Opel Insignia clutch problem

Ded_Zebra

Typical Christmas Eve issue. On the way to visit the relatives and the clutch is not disengaging fully. It was ok when we left but got worse and worse as we went. By the time we arrived the car would creep in gear when with it fully pressed. Gear changes were impossible without matching the rpm. Just worried that it will start to bind so bad that it will stall out at the lights....
Do any of you have any get us home helpful ideas????
Thanks for the help.

colm_mcm

Maybe check clutch fluid level.

Ded_Zebra

colm_mcm wrote: »

Maybe check clutch fluid level.

Sorry should have said, the clutch shares a reservoir with the brakes and it is full. Thanks for the input though colm.

miller50841

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Sorry should have said, the clutch shares a reservoir with the brakes and it is full. Thanks for the input though colm.

Slave cylinder is on way out if you can do without driving cause will only wear out clutch

JOSman

Sorry to hear about your car. This is the last thing somebody needs on a Christmas eve.

Good luck to you.

Ded_Zebra

miller50841 wrote: »

Slave cylinder is on way out if you can do without driving cause will only wear out clutch

Well we need to drive about 60km home. Is there anything we can do tonight to make it more drivable?
It's a pain in the hole because the only other 5 seater car we have, the fiat bravo, is out of action too because there is a huge bulge in one of the front tyres.

miller50841

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Well we need to drive about 60km home. Is there anything we can do tonight to make it more drivable?
It's a pain in the hole because the only other 5 seater car we have, the fiat bravo, is out of action too because there is a huge bulge in one of the front tyres.

You can drive a car without a clutch but is tricky.
You should be ok to get back but really be better not driving if can be avoided.

Do you have the spare for the other car if possible put the space saver on the rear.

dgt

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Well we need to drive about 60km home. Is there anything we can do tonight to make it more drivable?
It's a pain in the hole because the only other 5 seater car we have, the fiat bravo, is out of action too because there is a huge bulge in one of the front tyres.

I have the same problem with the 166, the slave cylinder leaks and won't disengage at times.

I drive my 406 clutchless, up and down the gears, very easily done. Only exception is taking off and parking. Make sure the gearbox is well warmed up first, judge the lights and smooth changing will ensure you get home with minimum fuss

Ded_Zebra

miller50841 wrote: »

You can drive a car without a clutch but is tricky.
You should be ok to get back but really be better not driving if can be avoided.

Do you have the spare for the other car if possible put the space saver on the rear.

Ah in it's current state we can drive it home I'm just worried that it'll get worse on the way home.

We can still go in my car but its tight for the 4 of us in the family ( Toyota levin).

Ded_Zebra

dgt wrote: »

I have the same problem with the 166, the slave cylinder leaks and won't disengage at times.

I drive my 406 clutchless, up and down the gears, very easily done. Only exception is taking off and parking. Make sure the gearbox is well warmed up first, judge the lights and smooth changing will ensure you get home with minimum fuss

Cheers dgt. The weirdest thing is that there is no sigh of leaking fluid at either end and the reservoir is on max still....?????

colm_mcm

Maybe try this


Think of a German car
A car with a functioning clutch
Now think of the car you weren't thinking of

This probably won't work though.

Mar4ix

maybe some linkage went loose, or getting loose, check all links with hand.

Ded_Zebra

colm_mcm wrote: »

Maybe try this


Think of a German car
A car with a functioning clutch
Now think of the car you weren't thinking of

This probably won't work though.

Genuine lol!!!

Well sorry I took so long to update this ya know Christmas and all. When we got back to the car after dinner the clutch would not disengage at all. So dad started it in first on the starter motor and we went from there. It was eventful driving form pearse street out the n11. We got some funny looks stalling the car out at every red light and then setting off on the starter motor really slowly Once we got to the m11 though it was grand. Didn't have to stop again untill we were on the drive!

miller50841

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Genuine lol!!!

Well sorry I took so long to update this ya know Christmas and all. When we got back to the car after dinner the clutch would not disengage at all. So dad started it in first on the starter motor and we went from there. It was eventful driving form pearse street out the n11. We got some funny looks stalling the car out at every red light and then setting off on the starter motor really slowly Once we got to the m11 though it was grand. Didn't have to stop again untill we were on the drive!

It always feels bad and weird the 1st time
Glad yee made it home at least now you can't damage the clutch anymore as it can't really be driven.
Happy Christmas

Ded_Zebra

miller50841 wrote: »

It always feels bad and weird the 1st time
Glad yee made it home at least now you can't damage the clutch anymore as it can't really be driven.
Happy Christmas

The best part is it's a company car so the repairs wot cost us a thing. I guess that that is the silver lining.
Happy Christmas to you too. Hope Santa brought what you wanted!

Wicklowandy

Thank god your not paying, drove a mondeo years ago and same symptoms without warning, 3 am in the middle of nowhere 100 miles from home. Drove it like you, made it home, and had destroyed dmf when stripped.

And worst of all, i had to pay:(

vinny63

its a common problem with insignias flywheel goes after 100k which causes clutch problems.So im afraid you have to change clutch and flywheel.my advice is keep away from the main dealers they will charge you 1k upwards.go to smaller garage your looking at 600 to 700

Ded_Zebra

vinny63 wrote: »

its a common problem with insignias flywheel goes after 100k which causes clutch problems.So im afraid you have to change clutch and flywheel.my advice is keep away from the main dealers they will charge you 1k upwards.go to smaller garage your looking at 600 to 700

OK grand. The AA guy came (not sure why 'cos there was nothing that he could do but lease plan said to let him have a look) and he said the same as yourself. There is 111,000km on the car. Car is still waiting to be towed away. The main dealer will be doing it because it's a company car so we wont pay a cent :pac: That price is mad money though.

We have a rental qashqai now to replace it which is exciting :pac:

vinny63

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

OK grand. The AA guy came (not sure why 'cos there was nothing that he could do but lease plan said to let him have a look) and he said the same as yourself. There is 111,000km on the car. Car is still waiting to be towed away. The main dealer will be doing it because it's a company car so we wont pay a cent :pac: That price is mad money though.

We have a rental qashqai now to replace it which is exciting :pac:

your a lucky man thankfully its a company car.be interesting to see what the final bill will be from the main dealer.how does the qashqai compare to the insignia.Dont forget to post the cost of repaires when you get car back.

Ded_Zebra

vinny63 wrote: »

your a lucky man thankfully its a company car.be interesting to see what the final bill will be from the main dealer.how does the qashqai compare to the insignia.Dont forget to post the cost of repaires when you get car back.

Well dad never sees the bill as Lease Plan gets it. Opel won't show him, probably because they give lease plan a good deal.
The Qashqai I'm told (i'm not on the insurance so haven't driven it) is slowish and does not inspire confidence to drive it on in any way. Dad who is never car sick actually drove himself car sick (no actually sick but nearly) today over the Wicklow gap!

Wicklowandy

Ive never understood the irish obsession with quasqais, pretend jeeps with a weedy renault diesel engine.....

Ded_Zebra

Just to wrap this one up.
We got the car back from Opel yesterday. All dad was told was that a component in the clutch failed due to normal wear and tear and was not due to the driver, sign at the bottom please.:rolleyes: So I guess we'll never know what exactly happened but it wasn't a hydraulic failure or a flywheel failure. Didn't find out if they did it under warranty or not either (only 11,00km over the warranty)
Thank you all for your input and your humor Colm genuine lols again looking back at it

George Dalton

If you stretch a point then a dual mass flywheel could be described as "a component in the clutch" which can and does fail "due to normal wear and tear" so I wouldn't be surprised if it did get a new clutch and flywheel fitted.

Ded_Zebra

George Dalton wrote: »

If you stretch a point then a dual mass flywheel could be described as "a component in the clutch" which can and does fail "due to normal wear and tear" so I wouldn't be surprised if it did get a new clutch and flywheel fitted.

Fair enough. I always consider the flywheel to be the "last" component of the engine before the clutch but I came up with that knowledge all by myself :pac:
Whenever it goes in for work Opel are always as secretive as possibly for some reason. The trouble that dad went through once to get them to itemize what they did during a service was incredible so he just decided to not push them anymore. I never heard of DMF failure manifesting it's self in this way before (but I don't hear much). Is it common?