Focus clutch problem

Hamzter · 10 Aug 2011 at 12:01

Ello,

Last night I drove my 2003 1.8 Focus about 100 miles up the motorway, when I left it I found the clutch pedal was quite stiff, this morning the clutch biting point is very high all of a sudden, and slips very easily. It's a new clutch only fitted 2 months ago, any idea what the problem could be? Hopefully it's covered by the warranty, but I've gotta somehow got get it back to the garage (100 miles away).

RQ7 · 10 Aug 2011 at 13:15

When I my previous clutch was on it's way out it would 'shudder' regardless what gear.
For isntance at 20mph when in 2nd, it would 'shudder' like it was about to stall.
I never felt the pedal being stiff. But that was on a Corolla.
I hope your clutch gets sorted soon. Being two months should be on the warranty.

Morbius · 10 Aug 2011 at 13:51

Could it be a badly adjusted clutch cable?

Edit: Probably not as it seems to be a hydraulic clutch! I'd check the state of the fluid.

Hamzter · 10 Aug 2011 at 14:10

There's plenty of fluid, and it was renewed when it was serviced at the same time as the clutch. Just spoke to the garage and they suggested it could be a failing release bearing or something, will have to try and drive it down there, hopefully I can get it to do 60mph without slipping the clutch otherwise I'm gonna have to pay to have it towed

Dogbreath · 10 Aug 2011 at 14:24

It's a hydraulic clutch and it uses a concentric slave cylinder on the Focus. These are supposed to be replaced when the clutch is replaced as they do fail, and replacement involves about the same amount of labour as the clutch change. However, many owners/garages try to save money by not bothering. Do you know if yours was changed?

Morbius · 10 Aug 2011 at 14:41

Dogbreath said:
It's a hydraulic clutch and it uses a concentric slave cylinder on the Focus. These are supposed to be replaced when the clutch is replaced as they do fail, and replacement involves about the same amount of labour as the clutch change. However, many owners/garages try to save money by not bothering. Do you know if yours was changed?

Wouldn't the pedal go low if the cylinder failed?

Hamzter · 10 Aug 2011 at 16:17

I'm pretty sure I had the slave cylinder replaced at the same time, I'll check the invoice.

dalin80 · 10 Aug 2011 at 16:20

As a rule of thumb-

biting point low, hydraulics
biting point high, clutch

sounds like you have a duff pressure plate.