Clutch pedal won't come back up

Gnarls

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Hi all

I have an Opel Corsa GSI (the corsa lite shape) and last night my clutch pedal just went straight to the floor. I can't change gears at all while I'm driving.

So, question is what do you guys think it is and more importantly, how much to fix it?

Thanks everyone
 
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Pressure plate is f&%ked up

will prob have to replace whole clutch kit.

Gearbox need to be removed, so you will look at 6 hours at a dealer * 450 -500 per hour

+ 3k for parts. so probably about R6k
 
Sounds like the clutch is hydraulic... Fords are the same... Check you break fluid first, the clutch and breaks share the same reservoir. If not, it could be a pressure plate, the master cylinder at the pedal or the slave cylinder in the gearbox. Hope it's just a fluid top up.
 
i had the same thing happen to me (open corse lite 1.4)

It was the clutch cabled that snapped. Not expensive. Can even change it out yourself if you know how.
 
I don't have a clue whether that car has a cable or hydraulic clutch, but my first thought was that the cable has snapped. Could also be the hydraulics. It's possible that it's the pressure plate, but it's far more likely to be the cable/hydraulics.
 
Yip those models are cable which is most likely the issue.
 
It's probably a snapped clutch cable.

Open the bonnet and check. The clutch cable pulls that lever on the gearbox. Get someone to press the pedal and watch to see it the lever moves. If it doesn't move. Then clutch cable has snapped.

If it hasnt snapped then pressure plate could be finished. Clutch kit is around R1400 from GM. Although its an easy job it takes really long to do as the gearbox needs to be removed. When I had a corsa lite I did it myself, took whole saturday, morning till night.
 
Thanks for all the responses guys. I'll check with my mechanic tonight. I really hope it's just the clutch cable that's snapped.
 
I had the same issue on my clutch, i found the cable just came off the engine side somehow. i even managed to fix it on the side of the road thats how easy it was :)

check at the pedal and engine side
 
Sounds like the clutch is hydraulic... Fords are the same... Check you break fluid first, the clutch and breaks share the same reservoir. If not, it could be a pressure plate, the master cylinder at the pedal or the slave cylinder in the gearbox. Hope it's just a fluid top up.

Cable clutch, all variations of the Lite are cable clutch.

Pressure plate is f&%ked up

will prob have to replace whole clutch kit.

Gearbox need to be removed, so you will look at 6 hours at a dealer * 450 -500 per hour

+ 3k for parts. so probably about R6k

You tripping, R3500 MAX for the job IF it is the clutch.


Hi all

I have an Opel Corsa GSI (the corsa lite shape) and last night my clutch pedal just went straight to the floor. I can't change gears at all while I'm driving.

So, question is what do you guys think it is and more importantly, how much to fix it?

Thanks everyone

It's either the clutch cable, or the pressure plate. Easy enough to check - if you're on the East Rand I can come thru and check (PM me)

Clutch cable - ~R100 for the cable
Pressure plate - R3500 max (They have to do the whole clutch). I paid R3000 2 years ago and I had an uprated clutch put in mine, new cable, and other minor odds & sods fixed.
 
I have exactly the same car and had exactly the same problem a few months ago. I'm pretty sure it's the clutch cable. Should cost about R125 from Midas for a new one and about 10 minutes to fit and a couple of test drives to adjust nicely.

Good luck.
 
Opel Corsa - Clutch Cable has snapped.

R80 odd rand if I recall from Goodhope Spare and about an hour to replace it if you've never done it before and a few road trips to adjust it properly.

Getting the hook in on the pedal side is an exercise in frustration but patience gets you there eventually.

*****

Why do people always choose the most complicated option as the first one to jump to? Bet is if you simply pull the clutch back up with your hand you'll see the cable where it has sheared off, otherwise open the bonnet and you'll quickly find the rest of it hanging loose in there.
 
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Why do people always choose the most complicated option as the first one to jump to? Bet is if you simply pull the clutch back up with your hand you'll see the cable where it has sheared off, otherwise open the bonnet and you'll quickly find the rest of it hanging loose in there.

Agreed on this. K.I.S.S.
 
Hi all

I have an Opel Corsa GSI (the corsa lite shape) and last night my clutch pedal just went straight to the floor. I can't change gears at all while I'm driving.

So, question is what do you guys think it is and more importantly, how much to fix it?

Thanks everyone

As has been said, could be a big problem or it could be small.

However, you can drive without a clutch if it's just the cable that's snapped (or hydraulic problem in Ford clutches). You turn on the car in first or second gear to get going. At the appropriate speed and rev count, you can shift up and down gears without the clutch. Try avoid coming to a full stop, or you'll have to turn off your ignition and start again in gear. There can be a bit of grinding and it's not a fun way to drive long distances, but it can get you to a mechanic (or at least to safety from being stuck on the side of the road).
 
As has been said, could be a big problem or it could be small.

However, you can drive without a clutch if it's just the cable that's snapped (or hydraulic problem in Ford clutches). You turn on the car in first or second gear to get going. At the appropriate speed and rev count, you can shift up and down gears without the clutch. Try avoid coming to a full stop, or you'll have to turn off your ignition and start again in gear. There can be a bit of grinding and it's not a fun way to drive long distances, but it can get you to a mechanic (or at least to safety from being stuck on the side of the road).

Actually it's fine for long distances, but a real pain in the butt in city traffic.
 
Why do people always choose the most complicated option as the first one to jump to? Bet is if you simply pull the clutch back up with your hand you'll see the cable where it has sheared off, otherwise open the bonnet and you'll quickly find the rest of it hanging loose in there.

This forum is made up mostly of 'prophets of doom', if something goes wrong they always pick the most catastrophic & costly option as the most likely solution :D
 
Opel? I had similar once. Inside the bonnet, a little bolt came out at the other end of the clutch. Used half a bic ball point pen and drove home to a more permanent fix.
 
This forum is made up mostly of 'prophets of doom', if something goes wrong they always pick the most catastrophic & costly option as the most likely solution :D

REPENT and thou shalt be saved!
 
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