Symbol Clutch repairs

Well today on the M6 my clutch pedal went very stiff as I was changing down through the gears as I left at junction 34 (Lancaster)
As I approached the traffic lights I noticed the pedal was not returning to it's normal position without me getting my foot under it.

We phoned Safegaurd and their breakdown cover got us home.

The MH is a 2003 Autosleeper Symbol with 60,000 miles on it.

Has anyone got a ball park figure of how much a garage will charge to replace the clutch and repair whatever is wrong. ?

My nephew who has just served his time as a mechanic has said it could end up being very expensive depending on what needs removing to get at the clutch and gearbox.

Is it a cable operated clutch? There have been several threads on here about problems with the cable on Boxers, which IIRC match the symptoms you describe. If you've not already done so, do a forum search, as there has been some good advice on this in the past.

Don't jump the gun........could be just a cable!!

PB

I had a new clutch fitted about 2 years ago and it was around the £400 mark I think. Haven't got the bill to hand.
Older van than yours though, 1995 2ltr petrol. Yours will have the later "pull type" release mechanism.

Could be just the cable.

Frank

We had a very similar clutch problem when returning home from Scotland, stopped off in the Lake District for a couple of days and when pulling out of the campsite, depressed the clutch and BANG. A loud noise occurred after which the clutch pedal wouldn't return without, like you say, putting your foot under it and lifting it back up.

It appeared to work fine though so continued home perfectly ok. Investigating the problem I found a smallish coiled spring fitted to the rear of the pedal had snapped. I ordered one from Peugeot, cost about £3.00, took the whole pedal assembly out (not as bad as it sounds) and fitted the new spring.

You may be lucky and have had the same small spring break - have a look around on the floor and you may find a small black piece of metal that has snapped of.

Best of luck with finding the fault.

Enn

I've had a quick look at the pedal today and it's most definitely a metal rod linking it to an hydraulic cylinder under the dashboard.
Anyway I've telephoned the garage to ask them not to order a clutch kit before they look at the job next monday after they recover it.
But if I'm unlucky and they need to remove gearbox, then I think they can change clutch at same time as it takes a lot of hours work on a
boxer van.

@Enn, there was no BANG when it went, just went stiff

Hi,

We've a 1995 Symphony, with 80K on the clock.

Last year we had to have a replacement gearbox and clutch, and it cost £1,500. Ouch!
Hope your's is not that bad.
regards

Jeff

Got my van back today.

Recovery of vehicle back to garage £45

Clutch Kit £109
Master Cylinder £49.50
Clutch slave Cylinder 49.98

Labour Charges £315

VAT £113.70

Final Bill £682.18

It's smarting a little putting a hole in the holiday funds, but as my wife says "It's done now".

Zozzer wrote:Got my van back today.

Final Bill £682.18
It's smarting a little putting a hole in the holiday funds, but as my wife says "It's done now"

I should think it's smarting quite a lot! sounds like it was the master & slave cylinders that were the problem and praps you didn't need the clutch replacing? still as your wife says, it's done now should see you OK for the next million miles or so?

Frank

I posted the actual costs so that other members would have an idea of how much this kind of repair actually costs.

To be fair it's the only work major work we've had done on it since geeting the van in 2006 with 7000 miles on it, and hasn't missed a beat upto the clutch going.
I don't know how many miles a clutch is good for, but 60,000 seams reasonable.

One consolation is that I paid for it on my Tesco credit card so I'll get the points for the Euro Tunnel.