Ford Fiesta - Clutch Problems

Yorkshirechick

Hi,

I have an o3 reg Ford Fiesta which I've only just bought (end of March). The biting point on the clutch is really high, and seems to be getting higher. I keep stalling it when trying to hold the car with the clutch. Does this mean I need the clutch replacing?
If it does, how costly is this? Or can they just do something to mend it? Sorry if this sounds daft but I know nothing about cars!!

Thanks
YC

manda1205

If your clutch is gone it will slip, its hard to explain and im sure others on here will do a better job, but if you put it in gear and lift the clutch to biting and excelerate but dont release the clutch fully you'll feel a slip the engine will make a noise your not used to (as i said hard to explain). Anyways, if your car has not done many miles, its an 03 plate so i wouldnt think it needed a clutch, unless you drive like a loon. It may just be the clutch cable, which is cheap and easy to do, or might just be where the clutch sits, some sit high anyway, as youve said youve just bought it, it might just be you need to get used to it.

cajef

manda1205 wrote: »

but if you put it in gear and lift the clutch to biting and excelerate but dont release the clutch fully you'll feel a slip the engine will make a noise your not used to (as i said hard to explain).

That is a good way to burn the clutch out.

To check if the clutch is slipping either keep the handbrake on and giving the engine slightly higher revs than normal, bring the clutch up fully, the engine should stall, or alternatively drive at slow speed on a quiet road road with no other traffic about, in either second or third gear, accelarate hard suddenly, if the car responds straight away the clutch is OK, if the engine revs high but there is a lag before the car starts to pick up speed the clutch is slipping.

manda1205

cajef wrote: »

That is a good way to burn the clutch out.

I didn't mean sit there all day doing it. And doing it once is not gonna burn it out, unless its gone anyway. I did say someone else could prob explain better anyway. just trying to give op an idea.

helen2010

i have a ford fiesta 1999 the brake fluid ran low now my clutch is soft any ideas what this could be and how do i fix it

Rossy.

Crikey at some of these comments

If your biting point is really high then thats an indication that the clutch is worn or it could be that the cable needs adjusting.

The easiest way to know if your clutch is worn is to drive it normaly. When you accelerate if the revs creep up but the car's speed doesn't increase with the revs then your clutch is slipping and is worn

You'll get a burning smell too and it's not pleasant.

I notice you say "when i try and hold the car with the clutch" - To be honest if you drive like that alot then your asking for your clutch to be fubared. That's what a handbrake is for. Only time you need to ride the clutch slightly is on a hill start. If you hold the car on the clutch on hills or in traffic all the time i'm suprised it's lasted this long.

Clutches can, if used correctly, last the lifetime of a car. Mines on it's original clutch and i've got 148k on the clock. Then again i don't ride my clutch

If you get any of the symptoms above then get it to a garage for a clutch replacement. It's not an expensive part, it's the labour that pushes the £££ up. Some car's can be done in a few hours and others take all day. It really depends if the subframe etc has to be dropped.

Don't keep driving it without getting it checked out as you may find out that sooner or later you won't be able to drive it anywhere and then you need to get towed etc

Inactive

OP is almost 3 years old...;)

Rossy.

Inactive wrote: »

OP is almost 3 years old...;)

Doh !!!

didn't check the OP. Ta Inactive

bikerfrenzy

have you got any free play in the clutch pedal? can you lift the pedal up with your hand(obviously not while you are driving) I seem to remember the adjustment where the cable connects to the pedal can move.