Clutch / Gearbox Problem - please help!

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Keeper

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OK, lately, the last 3 weeks i had to push the clutch down quite hard to change gears - dunno why

now today, i hear a funny sound "gwah" when pushing down the clutch and suddenly i can't change gears while the car is on - only when it is off can i change into a gear


What's the problem? snapped clutch cable? Busted gearbox? Busted Clutch? :confused:

I drive an opel corsa - gonna have to take it in today, just wanna know what the damage could be beforehand....
 
AstroTurf said:
Check your slave cylinder and your clutchplate.
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A completely useless answer.

Out of the OP's question above, anyone can deduct that he knows very little about cars. He wouldn't know where to search for the two things you are mentioning and how do you check the clutch plate without dismantling the gearbox in the first place?

To answer his question. It most probably is a broken clutch cable, but without doing some tests it is only a thumbsuck as to what the real problem is and it could be one of many other damaged parts.

A cost factor cannot be given at this stage with the information available.
 
Stokstert said:
A completely useless answer.

Out of the OP's question above, anyone can deduct that he knows very little about cars. He wouldn't know where to search for the two things you are mentioning and how do you check the clutch plate without dismantling the gearbox in the first place?

To answer his question. It most probably is a broken clutch cable, but without doing some tests it is only a thumbsuck as to what the real problem is and it could be one of many other damaged parts.

A cost factor cannot be given at this stage with the information available.
Click to expand...

Agree, clutch cable.
Unsure about cost. My VW clutch cable was about R500 and I put it in myself - with plenty effort and some human body contortion tricks to get to the fiddly places.
 
Push quite hard to change gears?

Clutch cable is probably fine.
 
Think the Corsa uses a hydraulic clutch instead of a mechanical clutch cable, but is not too sure either.

If it's a mechanical cable, then the cable might have broken, and that's a possibility as the OP stated that it progressively got worse.

If it's a hydraulic clutch, then pressure plate might have gone.

@Keeper - PM me with your city, if you're in Pretoria, I know somebody who might be willing to help you. ;)
 
A broken clutch cable would have the pedal drop to the floor - no resistance usually. Also the fact that you believe you are finding gear with the car switched off suggests cable is not broken. Sounds like a thrust bearing failure, which sits against the clutch plate. Any clutch replacement should involve a bearing replacement so standard clutch replacement cost i expect.
 
But if it's the clutch cable then he would be able to feel it as the clutch pedal will push in all the way and not come out again by itself. If it doesn't do this then it can be Clutch plate, Pressure plate or Thrust bearing. When checking any of the 3 it's better to replace the whole lot as the cost of removing the gearbox is more expensive then the actual parts.
 
Which Corsa? Year, model, also B/C/D if you know.

Corsa B/Lite = Cable operated. If the cable is snapped, as mentioned the clutch pedal would fall to the floor.
Corsa C/D = Hydraulic.

@Etwylite, if the input and output shaft isn't moving (IE. engine is off and the car isn't moving) you can shift gears without the clutch on any manual gearbox, the clutch and syncrho's are only needed if the shafts are moving, no damage would result by doing so. So if the clutch is shot and the gearbox and selector still works you can shift by either A) turning off the car or B) by shifting the way you shift with trucks, its tedious to explain but the procedure is available using google I'm sure.

You say you can change gears when the car is off, if you select a gear, then start up the car, do you start it up with the car in gear?? Or do you still clutch? And then move off?

I'm in PTA and I might be able to help also, depending on which Corsa you have. I don't have much experience with the Corsa C clutch, but if its the selector or gearbox then I may be able to help, depending on what's wrong. I also know a few very qualified people in Jhb (they'll ask money, way less money than the dealers tho)
 
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Well, I just had a clutch and Flywheel done ( had a teeny tiny shake, gotta love a maintenance plan ) And the total cost to repace and fit was R 20k
Ouch...
 
Hi there. My name is wynand. Im driving a opel corsa lite 1400. I never before had any gear problems with her untill yesterday. I was waiting @ a robot and when it turned green i selected 1st gear and dropped the clutch(normal and slow not aggresive) to pull away and then just heard a cluck sound and she didnt move at all,just reved up. I selected all the gears1 to 5 + reverse and all of them does the same. Theres no grinding of gears when you select,my clutch cable and link selectors are fine. I can select all gears whilst she is idling and without pressing down the clutch. So i towed her home. Now comes the confusing part. This morning i started her to see if i can maybe spot the problem and there she was 100%. Selected all gears 100%. So i took her around the block for a test drive and about a kilo from home whilst accelerating,she still in gear and BOOM there she just started reving up again and no gears again. I can leave her in gear whilst idling and stand outside the car and she just idles as if she is in neutral. I also left her in gear idling and looked at the drive shafts and they also were not moving. Then i selected gears in front with my hand(not the gear lever) and i can feel that she is selecting gears fine. So where can the problem be? And why was she suddenly good this morning and then went bad again? Maybe inner drive shaft? Clutch plate? Relaese bearing or pressure plate? Pla help i dont have the credit to take her to a mechanic ,i need to strip and fix her myself. Thank u for your help
 
Puzzling problem, but it can't be too complicated if its a cable clutch. Inner CVs seldom fail since they don't work as hard as the outers, i would get down and check the clutch and its associated components since there isn't much else that can be wrong besides that, easy enough to also check the drive shafts while you at it.
 
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kokwynand83 said:
Hi there. My name is wynand. Im driving a opel corsa lite 1400. I never before had any gear problems with her untill yesterday. I was waiting @ a robot and when it turned green i selected 1st gear and dropped the clutch(normal and slow not aggresive) to pull away and then just heard a cluck sound and she didnt move at all,just reved up. I selected all the gears1 to 5 + reverse and all of them does the same. Theres no grinding of gears when you select,my clutch cable and link selectors are fine. I can select all gears whilst she is idling and without pressing down the clutch. So i towed her home. Now comes the confusing part. This morning i started her to see if i can maybe spot the problem and there she was 100%. Selected all gears 100%. So i took her around the block for a test drive and about a kilo from home whilst accelerating,she still in gear and BOOM there she just started reving up again and no gears again. I can leave her in gear whilst idling and stand outside the car and she just idles as if she is in neutral. I also left her in gear idling and looked at the drive shafts and they also were not moving. Then i selected gears in front with my hand(not the gear lever) and i can feel that she is selecting gears fine. So where can the problem be? And why was she suddenly good this morning and then went bad again? Maybe inner drive shaft? Clutch plate? Relaese bearing or pressure plate? Pla help i dont have the credit to take her to a mechanic ,i need to strip and fix her myself. Thank u for your help
Click to expand...

Hi Wynand, I am driving a 1.7dti and the same problem occurred on my vehicle. I thought it may be the clutch plate but it is not the case. Clutch plate, pressure plate and concentric slave seems all to be fine. Have you managed to get any info on this matter?
 
Keeper said:
OK, lately, the last 3 weeks i had to push the clutch down quite hard to change gears - dunno why

now today, i hear a funny sound "gwah" when pushing down the clutch and suddenly i can't change gears while the car is on - only when it is off can i change into a gear


What's the problem? snapped clutch cable? Busted gearbox? Busted Clutch? :confused:

I drive an opel corsa - gonna have to take it in today, just wanna know what the damage could be beforehand....
Click to expand...

Not a pro mechanic but have ideas because of some experiences I've had with my previous car.

Your clutch is probably not disengaging. Do this in an empty space, with the cars engine off, press the clutch pedal all the way to the floor, put it into first gear and without releasing the clutch pedal, start the car, if it jumps forward then the clutch is not disengaging.

These would be my first checks, could be a busted clutch cable depending on the year or probably a leaking cylinder. if that fixes nothing get the whole clutch system replaced.
 
namzsteve said:
Not a pro mechanic but have ideas because of some experiences I've had with my previous car.

Your clutch is probably not disengaging. Do this in an empty space, with the cars engine off, press the clutch pedal all the way to the floor, put it into first gear and without releasing the clutch pedal, start the car, if it jumps forward then the clutch is not disengaging.

These would be my first checks, could be a busted clutch cable depending on the year or probably a leaking cylinder. if that fixes nothing get the whole clutch system replaced.
Click to expand...

Eish! 2010 post brother.
 
I'm using a OPEL Z18XE 1.8 ECOTEC 16V -ZAFIRA engine in my corsa utility what is the best gearbox for the best ratio please
 
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