Car problems

Just had the "olde" 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix clutch go for the second time, 60,000km on this one. Last time it was circa $2,000 CAD to get it replaced, this time, the car was sold "as-is, where-is" to a mechanic who can do it on his own time and give it to one of his kids.

What to do? Go back to being a 1 car family; the savings from maintenance and insurance funds 1 overseas trip to a Model Engineering show in the UK per year. (wife's an accountant; we know down to the last penny what a car costs over its' lifetime) AND - the exercise of cycling and walking and talking is certain to give me abs of steel, just like Neil right?

DMF are there for the benefit of the manufacturers. They allow them to make cheaper crnakshafts and lighter gearboxes. There purpose is to take up any heavy sudden loads. If you replace them with a solid flywheel you will break the crankshaft. It's all about money.

Posted by Muzzer on 29/06/2017 07:46:12:

If you can get to the slave cylinder and pull it off, along with any linkage or pushrod etc attached to it, the clutch should then engage if a stuck cylinder is in fact the problem.

LOL that was just what I did not need to hear! As it is my only car. But so far so good and the car has only 80,000km of non-urban use so should be plenty of life left in the clutch.

Clutch life is directly proportional to the thickness of Lead on the left clog sole. Had to drive a Directors BMW many years ago (Long before Beemers were NOT a pain on the road) to travel to a company about 150 miles away. Became quite obvious it wouldn't take anything greater than VERY gentle acceleration before clutch slipping. Needed new one with 30,000 miles on clock, he was known to drive like a prat though.

Regards Ian.

The clutch on my last Mondeo estate ( 10 plate! ) didnt even make 28000 miles before starting to give problems....

First sign there was something wrong, was it would drop out of cruise if going up the least incline, then the typical slipping in 5/6th....however the old hand brake on in 4th test showed it ok.....

After a trip to the dealer to confirm, I got rid. The bill for £1500 was coming my way......

I had the clutch go on a Vauxhall Astra 1600, bought second-hand with only 18,000 on the clock. Close examination of the documentation showed that the first owner was a very large, nation-wide driving school. I should have known better than to buy an ex-driving school car - the clutch must have had a very hard life. Moral: when buying second-hand, always check on previous owners before parting with any cash, and avoid driving school cars like the plague!

Clutch life is directly proportional to the thickness of Lead on the left clog sole

Up to a point. My feelings is that it is more likely the idiots that continually slip the clutch. Ideally it should be 'in' or 'out'. Watch for the number of numpties that slip the clutch to hold a vehicle on an incline, rather than applying the handbrake. Ex thought that she should just keep her foot on the clutch pedal, in case she needed to operate it quickly.

I once had a long journey with a numptie who though the clutch was an on/off switch. I really ought to have worn a neck brace for a week after that ride. I did ask him if he found the clutch wore out quickly on his car, and he said yes I've had to change it twice...

Neil

Just sold a British made Honda CRV with 250k on the clock and it was still on it's original clutch. It's down to who makes them and who drives them.

Neil, just to save reading the whole thread, are your wheels back on the road now and what was the problem?

Thanks, John.

yes, what was the problem and have you sorted it?

No, still awaiting a decision, now I have alternative wheels and lots of work - this morning I was earning money wandering round a country park photographing flowers and insects

Unwelcome news for the client, one of the flowers I photographed was a HUGE specimen of Giant Hogweed.

me too, but last night . I dropped my camera on the lens last year and it doesn't focus very well now .

Edited By Hacksaw on 05/07/2017 19:17:59

That's lovely Hacksaw.

Here's my hoverfly. Worth a right click and full size:

>>with a numptie who though the clutch was an on/off switch.<<

My old man was the opposite, he would ride the clutch for miles.The pulling away revs increased as his hearing declined.
The local garage replaced it, then six months later it was back for another.

I had a quiet word with Pete (the garage man) and we found a Fiat racing clutch plate with sintered linings, that lasted several years

FIL would get to about 2 MPH in first gear then shift to high to save gas. Engine protesting all the way to about 35MPH. That WAS top speed for Him. He threatened to drive only 20 mph when gas went to .85 cents a gallon. Said They were trying to make Him spend all His money on gas.

Would edit the above message if I could figure out how. Misers make great ancestors.

I have to agree with the fact that clutch slip causes more wear than heavy right foot. I ran a Mk5 Cortina for around 120K miles, a lot of which all of which was towing a car trailer and race car. Always went straight up box, changing gear at around 5000 revs all way up box. Never had a problem, neither when pulling a big fully loaded caravan. My other half eats clutches in her cars.

When I took my old car in for service a year or two ago I asked if it had a DMF and the receptionist said "No, you're ok it's got a proper clutch"! I'm hoping the new replacement (same make and model) is the same, I expect so.