Hello all, okay so .. yesterday morning I was doing my routine drop off at 6am, after I returned home from the 15mile trip there and back, as I pulled up outside my house and was stationary, I noticed a slight rattling/jolting noise as if the engine were about to stall. it was very minor and I just thought well that's odd.... *shrugs shoulders* and went inside. that same morning I had bigger worries, managed to run over something and get a slow puncture so at the time I was more focused on getting that sorted. Searched around for tyre repair place and waited until 8:30 for it to open, when I turned the engine back on, the car was fine. all the normal sounds, nothing odd... I pressed

my foot on the clutch to go into second gear but without going into the gear soon as I pressed the clutch I could hear that same rattling/jolting-like noise! I started to get worried (as you do) and attempted to go into first gear, the rattling gets far worse when going into first gear so I just shut it off. Called mechanic he suspected its the clutch going and he'd need to see it confirm. I have to get the car to the garage, and so got back in and attempted to pull away really slowly in first gear, the car shudders A LOT and rattles A LOT when trying to do this but as soon as I get up enough speed to not have to press the clutch down anymore, the shuddering/rattling is all gone. when I then shift into second gear, that bit between 1st/2nd gear (and all other gear changes) you can feel a little vibrating sensation almost like grinding gears but its very minimal. Also this crazy shuddering when starting off from stationary is not there 100% of the time. I've driven the car a fair bit and it very much comes and goes, sometimes the car will be as if the problem never existed (but the small grinding thing between gear changes is always there though) whilst other times the car feels like something is going to explode.

I've taken it to a mechanic and he came out and said he can't really find anything wrong. I personally think the mechanic is just rather blind or not very good...I explained the whole situation to him again and he said he did notice a "noisy clutch" but nothing more, I explained that yeah thats the problem I've been having its like its going to explode he says its the signs of the clutch needing to be replaced very soon.

I've only had 3 cars this is my 3rd, all the cars I've had were second hand e.t.c and were sold because of clutch problems coming around the corner so I've had to replace the clutch on all previous cars. the thing is... I've never had a clutch do this before, normally it would just start to slip and get worse an worse as time went on. But not all this shuddering and almost stalling type scenario. Having said that, the two previous cars were big cars. Ford Estate and an a Ford Mondeo. this is the first small car I've owned. (i don't know if that makes a difference)

I know i've posted A LOT of information and I really appreciate if you've kept reading this far, I just really need some accurate advice and want you to know everything that I know to better diagnosis without seeing it physically. I'm worried that its not the clutch, and I would rather spend spend £330-£350 (the price i been quoted so far) to have the clutch replaced would be better spent on the actual problem.

Any advice much appreciated!

What model fiesta do you have?

I'm encountering clutch problems myself on my Fiesta 02 mk4. Clutch is slipping, as when I put my foot on the accelerator there is no increase in vehicle speed until I put my foot down even more hitting over 4 to 5,000rpm.

Following questions:

Does the pedal travel to the floor with no pressure or very little resistance?

Does the clutch fail to disengage? (unable to select gears)

Clutch slipping?

Does it judder as the clutch is engaged?

Noise when depressing or releasing the clutch pedal?

Noisy in neutral with engine running?

Noisy in one particular gear?

Difficulty engaging gears?

Jumps out of gear?

Vibration?

Any noticeable lubricant leaks?

I know some of the questions may of be answered in what you have put, but back tracking and eliminating some of area's will give you best idea where the fault will be.

No doubt it sounds like a clutch fault. I wouldn't personally just replace the clutch, I would purchase a 3 piece clutch kit, some brake fluid and do the whole kaboodle. I have purchased a 3 piece clutch kit for my fiesta this morning, £110 trade at Parkers, do not know if you have a parkers near you, as they are open from 8am till 6pm Mon to Sunday.

I have a fiesta ghia 2005 mk6 1.4ltr

Does the pedal travel to the floor with no pressure or very little resistance?

Does the clutch fail to disengage? (unable to select gears) it disengages and I can select any gear. However, I get a lot of grinding followed by a crunch when going into reverse.

Clutch slipping? not at all

Does it judder as the clutch is engaged? when attempting to accelerator and clutch is pressed yes, once I let go of clutch no more juddering

Noise when depressing or releasing the clutch pedal? yeah both

Noisy in neutral with engine running? only when clutch is pressed otherwise no noises

Noisy in one particular gear? If im standing still and in first, and goto pull off, it will shudder/make noise a lot until I reach speed required to let go of clutch once I let go of clutch, everything is normal again.

Difficulty engaging gears? yes reverse, all others are fine

Jumps out of gear? no, never

Vibration? yes lots of it when trying to move off in first gear, a small amount when shifting between gears after that bit barely anything.

Any noticeable lubricant leaks? not that I can see

If you are getting lots of judder could be any of these:

Clutch disc linings contaminated with oil or grease etc.

Clutch disc linings that are excessively worn.

Fault or distorted pressure plate or diaphragm spring.

Worn or loose engine or gearbox mountings.

Clutch disc hub or gearbox input shaft splines worn.

That's a overview of what could cause the judders, but from the rest of it, sounds like your clutch.

If you are getting noise, then its the release bearing that has gone too.

For the reverse, worn or damaged gear teeth, clutch fault, worn or damaged gear linkage or even worn synchroniser.

Do you know if its a concentric slave? Some fords have combined slave/release bearings.

I would personally get a clutch kit, 3 piece if you can and get some brake fluid whilst you are at it. Get the parts, if you know of someone who will do it, or yourself, then it will save you a hell of a lot of money.

thanks for getting back to me. So far 3 people ive spoken to have said it sounds like the clutch needs replacing. Just had a thought... I havent as yet checked if my brake fluid compartment is at a sufficient level and I was just thinking... is the brake fluid and hydraulic fluid compartment the same thing? and if so, if this was low/insufficient would it cause any of the issues ive been experiencing?

I've just had the brakes replaced and last few days I noticed sometimes the brakes feel a little.... vibrating kind of thing, like its grinding a bit... its very minimal and rare but it happens I put it down to the disks being new e.t.c but I had a brain wave and unless im mistaken if that compartment is shared and its low, wouldnt that then cause the kinda grinding thing as there's no lubricant for the brakes + clutch?

The gearbox does take DOT 4 (brake fluid). Being hydraulic, it will have a fail safe in the brake resi, so if you encounter gearbox problems, you're braking won't be affected.

I would recommend a new clutch if you haven't already. I have fitted a new clutch myself this monday on my Fiesta. The friction material was right down to the rivets of the clutch. My Fiesta is approaching 70k on the clock and it was the original clutch since it was made. Certainly got some miles out of it.