Alhambra TDi Vibration issues.

[jasegarn]

Hi
I have a couple of problems with my 2000, Alhambra that may be related, but not sure.
The first is; the gearchange is really notchy when selecting any gear. The clutch biting point seems to start right at the bottom with the main take up being half way up the pedal travel. The other day I sat on a flat surface with the car in 1st, clutch depressed and then I revved the engine. As the engine speed increased, the car started to move forward, so, obviously, the clutch isn't fully opening. I know that this is most likely the cause of the notchy gearchange, but what could be causing the clutch not to fully open?

The second is; the whole car vibrates badly at idle. When driving, the vibration is still there but sounds and feels like a very rough engine. This is all the way through the rev range. It also seems to have a dead spots in the rev range that I can't say I noticed before these problems started. I have checked engine mounts and all seem OK.

Could, if my car is fitted with one, the DMF have gone? Would this cause the clutch problem and also account for the vibration?
Or am I looking at seperate clutch and injector/engine problems?

Also does anyone know of a VW/SEAT specialist, not dealer, in the North of Scotland?

 

[glynnd]

If your alhambra is approaching 100k then it could well be the dmf. What is the fuel economy like, good or not what you think it should be?
Glynn

 

[jasegarn]

The fuel economy has possibly dropped a little bit, but not majorly noticable.

I have priced bits up but am having trouble getting a hold of a LUK flywheel. I can get a Sachs flywheel though. Would this be any good or is it best to go with LUK?
The LUK clutch I can get no problem.

 

[glynnd]

The sachs item is far better and I bought sachs instead of the luk item.
Expect to pay circa £200 plus vat for the fly and around £130 for the clutch and make that a sachs unit while you are at it. Got mine from GSF
Glynn

 

[jasegarn]

Well it was the flywheel that had gone.

The garage said it was the worst they had seen. I had been driving round for 6months with the car vibrating though!

You could rotate one part of the flywheel just short of 1/4 of a turn (it's supposed to be 20-30mm) against the other and you could move the mating face concentricly round. The flywheel was so goosed that the pressure plate had been hitting the side of the bell housing!! Thankfully that's OK.

All the bits came to £420 from GSF and I had the lot fitted for £270.

Thanks to the forum I found out what was the cause and got it fixed before any more damage was done. Thanks.