Annoying 'helpful' features on C4 Picasso - Stop/Start and auto parking brake.

Jeepers_Creepers

BOWFER said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

BOWFER said:

Everyone just sits with their foot on the clutch ready to go, it doesn't damage the clutch if it's fully depressed.

And, as I said before, it's your 'unique' behaviour at junctions that is triggering the stop/start, so it's a bit unfair to criticise it when it's functioning exactly as it should.

Ah, but that's why it's anathema to me - it does damage the clutch, the clutch release bearing. A £10 part, that'll cost £500 to replace.

You'd happily sit at a junction for a minute with the clutch depressed?  That's literally depressing.

I'll stick with my way, rather than your bizarre way that triggers the stop/start and then has you moaning.

Aw well, if you put it like that, I'm riding the clutch like you from now on; I'd hate to think that saving clutch wear was considered bizarre.

Man, you are sooo persuasive.

facade

TBH, it is more likely that repeatedly pressing the clutch will break the fingers off the spring and the release bearing will punch through it, Fiats love to do this, the 500 had a recall to put a doorstop under the pedal to try and reduce the stress enough to get the clutch through warranty- my brother's Brava did it years ago, what fun we had taking the power unit out to fix it.

Jenni_D

Riding the clutch is something different (in my mind) ... that action is holding the car in position with the clutch partially engaged. But in the situation you describe (where you may be stationary for 30 seconds or more) I would also tend to put the car in neutral.

Ganga

Jenni_D said:

Riding the clutch is something different (in my mind) ... that action is holding the car in position with the clutch partially engaged. But in the situation you describe (where you may be stationary for 30 seconds or more) I would also tend to put the car in neutral.

As would i but thats the way i was taught to drive many years ago.

Jeepers_Creepers

You're right, Jenni.

'Riding' the clutch is very poor practice and causes premature plate wear.

It isn't the correct term for what I'm referring to - sitting with the clutch fully depressed. But this is also pretty bad practice when done excessively and causes release bearing wear.

(I haven't yet checked out your theory that the engine will usually only cut out only once at each junction, but that would be an improvement if it's true!)

Jeepers_Creepers

facade said:

TBH, it is more likely that repeatedly pressing the clutch will break the fingers off the spring and the release bearing will punch through it, Fiats love to do this, the 500 had a recall to put a doorstop under the pedal to try and reduce the stress enough to get the clutch through warranty- my brother's Brava did it years ago, what fun we had taking the power unit out to fix it.

Are you saying that dipping the clutch pedal 2 or three times is worse than holding it fully down for, ooh, 45+ seconds?

Jeepers_Creepers

Ganga said:

Jenni_D said:

Riding the clutch is something different (in my mind) ... that action is holding the car in position with the clutch partially engaged. But in the situation you describe (where you may be stationary for 30 seconds or more) I would also tend to put the car in neutral.

As would i but thats the way i was taught to drive many years ago.

Ditto.

I think it's fair to say, tho', that most car components are far superior quality these days, so it's very likely that clutch bearings aren't as vulnerable as they were. But still...

facade

Jeepers_Creepers said:

facade said:

TBH, it is more likely that repeatedly pressing the clutch will break the fingers off the spring and the release bearing will punch through it, Fiats love to do this, the 500 had a recall to put a doorstop under the pedal to try and reduce the stress enough to get the clutch through warranty- my brother's Brava did it years ago, what fun we had taking the power unit out to fix it.

Are you saying that dipping the clutch pedal 2 or three times is worse than holding it fully down for, ooh, 45+ seconds?

No idea, cheap poor quality ball race vs cheap poorly tempered springs, plastic clips and bearings, I wouldn't bet £5 on either

onomatopoeia99

Jeepers_Creepers said:

You're right, Jenni.

'Riding' the clutch is very poor practice and causes premature plate wear.

It isn't the correct term for what I'm referring to - sitting with the clutch fully depressed. But this is also pretty bad practice when done excessively and causes release bearing wear.

(I haven't yet checked out your theory that the engine will usually only cut out only once at each junction, but that would be an improvement if it's true!)

Does your car have a carbon ring release bearing or something?  That would certainly wear by keeping the clutch depressed for an extended period, but the only car I know that uses that type of bearing was the Hillman Imp, and I neo use a retro-fit ball bearing replacement that someone has manufactured in mine.

A needle roller or ball bearing should last longer than the friction plate, especially these days with asbestos being banned from friction material, so you just renew the bearing each time you renew the plate.

Jeepers_Creepers

onomatopoeia99 said:

Does your car have a carbon ring release bearing or something?  That would certainly wear by keeping the clutch depressed for an extended period, but the only car I know that uses that type of bearing was the Hillman Imp, and I neo use a retro-fit ball bearing replacement that someone has manufactured in mine.

A needle roller or ball bearing should last longer than the friction plate, especially these days with asbestos being banned from friction material, so you just renew the bearing each time you renew the plate.

No idea, and hope to never find out.

I am probably concerning myself too much about this, but I'm from the days where, in my yoof, a clutch would do well to last 40k, and that went for the suspension parts too. Undoubtedly cars these days are streets ahead in reliability and longevity. Quite possibly I could sit - depressed - at every junction for a minute. But I just won't. That would be too depressing.