Really stupid question !

[Endo]

hello

I'm wondering if someone can point out the obvious to me.

When the engine is switched off I can put the car into gear, when the engine is switched on I cannot get the car into gear at all.

Is the clutch broken ?

The car was fine prior to the water pump being changed and presumably loads of water ended up pouring into the direction of the clutch.

Thanks

 

[mojobaby]

Hi Endo, when the engine is off, activation of the clutch is not necessary to change gears. To check if your clutch is working, put he car in gear, then apply the clutch and start the car. If your clutch is working, all should be good, but if the clutch isn't working, the car will go forward. So make sure there is no one in front of you when you do this
Perhaps when the water pump was changed your cable was disconnected from the clutch activation lever?

 

[mr-reno-139]

Simple

When the water pump was changed all of the old coolant will have run down on the clutch assembly immediately below after standing a short while it will have caused the clutch to be rusted onto flywheel

Cure

Provided there is a good clear road where you are parked first run engine 10 mins until warm then switch off select 1st gear with handbrake off restart engine with foot pressing clutch down to floor car will now start in gear and start driving off so build up a little speed then brake hard keeping clutch down engine will either stall or clutch will unstick
Repeat as necessary
If you have decent axle stands this can be done with front end raised off ground and same procedure until free
Once fixed a short drive using a few hill starts will clean the rust off preventing reoccurrence

 

[Endo]

Thanks for the response. I am restoring the car at the moment and the engine and gearbox have been removed and are separated. I have bought a brand new clutch as I'm keeping this R4 forever so a new clutch is going in.

How straight forward is the replacement going to be ?

Any useful tips or advice greatly received.

Thanks

 

[mr-reno-139]

you didn't say and gearbox had been removed if you've managed to get that far undoing 6 bolts should be a piece of cake

 

[Endo]

Thanks Paul for your advice .

Is it just a case of putting the clutch in the way it came out or do I have to line anything up ?

Many thanks

 

[Geoff in the Gully]

You need to make sure the clutch friction disc in the middle has the central hole lined up with the recess in the flywheel. The shaft from the gear box goes into the recess and if things are not aligned it doesn't go together.

I use either a spare shaft, or often just a piece of wooden dowel trimmed down to fit the recess and with tape wrapped around where the clutch plate splines are.

 

[montenegro]

do put the plate in the 'right' way round ! the thinner boss which is longer sticks out the front. I could post you a ist motion shaft but guess the post would be cher.

 

[mr-reno-139]

the clutch kits supplied by renault and valeo come with a plastic lining up tool in the box if you're lucky and have bought one of these no problem

 

[Endo]

Thank you for the advice. I'm going to sort it this weekend.

Cheers