fails. Is sachs a good brand for a saxo?

[Dibber]

It does sound like the symptoms of a worn out clutch release bearing. Sachs is a good brand.