Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault

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Tue 25 Feb 2020 15:44
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault - Machina

hi

I had a problem with my zafira clutch pedal sticking to floor and me then needing to manually pull it back up and then it runs right as rain.

So I paid over 100 quid for vauxhall to diagnose it.

They said they would ring back...but I had to ring them. go figure.

They said they had tested it all day on and off including a 1 hour run and could find nothing wrong.

They said they need to recreate them fault to know what's wrong.

They offered to try tomorrow but I'm not sure they are really bothering on this so I'm gonna get it now.

Is this a normal scenario for mechanics to not fond a fault? I'm surprised they can't work this one out.

any opinions?

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Tue 25 Feb 2020 15:59
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault - Avant

Get in the car with the mechanic and show him what the problem is.

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Tue 25 Feb 2020 16:12
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault - Bromptonaut

Is this a normal scenario for mechanics to not fond a fault? I'm surprised they can't work this one out.

any opinions?

Yes, it happens all the time.

They don't seem to teach proper diagnostic skills any more. There are only so many things that can cause the fault you describe.

It could be a something sticking around the pedal itself or on the crank mechanism on the clutch housing or something in the hydraulic (or off chance cable) mechanism that connects the two. Did they investigate those carefully and lubricate where possible?

Did they confirm there is no possibility that something on the floor physically fouled the pedal?

If it's something in the mechanism within the clutch itself then (sucks teeth like car mechanic with bad news).

I had for many years a Citroen Berlingo with the asthmatic non turbo XUD engine. It was misfiring when starting from cold. It's a well known issue with these engines at around 150k miles that the valve clearances close up as valve and seat wear and the valve cannot close completely on a cold engine until the head/valve expand slightly. I found this for myself by which time my 'French car specialist' indy having spent hours looking at it was trying to sell me a reconditioned engine on basis head was probably cracked.

I literally had to ask him to humour a long standing customer by checking the valve clearances before he'd do it.

Edited by Bromptonaut on 25/02/2020 at 16:14

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Tue 25 Feb 2020 20:08
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault - Machina

thanks for reply.

well as I picked it up they waivered the cost of looking at it.

The guy said that the car really has to be presented to them "in fault".

So that would mean a tow to them.

He also said it could just be a "glitch". maybe hydraulics he said.

I have a local garage that's pretty good. I could have them look at it.

It's a real pickle not knowing how I should go about this problem. I'm now edgy when I'm driving.

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Sun 8 Mar 2020 16:35
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault - William eade

Hi can I ask you a question do you park on a slope it happen to me the other day on a 67 plate 1. 4 turbo

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Thu 13 Aug 2020 20:33
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault - Christopher Ormrod

Did you manage to identify your clutch problem!

Was travelling down the A1 today (13-08-20) and I had a similar issue. My car is a 62 Plate Zafira Tourer 2.0 Diesel.

The clutch biting point was getting lower and lower over the course of an hour or so. It got within an inch of the floor and I was struggling to change gear. Pulled over and put my foot under the pedal and pulled it up. It stopped at the normal point and has been fine driving back. Took it into a garage this afternoon and they have had the Under-Tray off the engine. They said they didn't believe the slave or master cylinder was faulty, as it hasn't lost any fluid. They questioned if the return spring had broken or was on its way.

Was curious if your problem returned...........

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Sat 15 Aug 2020 00:00
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault - focussed

The first action I would take is to change the clutch fluid, give the system a good flush through and bleed all the old fluid out.

If you think about, it the hydraulic clutch system works hard for a living, clutch pedal is up and down all day, slave cylinder is in and out all day under the heavy load of the clutch spring.

The same applies on big motorcycles with hydraulic clutches, a lot of problems are sorted with a change of fluid.

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Wed 10 Mar 2021 09:43
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault - Bolt

The first action I would take is to change the clutch fluid, give the system a good flush through and bleed all the old fluid out.

If you think about, it the hydraulic clutch system works hard for a living, clutch pedal is up and down all day, slave cylinder is in and out all day under the heavy load of the clutch spring.

The same applies on big motorcycles with hydraulic clutches, a lot of problems are sorted with a change of fluid.

Clutch pedal shaft has been known to cause that, and if the shaft is linked to the other pedals the shaft will turn slowly so it takes a while to get back to the worn position it sticks in

used to happen on the old vans, I could be wrong but may be worth a look

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Wed 10 Mar 2021 07:06
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault - A Croxall
Hi,
I have exactly the same problem, pedal went to about 2” off the floor, clutch still worked without slipping or dragging. No leaks or loss of fluid. Lifted pedal up and works with no issues. Return spring is good. It’s as if the pedal free play vanished. Done about 300 miles since no problems. Weird.
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Wed 10 Mar 2021 08:41
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault - Topdude

Short story first.

Decided to replace the clutch fluid on my old Honda CRV last weekend. i noticed you can't pump the pedal down / up like you do when bleeding brakes. Without the fluid being under pressure the pedal stays down. Even though there is a hefty return spring on the pedal ?

So my theory is the pedal needs the pressure of the fluid to return it to the up position and the spring just maintains the free play at the top of the travel.

Therefore i would guess the Zafira clutch problem is most likely due to fluid leaking past the piston seals inside the master cylinder.

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Fri 7 May 2021 09:12
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault - _

Multiple posts with identical reply deleted.

ORB

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Fri 7 May 2021 18:38
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault - Bolt

Short story first.

Decided to replace the clutch fluid on my old Honda CRV last weekend. i noticed you can't pump the pedal down / up like you do when bleeding brakes. Without the fluid being under pressure the pedal stays down. Even though there is a hefty return spring on the pedal ?

So my theory is the pedal needs the pressure of the fluid to return it to the up position and the spring just maintains the free play at the top of the travel.

Therefore i would guess the Zafira clutch problem is most likely due to fluid leaking past the piston seals inside the master cylinder.

It should work the same as the brakes, the return spring on the pedal does just that, returns the pedal to normal position, the fluid is not under pressure until you press the pedal but a faulty slave cylinder or master cylinder will cause pedal to stay at bottom of travel

not sure if CRV has one but the clutch slave cylinder on Civic has a restrictor valve on fluid return, it assists gear change (some take the valve out to make quicker gear changes without crunching gears) but they can clog up and make bleeding harder.

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Fri 7 May 2021 10:40
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer - mechanics cant find clutch fault - Pam Duff

It’s a manufacturing fault I’ve been where you guys are . It won’t be found on a diagnostic check it’s inside the gearbox the duel fly wheel on mine had shattered along with a bearing they paid for everything except the damage to my clutch caused by the fly wheel shattering very shameful Pls guys get you cars looked at thoroughly if the bearing goes it your engine it will total it Advice go back and demand the look into fly wheel they may give you an extortionate price as they did me but hey in the end they paid

Edit by Moderator.

It is a dual mass flywheel, to be accurate, and on the vauxhall zafira forums there are lots of other complaints and lots of otther causes and answers.

Pam, there is no need to continuously repeat your advice, ONCE is enough.

All other identical posts will be monitored.

Edited by _ORB_ on 07/05/2021 at 11:07

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