Clueless and in need of Technical Advice.

[Margo]

Hi All,

Please can someone give some advice. I recently sent my Patrol (2000 4.5 GRX) in for a Clutch replacement. As well as a "rough idle" problem. Mechanics came back saying my spark plugs were the wrong plugs and gaps were out?????? Anyway, sparks replaced, clutch replaced. I still have a shudder in first gear and have rough idle problem. However in addition now, she seems to have a "flat spot" between 1 and 1/2 thousand to 2 1/2 thousand revs. PLUS My car left me stranded on side of road last night.... Was driving around 100kph, patrol just went dead. Car switched off, no power steering / brakes, etc. A loud ticking noise came from dashboard... only thing that stayed on was hazards. A friend had a look and said it was a relay. Could this be? Could this have anything to do with Mechanical work done?

I would appreciate if anyone could give some advice....

[JG Shields]

1. Clutch...let do do the job over until the shudder is gone.

2. Electrics. I willalways start my search at the most simple possibility. In Patrol's case...earth wire trouble.

[Wheels]

Welcome to the site.

On the clutch, agree they need to do it over. The earth wire from the alternator/battery could be your problem. The lug against the chassis tend to corrode and then you sit with problems.

[Margo]

Hi Guys,

thanks for the welcome and for the reply.

Ok, well earth wire checked, no issues. I bought a relay, replaced, nudda! what else could be wrong.

As for clutch mechanic that did it, said that there is nothing wrong with it.. :(

[Margo]

Ok... So found out why it left me on side of road.... A fuse blew! How crazy! Anyway, she is running now... Will have to get clutch and rough idle sorted later... off to work now :)

[Peter Connan]

Hello Margo

With regard to the clutch judder, I am assuming that it occurs while you are still releasing the clutch and dissappears when the clutch is completely released? It should also occur if you slip the clutch in any gear. If it occurs in first gear with clutch fully released, it may be your rough idle causing issues?
Anyway, if it is clutch, there is no way to fix it except by doing the job over. And properly this time. The possible causes of a clutch judder are virtually all related to a badly done job, and can include (but are not necessarily limited to):
1) Oil on the friction surfaces.
2) Flywheel not square (when removing the clutch, the flywheel should be visually checked and if any wear is visible, the flywheel should be skimmed)
3) Flywheel not replaced correctly (If it was removed for skimming, and replaced with dirt between it and the crankshaft, or the bolts not torqued in the correct sequence, or......)
4) Gearbox and engine re-assembly incorrect. (very much the same type of problems as in point 3 above)
5) Bad quality clutch kit fitted

Therefore it is imperative that you get the botch fixed at the perpetrator's expense. Note that these things do not "wear in", they only get worse. Good luck, or get a big oke with grease under his fingernails to go back there with you.

With regard to the bad idle, I tend to take these type of thing to the clever chaps. May I recommend Graham Cumming (in Pretoria/Centurion) on 012 651 3447 or 083 417 7503?

Regards
Peter

[Stefan]

Hi Margo,

Welcome to the site.

Get a couple of spare fuses and keep them in the glove compartment.

Agreed with everything said above. Don't settle, have them do it over until it is right (to your satisfaction), or get a refund

[Margo]

Hi Peter, thank you for the response. :)
I generally get the shudder on first gear pull off (during clutch release). The flywheel was skimmed. Mechanic drove the car and insists that he cant feel it!!!!! :| Drives me insane... I dont know any big "okes" with grease under their finger nails... LOL.. If you know of one, please send him with me? hehe.

The clutch kit according to mechanic cost R3700-00, would that be in price range of "bad quality"?

Thank you for recommending Graham to me, I will contact him later today :)

Marg's


Hi Stefan, thank you for your response too! I have since bought extra fuses and put them in cubby :) Someone said that its a main fuse so i should ask an electrician to check the car out, does that sound right?

:)

[Peter Connan]

Hello Margo

Do you know what make the clutch kit is? I have never needed to replace the clutch on my Patrol yet. Only on other cars. But that price seems reasonable to me.

Tinus? Kan jy help of sal Anandi jou moer?

[Stefan]

Margo, I'd suggest taking it to an auto electrician if it happens regularly, maybe it was just the fuse that failed. (At least now you've got a spare or 2 )