Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: megaomega123 on 25 April 2011, 12:32:32

Title: Clutch contamination
Post by: megaomega123 on 25 April 2011, 12:32:32
What is near the clutch that could cause contamination, resulting in bad juddering when pulling off in 1st or reverse? No other symptoms except the judder and is worse when the car has warmed up.
No excessive oil loss either.
I am trying to get to the bottom of this juddering issue. The prop was changed at the weekend, thinking it could be drivetrain related but no change. Any opinions welcome.
Title: Re: Clutch contamination
Post by: Bent valve on 25 April 2011, 16:43:46
Assuming that you are not having DMF problems, another probable cause strange as it might seem, is failing plug leads.
I have first hand experience of this as I have run a Mercedes 190 for a few years now and it had always suffered from clutch judder which could be controlled if you let the clutch out and fed the revs in 'in the right way'
something that my wife could never master ;D
Anyway, apart from that it ran very smoothly until recently when it developed a misfire then started to run on 3 cylinders. Upon investigation I found that one of the HT leads was arcing out, so I fitted a new set of leads and the car fired up and ran as smoothly as before the misfire set in but with  the added benefit that the clutch judder had dissapeared. I can only conclude that the leads were breaking down slowly and that when extra load was put on the system when setting off from rest it was causing the engine to stutter setting off the clutch judder.

So maybe its time for an ignition system overhaul?
Title: Re: Clutch contamination
Post by: r1 on 25 April 2011, 19:39:54
worn engine mounts will also give clutch judder symptons
Title: Re: Clutch contamination
Post by: ffcgary1 on 25 April 2011, 20:14:49
If you have a contaminated clutch then it could be the rear main seal or coolant leaking from the hbv or oil cooler plate. But............................
Have you thought it just might be worn out and needs changing? :y
Title: Re: Clutch contamination
Post by: Andy H on 25 April 2011, 22:01:43
The clutch slave cylinder and the gearbox input shaft seal are in the right area.

Not aware of anyone else having issues with them though.
Title: Re: Clutch contamination
Post by: megaomega123 on 25 April 2011, 22:04:28
Reply to all without quote.
Definitely not HT related. It seems to start at the front and then end in hard knocking from the rear. This is why I went down the propshaft route (U/J), no change. I have considered the diff but then thought that it may happen in other gears when the drive is taken up.
HBV only year old and no coolant loss.
JamesV6 had the car before me and says it was a new clutch, so that is about 4 years and 50000 miles old.
It really feels like something at the back is holding on when I pull off in 1st. I may have understated the judder, it is more like a banging of resistance.
Hope this is a bit clearer.
Title: Re: Clutch contamination
Post by: mrgreen on 25 April 2011, 23:29:06
i would check your gearbox and engine mounts  i find a good way to do this is get someone to hold on the handbrake and put a bit of pressure through the back wheels and you'll soon see twisting if they are worn
Title: Re: Clutch contamination
Post by: megaomega123 on 25 April 2011, 23:47:49
Quote
i would check your gearbox and engine mounts  i find a good way to do this is get someone to hold on the handbrake and put a bit of pressure through the back wheels and you'll soon see twisting if they are worn
The mounts have been mentioned and I think that will be the cheapest option to check out next  :y
Title: Re: Clutch contamination
Post by: ffcgary1 on 26 April 2011, 09:59:02
Check that your handbrake is not binding on, that will make it feel as if something is holding it back.
Title: Re: Clutch contamination
Post by: mathewst on 26 April 2011, 14:54:20
One thing nobody mentioned.
Crappy fuel.
Friend of mine had the same symptoms on his 307cc.
Whenever he put 95 octane fuel he would get judder when pulling off.
Although mig is made for 95 octane fuel try changing the fuel pump station first for some more quality fuel
Title: Re: Clutch contamination
Post by: megaomega123 on 28 April 2011, 11:16:52
Quote
Check that your handbrake is not binding on, that will make it feel as if something is holding it back.
All rear brakes renewed. Was there before and after.
Title: Re: Clutch contamination
Post by: megaomega123 on 28 April 2011, 11:17:43
Quote
One thing nobody mentioned.
Crappy fuel.
Friend of mine had the same symptoms on his 307cc.
Whenever he put 95 octane fuel he would get judder when pulling off.
Although mig is made for 95 octane fuel try changing the fuel pump station first for some more quality fuel
Does it on lpg and petrol so that ruled out. It is a mechanical issue without a doubt.
Title: Re: Clutch contamination
Post by: Kevin Wood on 28 April 2011, 11:39:26
Quote
Does it on lpg and petrol so that ruled out. It is a mechanical issue without a doubt.

If the engine, gearbox and propshaft centre support mounts are sound then I think the gearbox needs to come out for a look at the clutch and dual mass flywheel. :-/

Kevin