Focus woes

I can certainly point you in the right direction if you give the address of the garage! Why are you asking here rather than taking the car back? Only a garage can fix it. people can guess the cause of the problem - that's all. It's obviously not a common problem. You need to check the document giving details of the items the warranty covers. I doubt normal wear and tear will be included. Most warranties are not worth the paper they are printed on. It's to gain the trust of the customer, they hear the word warranty and think "I can really trust these people". Some even pay extra for a worthless policy.

Yep, that'll be the master cyl, and it will change gear ok until it runs out of fluid. You can stave it off for a while by keeping it topped up, but there's only one cure.

Steve

Thanks, thought so, the irony is that the clutch packed up on my old Astra a few weeks before I got rid of it and it took the AA man about eight minutes to fit a new one, yet despite the hydraulic clutch on the focus I can't honestly say that I've found it staggeringly smoother than the old Astra.. the expensive joys of so-called improved sophistication eh :o(

Apologies, I meant that it took the AA man about eight minutes to fit a clutch 'cable', not a clutch!

A clutch on a an old Astra would take competant mechanic about forty five minutes.

I don't know if he was exaggerating, but the AA a man who replaced a dodgy earth strap on my original petrol Astra, reckoned that he had actually carried out an Astra clutch replacement as a roadside repair.

Although I personally doubt if it was the kind of item that he would carry on his van, but no doubt there will be someone who can prove me wrong :o)

This morning I checked out what was happening by removing a panel on the lower dash assembly, revealing a small master cylinder (which for some reason now appears to be quite dry) situated behind the clutch pedal.

I rang the company where I purchased it from (Bristol Diesels) and the man who answered the phone was very helpful, he said 'no problem, but unfortunately I can't do anything for you today being Sunday' and asked me to bring it in tomorrow so that they can check it over, and hopefully put it right for me.

Depends on which Astra :-)

Unlikely, but patrols are generally able to source parts for roadside repairs quite quickly. They will often take the customer with them in the van to pay for the part.

Chris

Googling the web I came across this snippet, obviously 2002 was a shit year for Ford focus clutch master cylinders!

Ahem, and of course (as I can testify from personal experience) there's always the little matter of 'incentive' which will in many instances produce a response well above and beyond the call of duty! :o)

I would believe it. It was a brilliant design which I think (I may be wrong) Vauxhall have now dropped.

Makes the world go round I guess...

Chris

Problem now solved, speak as I find, left the car with Bristol Diesels Monday afternoon and they couldn't have been more helpful, called me Tuesday afternoon to say that a new master cylinder had been obtained and fitted, drove it home and everything now seems fine, so one happy bunny!

Certainly makes a change from a previous experience I had where the vendor tried to wriggle and squirm about exactly what was covered under the six-month warranty.

To be sure, if you can't tell the difference visually, get a garage to check it was actually replaced, and not just badly patched up.

It's very assessable, by removing a lower dash panel held in place by four self tapping screws, however I hardly think it would be worth their while attempting to stop it leaking, especially when considering the the time and effort required to carry out what would most likely turn out to be an unsuccessful bodge when compared to the cost of a master new cylinder, and AIUI its virtually a non serviceable item, like most other things these days.

I'm glad it wasn't the slave cylinder leaking, as that apparently forms part of the thrust bearing, requiring the engine and gearbox separating to replace the complete assembly... aren't modern vehicles wonderful!