Clutch cables!

Site Subscriber Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2281

Right some of you may or may not know that my Clio's brand-new clutch cable gave up on me in the middle of Lincoln town centre last Sunday. It's repaired and drives, but I wouldn't trust it to take me further than the village shop and I'm eager to know what underlying issue(s) might be causing the trouble.

Now I've sent the following message to Chris, mainly because he's the most knowledgable and he has worked on my car but I'd be interested to hear other people's view and opinions. They say 'knowledge is power' after all and I am inclined to agree!

Basically my clutch cable has snapped twice now and I'm trying to get to the bottom of what's causing it!

It had a genuine Renault cable in the first time it snapped (a fairly new one as well) and that was using a 19 clutch pedal.

I had a new QH cable fitted in it's place and a new ratchet fitted and it went again within 400 miles at the 'box end.

There's obviously something afoot here but it could be down to several things the way I see it:

a) the cable
b) the routing of the cable
c) the clutch itself
d) the pedal

I don't know what your opinion on the condition of the clutch is but it feels fine to me - certainly no lack of bite and it doesn't rev back at you when on the gas? Would you say the clutch is a likely suspect?

I know the pedal is a 19 one so I'll change it for a Clio one. Would the 19 pedal cause the cable to wear down any quicker?

I'll use a genuine Renault cable also (although AA man told me it shouldn't make that much of a difference and even if it did it shouldn't show after just a few hundred miles should it?)

Also when the QH cable was fitted it raised the pedal up and it felt a lot lot stiffer.

As regards the routing of the cable, is it possible to get it vastly wrong, i.e. so bad the cable breaks after just a few hundred miles?

Basically mate depending on whether it's the clutch that's going will determine whether I get rid of it. I don't mind spending Â£30 to get the proper parts (cable; pedal) fitted but only if it's going to last me. (Comparing with my 19 which I've driven daily for about 7 years on the original cable without issue.)

Cheers folks. Smile

Level 9 User Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 373

mines snapped the first time and i just replaced it,snapped a week later the person that was fixing it suggested either new pedal or pressure plate.tried the pedal as it was the cheaper option and not had any problems since.so the pressure plates another thing to maybe think about aswell

Site Subscriber Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2281

Mmmm interesting to know, cheers mate.

Site Subscriber Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 192

my second clutch cable has just snapped, mattbrowne has said the clutch need replacin if it breaks frequently, i did about 4k on a new cable and it has failed. i also had a new pedal.

i'm in the same possition as you bar the selling if its major. i've ordered a new cable but i'm gunna save for a new clutch with the soft pedal kit.

http://www.williamsclio.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=107559#107559

would be nice if someone could tell if the retro-renault guide for soft pedal kit has been deleted or move to subscribers area?

Site Subscriber Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 1141

They both snapped box end?

We put a non-renault clutch cable in Liams, now he has a wandering biting point when the car gets hot because the cable stretches lol.

Site Subscriber Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2281

No, first one snapped at pedal second one snapped at the 'box. To be awkward, naturally.

Site Subscriber Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 192

Addie wrote:

They both snapped box end?

We put a non-renault clutch cable in Liams, now he has a wandering biting point when the car gets hot because the cable stretches lol.

First one snapped pedal end. I dont know about this latest snappage cos i havent looked yet

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

i've not had a clutch cable snap (yet) but i did have the plastic rachet part of the clutch pedal snap on me in the middle of london and had to drive the car home with no clutch lol

that was fun, i caught every single red light going.

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

its a useful skill driving with no clutch!

Site Subscriber Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2281

Even harder when it's a cold morning and the car is in dire need of a new CTS....

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

like I said which was the right answer, new pedal new cable and get the thing to fuck.

Retroholic Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 3315

FAO neal::

sori bout the pics neal off a cam fone

Newbie Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 18

I to have lost 2 Renault cables both at the box end and both with-in the last 4 months!!