Very stiff clutch - Valver

[Topgeartom]

After getting a valver ive notied the clutch is decidedly stiff. I had a mk1 clio RT before this which has a stiff clutch action so its not like im jumping from a car with light controls and its just a matter of getting used to it.

In short its really stiff, so much so that its like i have the option of pulling away veeery slowly or very sharply.

I know for a fact its had a new clutch cable very recently, and although ive not checked how old the clutch itself is, the biting point is very low and it doesnt slip when you give it the shoe.

Do i just need to go ape sh!t with the WD40 on the clutch cable and pedal assembly?


Cheers
Tom

 

[edde]

I bet they used a copy cat part not a proper Renault one.

Gte a proper Renault cable copy cat parts are rubish there not that pricy either proper ones.

 

[timo172cup]

I had this problem when I had a valver a few years ago, seem to remember putting an after market cable on that. found the problem all these years later!

 

[Topgeartom]

Would that make it overtly stiff?

I thought id get used to it as its a new car to me, but im getting bored of looking like a tw*t jerking away at traffic lights. Crawling along in traffic today i either have to give it billions of revs and then use the 'sharp' setting, or pull away at tortoise pace using the 'soft' position. It really is like theres only 3 positions to the clutch pedal - tortoise, neck snapping racing start, or clutch completely out.

Could just be im s**t at clutch control but it was never an issue in my RT, and like i say that, like all other mk1's was a stiff clutch

 

[cat171]

Valvers do have stiff clutches, my left calf ended up way bigger than my right

Seriously though the clutch shouldn't be as you've just described it.

 

[edde]

Would that make it overtly stiff?

I thought id get used to it as its a new car to me, but im getting bored of looking like a tw*t jerking away at traffic lights. Crawling along in traffic today i either have to give it billions of revs and then use the 'sharp' setting, or pull away at tortoise pace using the 'soft' position. It really is like theres only 3 positions to the clutch pedal - tortoise, neck snapping racing start, or clutch completely out.

Could just be im s**t at clutch control but it was never an issue in my RT, and like i say that, like all other mk1's was a stiff clutch

Yep copy cat cables are useless they cause loads of trouble and brake a lot.

 

[Sami]

Defo clutch cable mate, especially if you say its been recently done! Guarantee they used an after market one which are b****cks!

Go to renault and get a genuine one, not very expensive b**ch to fit apparently but that should sort it out.

 

[edde]

Defo clutch cable mate, especially if you say its been recently done! Guarantee they used an after market one which are b****cks!

Go to renault and get a genuine one, not very expensive b**ch to fit apparently but that should sort it out.

Not to bad just take you time and remember to pull the old one out with a bit oof string on it whcih you pull the new one back through the bulkhead with.

 

[Martin]

Could have an 'uprated' clutch? The k-tec/gtt gsf clutch I have is very heavily sprung...otherwise it will be either the cable on the way out or non oe part.

 

[Topgeartom]

Must have been a non renault jobbie, does anyone know how much renault charge for a cable and roughly how much fitting would be as i have all the mechanical knowledge of a horse. Could do with a new steering coloumn so could get the two fitted at the same time.

 

[Sami]

Buy a haynes manual and do it yourself!! you have a valver lol if you can't do stuff yourself you're going to be broke very quickly Not really that hard to do!

 

[Topgeartom]

LOL! yeh your right, ive got a haynes manual and its helped me loads, maybe im doing myself a dis-service as i did manage to change over a heater blower unit myself which required a fair bit of unbolting stuff.

I always think when it gets to anything that is connected to something in the engine bay i should get someone who knows what they are doing as theres a damn good chance ill c**k it up.

 

[Sami]

Don't you have any mechanic friends, im sure there are some members in your area who wouldn't mind giving you a hand?

 

[Andy_J]

i tackled ma gearbox (not on a valver) with the help of a haynes manual. easy peasy! (oh i also had a quick phonecall to matt_black saying "how the fu(k do i set the selector... apparently i was doing it right, just trial and error!)

 

[Andy_J]

tip.. make sure u have all the tools before starting a job!

 

[donsrno1]

If you are not doing it yourself I wouldn't take it to renault as they will charge you over the odds. Just get the part from renault and supply whoever changes it for you with the cable from renault. Ideally I would also try and make sure you take it to somewhere that knows these cars as a lot of places tend to incorrectly route the cable from what I have heard.

As for your steering column, just get it welded, should only cost £30 or so and will solve your problem.

 

[bmh.01]

Cables are about 20 smackers from reno.

 

[Sami]

Cables are about 20 smackers from reno.

+extra for the bag it comes in

 

[Topgeartom]

Big thanks for all the help, id never dream of taking a car to renault to be fixed, you might as well wander in to the showroom, bend over the bonnet of a 197 and hand them your wallet.

Id love it if i could find a trustworthy garage near me who would know what they are doing that i could take the cable to and get them to weld the column while they are at it.

The steering annoys me like hell at the moment and sort of destroys the handling as theres currently all the feedback and response of a 1940's double decker bus. Its got more play in it than a world cup final.

Does anyone know anywhere in the leeds / bradford area who know what they are doing with renaults and dont charge through the roof? Ive PM's pmurray to see if he could point me in the right direction but hes not replied.

 

[new_world_disorder]

i was told mine had an ew clutch and a cable under 3 months before i had it . but it felt terrible. made my foot hurt changing gears. eventially the cable snaped ( As i was to skint to do anything about it ) i got a £18 clutch cable. and spent 2 hours changing it ( crap design of the engine bay didnt help ) and it appeared that the cable hadnt been seated correctly and was VERY stupidly routed. after a lot of fidling and a lot of arsing about i got it all linked up. and the clutch has run 2000 miles since then and is sooper smoth and light again. try a new cable and re-route it .

 

[bmh.01]

Cables are about 20 smackers from reno.

+extra for the bag it comes in

Well thats the way you know if definitely came from renault .