300Tdi clutch slip (in fourth mainly)

[eddiec]

Hi all,

Just a quick diagnosis type question...

The clutch in our 96 300Tdi appears to be beginning to slip, especially in 4th gear (a little in five, not so much noticeably in the others). I'd picked up on this a month or two ago, but only on a trip down to the coast this weekend (with a full load of kids and camping gear) did it really become noticeable. That kind of slip where it feels like the engine gets a bit ahead of the rest of the car (especially on hills) and you have to slack off to let the revs and engine speed come back together.

Now I'm hoping this isn't a clutch on its way out, but am prepared that it could be. I'm just wondering if it could also be an adjustment issue as we have just had the master and slave cylinders replaced and I didn't notice the problem before that (at least, not as noticeably as now.)

Any ideas as to what else it could be, and whether it could just be a bad adjustment?

Many thanks,

Eddiec.

[Lucus]

clutch for sure mate

[BigJon]

It is either adjustment, a worn out clutch or contamination of the clutch (oil).

Is there free travel in the clutch pedal?

[Blknight.aus]

if its slipping its stuffed or soon will be, check the free play on the clutch pedal if theres free play on the pedal then its the plate.

[eddiec]

thanks fellas...

no free play on the pedal. since i've had the cylinders replaced it's been wonderfully tight... but this seems to have been the next recurring issue....

sigh. :) back to the shop!

[Blknight.aus]

if theres no freeplay on the pedal theres a slight chance that the MC is not cycling properly there should be about 1 inch of movement at the pad of the pedal before the pushrod takes up on the cylinder.

[eddiec]

sorry - misunderstood the concept of 'free play'.... there probably is about an inch before it kicks in... so that sounds about right.

i'm not hugely surprised if it's the clutch going. it's the last item in the drivetrain that hasn't been replaced in recent memory!!

[slug_burner]

I had gbox rebuilt, when they put it back together the clutch slipped as you described. Went back for adjustment and have not had any further problems.

[eddiec]

thanks again... i may take it in for a diagnosis and in the hope that it's just an adjustment - but am prepared for the pain of a new clutch.

On a curious note - how hard is a clutch change in a 300Tdi. I've been rummaging the internet and seen people doing elemtns without completely dropping the box and instead removing the floor, tunnel, etc. I'm not overloaded with workshop tools and engine cranes so am wondering whether it's the sort of project to tackle at home... Is it relatively straightforward? Just aware that I'm already up for replacing shocks (and will do that at home), so am considering just a big Xmas break or getting those things done.

[Lucus]

IMHO if it was an adjustment issue the clutch would be inclined to slip in all gears not just 4th and occasionally 5th.:)

[Blknight.aus]

given there is no adjustment on the clutch in a landy other than the freeplay at the top and the spring tension I dont see how it can be adjusted.

you can change the clutch without fully removing the box but its a lot easier to pull it or the engine completely out.

[eddiec]

thanks all.... made a few phone calls today and i think the consensus here is quite right - clutch is going, going.... well, almost gone. Can get a replacement for $1250 so will just bite the pre-xmas bullet and do it. Doing it myself intrigued me, but lack of hoist plus lack of decent knowledgeable help means I'll feel safer letting someone else do it this time.

Thanks though!

[slug_burner]

IMHO if it was an adjustment issue the clutch would be inclined to slip in all gears not just 4th and occasionally 5th.:)

I found that it was only in 4th and 5th that the vehicle offered enough resistance to get the cluch slipping, perhaps you are not in the lower gears enough to notice it slip. If you were towing you might get it slipping in the lower gears as you spend more time in gear on the way upto 4th etc.

It also comes down to having the motor at the rev range where it is able to develop enough torque for the clutch to break traction.


given there is no adjustment on the clutch in a landy other than the freeplay at the top and the spring tension I dont see how it can be adjusted.

you can change the clutch without fully removing the box but its a lot easier to pull it or the engine completely out.

I'd say they adjusted the freeplay then.

I know you tried to establish if there was any freeplay in "eddiec's" case but given the answer(s) I'd say it was not conclusive.

[spudboy]

Get it done sooner rather than later. I had a slipping clutch in my 300TDi Disco, and I let it go (it wasn't that bad) for about 6 months.

When I finally got it done, I had to have the flywheel machined as it was burnt blue/black from the slipping :(

Towards the end it got quite bad, but it's surprising how many Kms you can do if you accelerate gently!

[lardy]

machine flywheel get a heavy duty clutch fork thrown in too

[Lucus]

I found that it was only in 4th and 5th that the vehicle offered enough resistance to get the cluch slipping, perhaps you are not in the lower gears enough to notice it slip. If you were towing you might get it slipping in the lower gears as you spend more time in gear on the way upto 4th etc.

It also comes down to having the motor at the rev range where it is able to develop enough torque for the clutch to break traction.


Clutches slip in 4th/5th because there is no gear reduction ( and thus clutch load reduction) in these gear. Higher gears also make it easier for a turbo motor to get up on boost quicker as the load is higher (due to the lack of gear reduction) so they make boost and obviously more torque earlier

Either way it needs a clutch:D