Finally - clutch clip gone - SOLVED

debutant · Unread post by **debutant** » 01 Apr 2004, 04:35

Yes, after 100k miles my clutch clip gave in. I have read all the faqs on this forum about it (being a weak spot) and I was dreading that this would happen to me. At present time I had quite some expenses (guess going to the Cit garage does help expenses wise) which involved stepper motor replacement, new front discs and brakes, new rear drums etc. Guess the 100k miles mark mean a lot of replacement on my car. I had to call the AA and they were so friendly to tow me back to the office where I parked it. This is in Oxfordshire about 35 miles away from home. I luckily managed to get a lift home from a collegae, but no idea how to get back to work (pretty ackward when you are contracting and get paid by the hour). Reading the forum is seems to be pretty easy to replace yourself, but to me it is impossible. I would have to resort to a Cit garage, but have no means at the time (after spending £2,000 quit on the car in the last 2 months) to have it done.
Is there anyone in the Oxford area (Thame), that has the time and the knowledge to get my car fixed on the parking where it is now? I will pay for your expenses and pay you for it (money/beers) .... as long it is way out of the quote the Cit garages give you (£150 odd). It would be appreciated if I could get the mod (metal rather than plastic) to fix is forever, in which case I would compensate close to the Cit garage quote.
Please ... anybody ... I need my car, but I am skinned at present time

Thanks,
John[V][V][:)]

debutant · Unread post by **debutant** » 01 Apr 2004, 05:12

No replies at all? There must be somebody out there who CAN help!
[:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(]

uhn113x · Unread post by **uhn113x** » 01 Apr 2004, 13:46

Hi John
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">but I am skinned at present time

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Who skinned you? [;)]
Seriously, you can drive your car with no clutch - last time I did it was with a Fraud Esquirt (company car, I hasten to add) through the Manchester rush hour. If you chose a time when traffic was light, you could get it home.

David W · Unread post by **David W** » 01 Apr 2004, 13:54

John,
I'm not anywhere near you but have to say....
This can be one of the most difficult and frustrating jobs on these cars. It is uncomfortable and makes you curse. At times you need this or that tool from the garage/workshop.
In truth a pig of a thing to do at someone elses work parking area.
Can't you look out a Citroen specialist near to you, get them to agree a fixed price and run the car to them somehow?
Before the clip broke was the clutch heavy/stodgy feeling....if so the new clip could also break quite soon unless you fit a new clutch which I guess you are about due? My view (however annoying to some) is that this plastic clip normally isn't an issue unless you run a clutch way past the point it needs replacing.
Good luck.
David

Unread post by **RichardW** » 01 Apr 2004, 13:57

I'd offer to help, but as it's 350 miles from where I live I fear it's a bit far! Any garage should be able to change this, but it's going to be 3 hours or so labour at whatever their rate is. The job is (you could take this to them!):
Remove carpet from bottom of fascia, and lower trim panel around the fuse board. Lever the black plastic canister out of the back of the brake pedal. Undo the clutch pedal bolt. If you're lucky you will then be able to remove it from the LH side of the clutch pedal. If not, saw its head off and then remove it. Remove the pedal from the car (watch the spring!), and fit the new clip. Refit is the reverse of removal - use a new bolt but put in the other way round. Clip the clutch cable onto the pedal before refitting it. Getting the sping back on if it's a manual adjusted clutch is 'interesting'.

debutant · Unread post by **debutant** » 01 Apr 2004, 16:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by D J Woollard

John,
Before the clip broke was the clutch heavy/stodgy feeling....if so the new clip could also break quite soon unless you fit a new clutch which I guess you are about due? My view (however annoying to some) is that this plastic clip normally isn't an issue unless you run a clutch way past the point it needs replacing.
Good luck.
David
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
David,
The clutch never felt heavy, so I assume the clutch is still fine. I'll try to get the car to the dealer somehow (maybe the AA is helpful)
Thanks,
John

rg · Unread post by rg » 01 Apr 2004, 16:09

There's always XM Centre in south Oxford, plus at least one other independent.
rg

fastred · Unread post by **fastred** » 01 Apr 2004, 17:31

Agree with rg - try Paul Johnson at the XM centre first. He knows what he is doing and his charges are more reasonable than those of a main dealer.
Try his mobile No. 07831 420331 and explain the problem.
No connection with him, but he has always dealt fairly with me.
Fastred

debutant · Unread post by **debutant** » 01 Apr 2004, 19:24

Just bought a clip from the Cit dealer in Aylesbury (£7, not bad). They "offered" me to recover the car for about £75 and then they will fix it straight away for the amount of £150 ..... don't think so!
I was thinking that with the help of the Hayes manual and the prints of this forum re clutch cables, I might be able to pull it off myself on Saturday morning. Maybe I will give Paul a call later to see what he quotes and if he wants to come over here to fix it on site.
The Cit garage mentioned aswell that most likely the clutch is on its way, although I didn't find the clutch that heavy. The clip I got now is white (rather then the broken black one) and from this forum I read that it means it should be a bit stronger!?
Anyway, thanks for the help and I will let you know the outcome!
John

tonyb1 · Unread post by **tonyb1** » 02 Apr 2004, 02:16

Just a thought, if it was a Xantia then it doesn't have rear drums, they saw you coming my friend. I found this out a couple of weeks ago on the forum, cheers chaps!!! I even changed the front and rear discs myself thanks to the forum

Took me a whole weekend though!!!

debutant · Unread post by **debutant** » 02 Apr 2004, 04:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tonyb1

Just a thought, if it was a Xantia then it doesn't have rear drums, they saw you coming my friend. I found this out a couple of weeks ago on the forum, cheers chaps!!! I even changed the front and rear discs myself thanks to the forum

Took me a whole weekend though!!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
When I took the rear wheel of once when I had a flat, it definitely showed a drum ... not a disc! Maybe this depends on the model?
Cheers,
John
Xantia Desire 1.8i 1997
105k miles

debutant · Unread post by **debutant** » 02 Apr 2004, 04:46

Before I get up early this Sat morning, can anybody tell me which useful tool I might forget? I think I have all I need, including hacksaw and grease, but I might overlook something ...
Also, is the front seat easy to take out to gain access and what do I need to do to get it out?
Many thanks,
John

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 02 Apr 2004, 05:01

Debutant John -
If you're 100% defo the rear brakes are drums - then I'm 100% defo your car is not a Xantia [:p]
The Xantia inherited the BX rear DISC brakes [8D]
- what does the badge read (exactly) on the boot door [?][8)]

debutant · Unread post by **debutant** » 02 Apr 2004, 05:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by AndersDK

Debutant John -
If you're 100% defo the rear brakes are drums - then I'm 100% defo your car is not a Xantia [:p]
The Xantia inherited the BX rear DISC brakes [8D]
- what does the badge read (exactly) on the boot door [?][8)]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Anders,
Only Citroen Xantia .... on the front sides it says 1.8i
Maybe they just said drums and they did actually discs? Or am I once again scr£wed by Citroen? Why does a drum show on the rear then? Is it just a cover for the disc as I do see the front disc when I take the wheel off!
Cheers,
John

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 02 Apr 2004, 05:20

If any Citroen mechanic mentioned "rear drums" on your Xantia - then he had an off-day - or was exhausted.
The AX,ZX and later derivatives all have rear drum brakes.
A distracted Citroen mechanic may well have mixed up this for your Xantia - he's just a human being - like we are [8D]
What may fool you is that the rear brakes discs would commonly be a rusty mess on the brake discs surface - because rear brakes are prone to get stuck - as they don't have much (if any) work to do during daily commuting.