Replace clutch or not? Faulty/not faulty???

[SeanyK]

Title sounds like 'deal or no deal' but basically, my car is going in for a remap and some other bits and bobs in the next 2 weeks, and I wondered if I should replace the clutch with the VR6 kit a lot of you guys have on here.

The reason i'd be doing this, is to replace my existing clutch, which I suspect is on it's way out, but really can't confirm it, i've done a search to see what people say to try but;

There are NO fault codes on VAG-COM.

1) I CAN pull away in 3rd gear from a standstill quite easily, just keep the revs high and it will move off.

2) I put foot down at 30/40mph on a steep hill in 3rd or 4th, and all that happens is it seems like it should pick up and move but it doesnt much, slowly rises through the speed.

3) When I put foot down it seems to take a while and struggle past 70/80, even with foot completely flat down, not struggle as such, but it doesn't feel as quick as it should be, it's only standard 156bhp, but with a cat back exhaust and filter it should breath a little more, and be a little quicker than what it seems.

It's not slow...But then it is a 1.8 engine so it should be fairly quickish even with a clutch on the way out?

And of course, as mentioned in another thread, my friends MK3 Cupra, has a MUCH lighter pedal. As did my previous MK3 Cupra a couple of years back, very much different to this clutch - not to mention the croaks I get when I put the clutch pedal down.

So, basically, it's going to cost a fair amount to replace the clutch, but i'd rather do it when it's already booked in a garage, than it fail on me later on.
It's done 52k, what do you think, should I replace it on the above evidence?

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[acidstrato]

if you suspect its on its way out then a remap will tell because it will be 100% obvious every time you put your foot down.

the clutch will slip from 3000 to 6000rpm without the car moving any quicker

thats the only reason i changed mine a few years back



why do you pull away in 3rd??? thats just moronic...dont you have a 1st gear??? doing that will ruin your clutch and blow something

 

[SeanyK]

why do you pull away in 3rd??? thats just moronic...dont you have a 1st gear??? doing that will ruin your clutch and blow something

No no no no mate, I only pulled away in 3rd the other night JUST to test the clutch, as people say if you can pull away in 3rd the clutch is on it's way out, whereas it should stall if its OK.

So no im not trying to pull away in 3rd gear all the time I was purely saying that to illustrate clutch tests i've tried after searching on here what people do to diagnose clutch issues.
Just the way I worded it on my first post I think!


I know what you mean re: remap , only thing is, when the car is going in for the remap, I have the option to leave it with them all day, so would be a good time to replace the clutch, rather than get it mapped, see it's slipping, and have to arrange another time for clutch fixing etc.

 

[pj1985]

No no no no mate, I only pulled away in 3rd the other night JUST to test the clutch, as people say if you can pull away in 3rd the clutch is on it's way out, whereas it should stall if its OK.

So no im not trying to pull away in 3rd gear all the time I was purely saying that to illustrate clutch tests i've tried after searching on here what people do to diagnose clutch issues.
Just the way I worded it on my first post I think!


I know what you mean re: remap , only thing is, when the car is going in for the remap, I have the option to leave it with them all day, so would be a good time to replace the clutch, rather than get it mapped, see it's slipping, and have to arrange another time for clutch fixing etc.

Thats not really true. If you can pull away in 3rd it just means you have good clutch control. Wait until you have your remap then see how your clutch holds up. You are just guessing atm really.

 

[SeanyK]

Is your clutch pedal light though? As every MK3 Cupra i've been in has had a much lighter pedal.

 

[acidstrato]

sorry got the wrong end there but that is a daft way of testing the clutch and completely inacurate

my clutch was fairly stiff before i had it changed, but it only started slipping after the remap, it would have lasted a while longer if i hadnt remapped the car but when i did, the friction plate was very worn, hardly any material left on it. once the new clutch was fitted the pedal was super light and didnt have any give at all for quite some time. 13k later and it still requires very little effort.

just wait and see

 

[clinch]

It sounds like your trying to cause an issue that isn't really there from my experience with a standard 1.8t engine they dont go very well standard. As above get the map if it starts slipping then change it a good way of testing the clutch is drive along dip the clutch and rev the car up hold the revs high while you pull the clutch up if it slips then it need replacing. However it sounds like your going to need a new clutch with the amount of "test" you have done

 

[mr_D]

dont fix it till its broken. cos you can save and go spec 3 on it

 

[SeanyK]

Hey folks, I appreciate your helpful replies, all of them.

I maybe paranoid, but the fact I was going to get it mapped, and a few other bits done at the same time (TIP/Spacers etc) I thought, sod it, i'll just replace it, if it doesn't go now, it might go at a totally inconvenient time, it's done 52k and with 5 previous owners at least a couple of them are bound to have been clutch riders, and whilst they can go to 70-80k remapped, it doesn't mean they all will I guess - plus fitting it with the above, has got me a massive discount on parts and labour for it.

I've gone for a Sachs clutch with G60 flywheel, fitted end of next week... Seems the popular choice on here.

Mr D> Not sure what spec 3 is? Although im not planning big power, just the above mods to be honest, not even a FMIC is on the horizon lol.

 

[pj1985]

A FMIC should defo be on your to do list. Its one of the most important things to change as the standard Ibiza one is so small and inadequate (spelling) especially once mapped.

 

[SeanyK]

A FMIC should defo be on your to do list. Its one of the most important things to change as the standard Ibiza one is so small and inadequate (spelling) especially once mapped.

I know what you mean, my friend (pulsebass on here) has a Forge FMIC and it pulls very very well.

To be honest, I probably will at some point, after all, I was only ever going to do a remap to the car and that was it, but thats turned into;

Jetex filter
Forge TIP
Jabba Stage 1 Map
Rear spacers
G60 Flywheel / Sachs clutch

So going by my 'im only going to do ...' words, I'll probably end up with a FMIC before the year is over
(and I manage to pay off the above soon lol!)

 

[mr_D]

thats fine then if you aint going big. but will be better any way. may as well do it cos will probably cost a lil more than normal anyway

 

[SeanyK]

OK just thought i'd update this thread...

I went for a drive, and when putting my foot down in 2nd or 3rd gear from low revs, just as it hits 2.5k-3k ish revs it holds back, it starts as if it's about to start accelerating fast but then makes a hesitating sound - which you can feel, then as it gets higher up the revs / higher speeds it is fine.

So I guess thats clutch slipping! Fair do's as replacing it anyway but it's nice to know it NEEDS doing!