Guest Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Here's an interesting thing on which I need to take advice on from the Autoshite crew. Driving the Galant this afternoon, the clutch pedal has gone very noticably spongy. This is odd as on the morning it was absolutely fine. By spongy, I mean that it doesn't really seem to have any bite and seems to be pausing for a moment before changing gear. Still drives OK though, doesn't seem to be slipping under load or anything. For info, the Galant is the 1982 model, rear wheel drive with a 4-speed manual box. I've driven it about 7000 miles since getting it and the clutch has always been fine, not sure when it was last replaced. Here it is chilling at the roadside: The only issue I can think of is that the gearbox has a small leak and I'm wondering whether this issue could be caused by low oil, or whether this is clouding some sort of clutch issue. It's coming off the road in a few weeks for an overhaul and I don't want to buy £10 worth of gearbox oil and arse about only to have it all drained out and binned within weeks if it's very obviously a clutch issue. Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milford Cubicle Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Is it a hydraulic clutch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I think it's a cable-operated clutch, but I'm not 100% on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 It does sound like hydraulic or cable problems rather than something in the box or clutch itself. Got an underbonnet pic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew e Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Mat caught under the back of the pedal (speak from experience )? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I would have, but I've left my camera in Vicsmith's mobile van.Bugger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I can't really offer any good advice here. Only time I have experienced something similar was on my Skoda Estelle, many years ago. Clutch got progressively 'soggier' with a lower and lower bite, which unfortunately led to the clutch grenading itself spectacularly and a larger than expected bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Only time I have experienced something similar was on my Skoda Estelle, many years ago. Clutch got progressively 'soggier' with a lower and lower bite, which unfortunately led to the clutch grenading itself spectacularly and a larger than expected bill. Actually, that's very useful advice indeed. I was wondering whether I'd be able to get away with it more than anything else, my exhaust has been blowing quite badly for a while now, but I put up with it on the basis that if it drops off completely I could probably put it in the boot and drive home. However, this sounds like a situation which can only end in peril. The MOT on the Galant comes up later this month and I'm taking it off the road before then, unfortunately given this event it might have to be sooner than I think.Unfortunately, that leaves me at the mercy of the rest of my fleet, i.e. ones that have a valid MOT. Options available to me are an untaxed Stanza which boils up on idle and an untaxed Cuore TR-XX with knackered tyres.All is not well at the Hirst Cabs office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 That happened to me on the Escort. The clutch release bearing had worn its way through the fingers. It was pretty obvious from the feel of the pedal that something had gone very wrong though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicsmith Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 To be honest I though the clutch was getting to the point where the maximum amount of fun had been extracted from it when I drove it last week.Looks like you`ll have to catch a bus, or walk. The Stanza is out because as soon as we`ve sorted out the overheating problem I`m going to throw the keys down a grate, sadly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 The Stanza is out because as soon as we`ve sorted out the overheating problem I`m going to throw the keys down a grate, sadly."GRATE" work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Update, it is the clutch, it is indeed on its way out. The bite still exists, it's just very near the top of the pedal now. Will it leave me stranded at the side of the road? Most likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew e Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Hirst it can be cured all for a few hours labour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk2_craig Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Surely the perfect opportunity to upgrade that 4-speeder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spottedlaurel Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 And chuck the 2-litre in it that Mr_B has offered you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 exactly, anyway I dont think it will die all of a sudden, it will just start to slip a bit, you will get plenty warning before its completely u/s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 It is stashed away now, drove it down to the "vehicular storage point" and it did alright, just became increasingly difficult to get it into 1st. It's OK as the MOT runs out tomorrow and there's some stuff I want to do to it before it goes down, fix the rust, etc. I could have kept using it for work but it's just not worth the risk, with the miles I do nowadays it'd just accelerate its demise, whereas at the moment I could still feasibly drive it up for MOT and then take it to a mate to fit a new clutch (or indeed, a new engine and box combo). Rather do that than pay for it towing!In the shortest term I'm putting the Cuore back into action as that still has some ticket left on it, just waiting on a tyre delivery - a bonus as I can put it up for sale soon after (it would be utterly unsaleable with the old rear tyres) and start using the Stanza, which should be ready soon. Really I could just tax it up now as it has a valid ticket and is mechanically sound, but it looks an absolute dogs dinner and would probably be burned out within an hour. I can not emphasize this enough - it's not ratlook, more like Eastern Bloc peasant look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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