We are new to caravaning. On our second trip the clutch went when I was trying to reverse my caravan up a slight grass hill. It is a 2004 Ford Mondeo Estate 2.2 TDCi, surely the clutch should be man enough to do this shouln't it? The MTPLM is 1335kg and there was only in awning in the van plus a few bits and pieces. What I am worried about is spending £600 to get the clutch done only for it to go again when towing/reversing the caravan. Any one else had this problem? Thanks
Clutch gone on second trip!
- Thread starter William_374459923
- Start date
Hi William,
This sounds like the typical Dual Mass Flywheel syndrone. So many car manufacturers are putting them in their products now, the problem will raise its ugly head time and time again. It is difficult to find a towcar that has a conventional clutch these days. There are plenty of posts on the subject of DMF's. A motor mover is possibly the answer in the end. Also the avoidance of using the car for any kind of reversing that put a strain on the drive train.
This sounds like the typical Dual Mass Flywheel syndrone. So many car manufacturers are putting them in their products now, the problem will raise its ugly head time and time again. It is difficult to find a towcar that has a conventional clutch these days. There are plenty of posts on the subject of DMF's. A motor mover is possibly the answer in the end. Also the avoidance of using the car for any kind of reversing that put a strain on the drive train.
Damian
Moderator
The problem is that when cars are designed, they are not primarily designed to be used for towing.
As has been said, the old style clutch has been replaced with dual mass affairs, as has the auxilliary belt drive.
Putting the strain of over a ton on the drivetrain, uphill on grass and something will give, and its going to be the clutch.
Whilst it is expensive initially, a motor mover is the sensible answer in the long run, unless you prefer spending
As has been said, the old style clutch has been replaced with dual mass affairs, as has the auxilliary belt drive.
Putting the strain of over a ton on the drivetrain, uphill on grass and something will give, and its going to be the clutch.
Whilst it is expensive initially, a motor mover is the sensible answer in the long run, unless you prefer spending
If people took the trouble to release there stabliser before reversing they would not get these problems by releasing the pads from the hitch far less strain is required also its worth checking that the auto reversing set is operating fully
Hello Stephen,
I don't think the stabiliser has much effect on the clutch wear. The stabiliser resits rotation around the towball and has no effect on the fore and aft forces associated with towing a caravan.
Hello William,
There has been a series of complaints about failed clutches of the DMF type. The level is higher than compared to the older single mass types, but even so the failure rate is still quite small in relation to the number caravanner's who must use such types each time they tow.
Perhaps its something to do with the way you use the clutch. If you are using high revs and allowing the clutch to slip then failure is more likely.
With a diesel it is usually possible to get the outfit moving and then release the clutch completely at tick over. The engine management usually keeps the engine running at a fairly constant low rpm.
I find this works for me, but I do concede that you need to be confident of what you and where you are going in reverse
There has been a series of complaints about failed clutches of the DMF type. The level is higher than compared to the older single mass types, but even so the failure rate is still quite small in relation to the number caravanner's who must use such types each time they tow.
Perhaps its something to do with the way you use the clutch. If you are using high revs and allowing the clutch to slip then failure is more likely.
With a diesel it is usually possible to get the outfit moving and then release the clutch completely at tick over. The engine management usually keeps the engine running at a fairly constant low rpm.
I find this works for me, but I do concede that you need to be confident of what you and where you are going in reverse
hi willam as john says low revs still gives you torque motor mover second hand could be ok or watling engineering do front end tow ball so u can push car backwards
I think a lot of reversing problems are caused by modern gearbox designs, especially 6 speed boxes. Reverse gear is quite a high ratio (due to space limitations) and even at tick over reversing happens too fast. I find this even when drivinf solo! This was a big reason for getting a mover fitted - didn't want the worry of overheating the cluch everytime I reverse the caravan.
I would agree that the reverse on most vehicles iss too high even for solo, My 03 transit frequently has to reverse up awkward drives and alleyways, it would be great if I could drop the clutch and chug along on tickover but this is too fast. having said this, most of our cars have 6 figure mileages when we sell them having towed boats and caravans near the maximum allowed and I have NEVER had to replace a clutch in 27 years of driving. My wife would "ride" the clutch at traffic lights when I first met her, I managed to get her to stop this habit but that's about the last time she took notice of what I have said!
When you say the clutch has gone, has it actually gone or did you just get a massive cloud of smoke and a disgusting smell for a couple of days????
This is exactly what we got on our first outing with our 'new to us' 2003 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI 130 BHP - and I thought I'd burnt the clutch out too, however, after a few days of very cautious driving expecting it to go completely at any moment, the smell went away and it's all fine.
We were trying to reverse up hill into a pitch which was also over a kerb which didn't help I suspect. We've been out in the van twice since and reversed in with no problems on flatish pitches.
The clutch does smell if you're in town a riding it too much, but that's not the best way to drive and just makes me more aware of not doing it.
I also did a search on here and found a few others who'd suffered with a smoking clutch but no further complications.
HTH
This is exactly what we got on our first outing with our 'new to us' 2003 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI 130 BHP - and I thought I'd burnt the clutch out too, however, after a few days of very cautious driving expecting it to go completely at any moment, the smell went away and it's all fine.
We were trying to reverse up hill into a pitch which was also over a kerb which didn't help I suspect. We've been out in the van twice since and reversed in with no problems on flatish pitches.
The clutch does smell if you're in town a riding it too much, but that's not the best way to drive and just makes me more aware of not doing it.
I also did a search on here and found a few others who'd suffered with a smoking clutch but no further complications.
HTH
I have no trouble reversing my van on flat ground but the one time i tried to reverse onto a uphill pitch the clutch smoked & smelt awfull for a couple of days. now i always use the mover for manouvering onto a pitch
And the other thing is why do people reverse their van on to a pitch, when they have a motor mover fitted, The time we seen them going backward and forward trying to get on the pitch,
Can't understand those kind of people really.Trevor
Can't understand those kind of people really.Trevor
Parksy
Moderator
I feel sorry for William who has had his clutch burnt out on his second trip, it might have been better to unhitch the caravan and push it back if possible if he has no motor mover.
I know that you're all going to to hate me for saying this but...........
This is why I much prefer an auto gearbox for towing.
( Puts tin hat on and runs away to hide)
I know that you're all going to to hate me for saying this but...........
This is why I much prefer an auto gearbox for towing.
( Puts tin hat on and runs away to hide)
Sorry to say William, we've had two clutches replaced on our 54 reg Mondeo Turbo Diesel, and reversing has started the problem each time. Now we don't go on pitches where we need to reverse in, and manhandle the van on to the pitch. We generally caravan in France and there are always helpful neighbours who will join in the pushing and pulling, and are sometimes more fussy than we are about getting into a perfect position.
You may be correct if all reversing was carried out on bowling green surfaces but its not just stand and watch 90% of drivers reversing a trailer and you will note it is not dead strait, listen and watch the tow ball and you will see the point I am making . I regulary reverse 80 metres up a steep slope alongside my house and have never had A clutch problem in 26 years this has been done with a variety of cars including the Mondeo estate 2.2tdci
Hi William ,you didnt mention how many miles that 5 year old car has done ,we have a 130 TDCI estate 2004 model which has covered 58000 with the same clutch from new , allthough we only tow with it now and again ,but when i do need to replace the clutch i will have heavier duty unit fitted ,but i have experienced clutch fade with the clutch heating up ,but it returns to normal once cooled down ,a lot of premature clutch wear is due to people riding there clutch at traffic lights and road junctions
My Passat 1.9TDI needed a new clutch after 28,000 miles due to having to reverse on wet grass. I'm extra careful now, still occasionally get that dreaded smell but I haven't had to have another one since. Now on 159,000 !
This has also happened to us, which is why I've started looking into movers.
We stay on a lovely C.L. in west Wales but had to be pushed onto our pitch last year as it was uphill-only slightly and the grass was really wet, Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 130BHP just couldn't grip on the wet grass. The year before that we got onto our pitch as the grass was dry but the clutch was v smelly for a couple of days after.
Too late to have a mover fitted now-O.H. very resistant to having one,based on cost and the fact that he says he'll get it on the pitch!and doesn't need one,oh dear!
Any advice! apart from not going if the weather is bad!
This has also happened to us, which is why I've started looking into movers.
We stay on a lovely C.L. in west Wales but had to be pushed onto our pitch last year as it was uphill-only slightly and the grass was really wet, Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 130BHP just couldn't grip on the wet grass. The year before that we got onto our pitch as the grass was dry but the clutch was v smelly for a couple of days after.
Too late to have a mover fitted now-O.H. very resistant to having one,based on cost and the fact that he says he'll get it on the pitch!and doesn't need one,oh dear!
Any advice! apart from not going if the weather is bad!
We stay on a lovely C.L. in west Wales but had to be pushed onto our pitch last year as it was uphill-only slightly and the grass was really wet, Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 130BHP just couldn't grip on the wet grass. The year before that we got onto our pitch as the grass was dry but the clutch was v smelly for a couple of days after.
Too late to have a mover fitted now-O.H. very resistant to having one,based on cost and the fact that he says he'll get it on the pitch!and doesn't need one,oh dear!
Any advice! apart from not going if the weather is bad!
Facebook
Twitter