Stinky Clutch - Now Coil Light On!

[bus_boy]

Help!

 

Wifes just called me. Looks as if the clutch has given out. It has been a bit smelly for a while esp on big hill starts with a load on. I checked forum for posts and the upshot is, i'm not leaking any fluid so had hoped it may be a master cylinder problem. Today the 'coil' light has been coming on too (I replaced the brake actuator switch about 4 months ago to resolve it when it last lit up) and there has been a whisp of smoke too from teh engine bay. If my clutch mechanism is contaminated what has done it? oil? Do i need a new clutch? or would a poorly master cause these symptoms>?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

 

Andyb

[matt1003]

do you mean oil light or coil light ?

matt

[bus_boy]

cheers Mat

 

++ to quote wife "the one that looks like a spring".

[bus_boy]

:lol: didnt really want to bump my own post.... but I could really use some opinions on this.

 

wr.t. to the flashing coil light I believe the accident repair center the vehicle attended after a bash last month, may have fitted the wrong spec brake bulbs. I have to check this.

 

 

My pressing prob is the clutch. Last night i performed the TIS Symptom check : basically raising the revs to 2000 and letting out the clutch slowly in 4th with the hand brake on. If the engine stalls the clutch is ok. In my case it did stall, but emitted a nasty small from somewhere. I'm guessing my clutch has been contaminated. Following posts on the forum I checked my fluid reservior.... still up near the max.

 

How much fluid would it take leaking from the slave to wreck it ?

 

I spoke to my mechanic and from symptoms he suggests a new clutch (no surprise really!). He quoted me

[matt1003]

most contaminated clutch pates are caused by either engine oil or gearbox oil

the two main seal by the clutch so without taking it apart your mechanic wouldnt

know which one it is and if the clutch fuild level is ok the slave cylinder cant be leaking

 

matt

[seatkid]

Stink means contaminated clutch. 3 possibilities.

 

1. Engine oil from big end

 

2. Gearbox oil from input shaft.

 

3. Leaking Slave Cylinder.

 

As you don't seem to have lost a lot of hydraulic fluid, the next suspect is the gearbox shaft seal.

 

I guess you'll have to strip off the gearbox to determine the cause. You may be able to clean the clutch plate with brake cleaner but unless its nearly new it would probably be better to replace the friction plate at least.

 

sorry matt1003....you beat me to it!

Edited August 17, 2007 by seatkid

[rhiangriff]

Help!

 

Wifes just called me. Looks as if the clutch has given out. It has been a bit smelly for a while esp on big hill starts with a load on. I checked forum for posts and the upshot is, i'm not leaking any fluid so had hoped it may be a master cylinder problem. Today the 'coil' light has been coming on too (I replaced the brake actuator switch about 4 months ago to resolve it when it last lit up) and there has been a whisp of smoke too from teh engine bay. If my clutch mechanism is contaminated what has done it? oil? Do i need a new clutch? or would a poorly master cause these symptoms>?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

 

Andyb

 

Hi I am new to this forum and was looking for some advice on a problem that I have with the coil light flashing while I am driving. I am just about to replace the brake actuator switch on my galaxy as I have found that my break lights are not working when I depress the breaks but the bulbs are ok. Would this effect the coil light as mine seems to be intermittent. It started flashing about May and has stopped then started again. My galaxy is a R reg 1997 model diesel and I have not had much trouble until now and I've had it 7 years. I don't think I have any problems with smoke, though! Any help would be appreciated as I am not mechanical (being a girl! and all that!) :-)

[Bigjeeze]

Hi I am new to this forum and was looking for some advice on a problem that I have with the coil light flashing while I am driving. I am just about to replace the brake actuator switch on my galaxy as I have found that my break lights are not working when I depress the breaks but the bulbs are ok. Would this effect the coil light as mine seems to be intermittent. It started flashing about May and has stopped then started again. My galaxy is a R reg 1997 model diesel and I have not had much trouble until now and I've had it 7 years. I don't think I have any problems with smoke, though! Any help would be appreciated as I am not mechanical (being a girl! and all that!) :-)

 

 

 

I would have or get the brake light switch changed - after first checking that the bulbs are ok -it's a common problem that seems to affect all sorts of strangely unrelated functions on the car.

It's also a relatively cheap option.

 

Good luck with being a girl.

Edited August 17, 2007 by Bigjeeze

[big_kev]

Being a girl is an advantage.

 

You need small girlie hands to get the switches out without lacerating your fingers and knuckles.

[NikpV]

it's a common problem that seems to affect all sorts of strangely unrelated functions on the car.

It's also a relatively cheap option.

 

diesels are drive by wire and it confuses the hell out of the ecu if it gets the wrong signals from its sensors - hence the coil light flashing - a cry for help from the ecu :(

[rhiangriff]

Hi I am new to this forum and was looking for some advice on a problem that I have with the coil light flashing while I am driving. I am just about to replace the brake actuator switch on my galaxy as I have found that my break lights are not working when I depress the breaks but the bulbs are ok. Would this effect the coil light as mine seems to be intermittent. It started flashing about May and has stopped then started again. My galaxy is a R reg 1997 model diesel and I have not had much trouble until now and I've had it 7 years. I don't think I have any problems with smoke, though! Any help would be appreciated as I am not mechanical (being a girl! and all that!) :-)

 

 

I would have or get the brake light switch changed - after first checking that the bulbs are ok -it's a common problem that seems to affect all sorts of strangely unrelated functions on the car.

It's also a relatively cheap option.

 

Good luck with being a girl.

[rhiangriff]

Hi I am new to this forum and was looking for some advice on a problem that I have with the coil light flashing while I am driving. I am just about to replace the brake actuator switch on my galaxy as I have found that my break lights are not working when I depress the breaks but the bulbs are ok. Would this effect the coil light as mine seems to be intermittent. It started flashing about May and has stopped then started again. My galaxy is a R reg 1997 model diesel and I have not had much trouble until now and I've had it 7 years. I don't think I have any problems with smoke, though! Any help would be appreciated as I am not mechanical (being a girl! and all that!) :-)

 

 

I would have or get the brake light switch changed - after first checking that the bulbs are ok -it's a common problem that seems to affect all sorts of strangely unrelated functions on the car.

It's also a relatively cheap option.

 

Good luck with being a girl.

Sorry dont know what happened above the bit I wrote is missing!!!

 

I have channged the break light switch and its all working great now. But the coil light is still intermittent. Some journeys it does not come on and others it comes on after a few miles.

 

Also I am having a problem with the power steering, I think? If I drive through a puddle a few miles later on I get a heavy feeling on the steering for a second or two but only when I turn the wheel to the right. Any suggestions please.

[rhiangriff]

Being a girl is an advantage.

 

You need small girlie hands to get the switches out without lacerating your fingers and knuckles.

 

I did take the skin off my knuckles when I tried to get the rear lights switch out of the drivers side, the passenger side was ok!! I checked the bulbs first then looked through the Hayes manual to find out the problem. The brake light switch plunger was not working properly. I had to drive around for a few days turning on the headlights every time I braked!!! Only while the parts were on order.

 

The coil light is still intermittent - (see previous post) and now have power steering problem. Any suggestions welcome!

[NikpV]

check that you have the undertray fitted - stops water splashing up on the aux belt which drives the power steering pump.

 

It is not always replaced by garages/mechanics

 

edited for spelling :lol:

Edited August 18, 2007 by NikpV

[bus_boy]

cheers all - clutch problem now solved.

 

My mechanic has replaced the clutch plate and concentric slave / bearing. Apparently the plate was just very badly worn and was "on it's last legs" as he put it. Since clocked up about 100mls with plenty of traffic q-ing > so far no smell.

 

This is the last time I buy a car with a tow bar already on it.

 

 

Andyb