Clutch woe

Suffering from a slipping clutch here

In other cars I've had I've noticed the clutch slip and you think 'oh sh*t! here we go' and before long it's totally shot. In the Jimny though I first noticed it about a month ago, we headed to Wales on a 250 mile trip, fully laden c/w roofbox, over the M62, loads of hills etc... no problem. Then the next day the clutch was slipping - I thought I would be spending the break trying to get someone to sort it, but the day after it was fine, so I took it easy, no more slipping. Hols over, jimny laden, back home, motorway etc, nothing at all, clutch was fine.

Did all the tricks you do to see if the clutch is knackered and all seemed well, but yesterday (about 1,000 miles later!) I popped out and it slipped again. On the return journey it was fine.

I know the bottom line is probably going to be that I need a new clutch - but could there by any other problems? I doubt it's contamination on the facings as the slippage is so rare.

Anyone experienced anything like this?

Clutch cable?

The last time I changed the clutch the one I took out was not too bad and the change didn't really clear the problem. Then I replaced the clutch cable and it was 100% better.

Apparantly the clutch cable is nylon lined to aid operation. This nylon insert wears through on the bends in the cable and makes the cable sitck

Martin

Thanks Martin!
So if this were the case the clutch wouldn't always be engaging fully, hence the slip?

TBH the car has done just under 60k (though I haven't had it long myself), I've always had the impression the clutch was ok, it's (mostly) got a nice positive bite.

Martin is right about the cable sticking, also you are supposed to adjust the cable every now and again, otherwise it will slip as the plate wears.

The adjustment is a 10 second (+1 hour) job.
1 hour to remove the cable, clean it and get the adjuster nut free, 10 seconds to adjust the cable. I did mine about 2 weeks ago...

Thanks Facade.

I've just seen that Martin has a clutch cable replacement guide on the website. I'll give it a clean and adjust first - better than shelling out for a new clutch

I've just taken it out for a run round the Washburn Valley - very hilly and no slippage at all, included a very steep uphill overtake of a cattle wagon (which TBH was hardly moving).

I read Martin's previous posts/article's/comments on the clutch cable and so bought a spare a lobbed it in the boot just in case.

It's typical that when you have this foresight the blighter hasn't caused a problem - you just know if I hadn't bought one it would have caused untold amounts of trouble.

I'm touching wood now in case I've spoken too soon!!!

Kirkynut

Yep, sticking one in the boot 'just in case' guarantees you will never need it - until one day you clean the boot out...

facade wrote: The adjustment is a 10 second (+1 hour) job.
1 hour to remove the cable, clean it and get the adjuster nut free, 10 seconds to adjust the cable. I did mine about 2 weeks ago...

Just got round to adjusting the cable as the clutch had started slipping again, there was zero freeplay :pinch: As facade said, a simple job apart from the obligatory seized adjuster Gave it a quick burn up some hills and it seems to be sorted! (for now....)