Focus Clutch pedal

hobochris

I have an 06 (mk2) ford focus zetec 1.6, that seems to be having a problem with the clutch pedal sticking.

When I engage the clutch pedal fully it is sticking to the floor and not returning. It only returns when I manuallly pull it back with my hand.

The clutch is biting fine, at the right point and feels fine when driving and the car is driving normally except for this clutch pedal sticking issue.

I checked the clutch is biting at the right point by doing a clutch test(putting it into 4th with handbrake on and letting it stall to see where it stalls)

Can anyone shed some light on possible causes?

D_murph

I do not know why it is happening but you are not alone. My 1.8 Flexifuel Focus is doing the same with a few years now. I keep forgetting to get it looked at when I get it serviced .

Its not really a big problem though as you do not need to press it all the way down to change gears.

I was about to enter a roundabout when it happened the first time. The car was in gear and I had the clutch pedal pressed and was waiting for the light to go green. I pushed it all the way down when I moved in the seat a bit and when the light went green, I lifted my leg and it stayed down. I thought the bloody cable (etc) had snapped so I was a bit freaked out. I was lucky enough that another chap in the car behind me helped me push the car to the side of the road so others could get past.

I was also pretty lucky that I had taken it out of gear because it had sprung back up by itself when I got back in :eek:.

Another tip if you are in traffic when it happens is to kick the pedal to the left as that seems to cause it to leave go of whatever its getting stuck on. Its a bit easier and quicker than trying to get out of the car so you can get your hand down there if you're in traffic etc .

Plug

There is a little clutch spring down there that can break.

hobochris

Dropped it into the dealership today, Master cylinder behind the clutch pedal is the problem.

Over time this can be forced to go further in then it should go, which leads to airlock in the cylinder(apparently).

€170 to get fixed.

D_murph

Plug wrote: »

There is a little clutch spring down there that can break.

It isn't the spring that is causing it though. When you pull the pedal back up, it works away as normal again unless you shove it down the whole way.

Cheers though .

hobochris wrote: »

Dropped it into the dealership today, Master cylinder behind the clutch pedal is the problem.

Over time this can be forced to go further in then it should go, which leads to airlock in the cylinder(apparently).

€170 to get fixed.

I only had my car a year when it happened and I bought it new so it must not take much time for it to happen. Almost sounds like a clever way of getting €170 to me TBH. I reckon Ill leave it alone (unless it gets worse) as I know how to avoid it.

It passed the NCT like that a few weeks ago so its obviously safe to drive after that :rolleyes: :pac:.

Jim666

I bought a new focus 2011 one year later the pedal stayed down whilst changing gear, it was still under warranty so Ford fixed it. A short time later it went again,Ford fixed it. It happened a third time Ford fixed it. It's now happened a fourth time and I am not going back to Ford, I have lost confidence in the car and in Ford's ability to repair it. I have had the car assessed by a reputable firm of engineers and they have deemed it dangerous to drive.
I'm having to go the legal route on this one. The vehicle is not of merchantable quality.