4 replies to this topic

[mini_pv]

Hi everyone,

I'm not entirely sure what is wrong with my mini van... When I'm in neutral after about a minute, the engine has really slowed down and sounds 'chuggy' and as if it is about to stall. When I'm in 1st gear or reverse and the clutch is engaged, the same thing happens, but in about 20 seconds.

Also, lately there has been a little 'click' when i'm changing from 1st to 2nd and every time I start my car and try to put it in reverse, it makes this sounds like it's struggling to get into gear and it takes a few goes to get it in gear. Then when I take off in reverse, the car shudders unless I give it heaps of accelerator. Then when I put it in 1st to take off, the car shudders again. This only happens the first time I start my car.

Are these two things related? or could it be 2 problems one with the clutch or gearbox and point timing or something? I'm stumped.

I'm really worried something is wrong with my little Harriet, any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks, everyone.
Nicola.

[dklawson]

I'm not entirely sure what is wrong with my mini van... When I'm in neutral after about a minute, the engine has really slowed down and sounds 'chuggy' and as if it is about to stall. When I'm in 1st gear or reverse and the clutch is engaged, the same thing happens, but in about 20 seconds.

As a point of semantics, when you have your foot depressing the clutch pedal, the clutch is "disengaged", not engaged. The term references what is going on with the friction disk and flywheel, not what's going on at the pedal.

I suspect the two symptoms are only slightly related. If you have a tachometer, try this test. Pull up to a stop with the car in neutral and look at the RPM. Depress the clutch and look again at the tachometer. If there is a significant drop in the engine RPM with your foot on the clutch pedal, first try adjusting the clutch to see if the problem goes away. If adjusting the clutch does not help, there is a chance your thrust bearings on the crankshaft are failing. That is an engine out repair so let's hope that is not the problem.

Also, lately there has been a little 'click' when i'm changing from 1st to 2nd and every time I start my car and try to put it in reverse, it makes this sounds like it's struggling to get into gear and it takes a few goes to get it in gear. Then when I take off in reverse, the car shudders unless I give it heaps of accelerator. Then when I put it in 1st to take off, the car shudders again. This only happens the first time I start my car.

The "click" MAY be an indication that the clutch is nearing the end of its wear life and is not disengaging completely when the pedal is depressed. Or... it could be that the clutch is way out of adjustment. As with the first issue above, start by adjusting the clutch to see if you can improve the situation. The clutch judder in reverse can also be associated with clutch wear but it may feel worse if things like the engine steady bushings have perished. Be sure to check their condition and replace them as necessary.

Are these two things related? or could it be 2 problems one with the clutch or gearbox and point timing or something? I'm stumped.

There is a chance that what you are experiencing is all related to the clutch being near the end of its life or badly out of adjustment. Start by hoping for the best and making the clutch adjustments. Also look for wear in all the clutch linkage parts (clevis pin and hole at the top of the clutch pedal, similar play at the slave cylinder pushrod and its clevis, and wear in the clevis for the throw-out arm going into the clutch cover). There is a ball end on the throw-out arm that may also be worn. All of this clevis and component wear contributes to a lot of play in the clutch mechanism travel that may be preventing you from completely releasing the clutch with your foot on the pedal.

However, the clutch and issues with it will not be involved with how quickly the engine stalls or looses RPM when sitting at idle in neutral and your foot off the clutch pedal.

[BGB]

Have you had the car MOT'd Recently?

Mine used to cut out at lights all the time and it was because the garage de tunned the car to get it through the MOT and didnt set the mixture properly afterwards.

i know it sounds too simple but sometimes we overlook the simple to find a complicated answer

[mini_pv]

Thank you SO MUCH for your advice. I've just had this bad feeling about the clutch lately, so hopefully it's that and not anything major.

I tried something yesterday- I had my car in 1st and it sounded like it was going to stall, as soon as I pulled the choke out 2 clicks, it was perfect and every time I pulled up at lights, and the choke was out and the clutch was disengaged while I was in 1st it was fine. I'll have a fiddle around and see how it goes, i suppose.

Thanks so much everyone, I really appreciate it.

[dklawson]

If the choke seems to fix the problem, perhaps it is all down to the mixture and carb settings as BGB said. That is all good news for you. Let us know what you try next.