Tales from the workshop

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

Screaming clutch

There have of course been many changes to the motor vehicle over the years and most of these are with the electronic input to the engine control and operation. One unit which has changed but in a more mechanical way is the clutch. What would appear to be quite a simple operation of releasing the pressure on the clutch plate to allow the gearbox to be disengaged for gear changes would on the surface look very similar to its earlier counterpart. Yet the self-adjusting mechanisms used in the modern vehicle are more complex and this allows the clutch operation to continue throughout the life of the clutch relatively unchanged. The clutch requires no manual intervention to maintain its feel and operation and this means that when the clutch does fail - as it did on this 2006 1.4 Volkswagen Golf S - it can come as quite a surprise to its owner.

With this particular vehicle the clutch plate had not worn but it was the release bearing which had failed. This resulted in a poor feel to the pedal which developed into a scream coming from the gearbox.

Fortunately the owner had the sense to get the clutch changed before any further damage occurred.

CITROËN XSARA PICASSO

Sudden oil stain

I was asked to have a look at this 2005 Сitrоёп Xsara Picasso 1.6 for the owner to try and determine where the