Clutch problems in 2013 Multispace?

[onthefence]

I bought a Multispace 1.6HDI XTR new in March 2013 and have done 25k miles, mostly on hilly B roads. Recently I am wondering if the clutch is a getting little notchy or crunchy. The car has jumped out of gear only twice in my experience, neither time recently and both times I didn't really shove it home. The clutch doesn't make horrible noises. It doesn't vibrate enough for me to notice. I don't drive with my hand on the gear stick, nor do I habitually sit with the clutch depressed and the car in gear. Nevertheless, sometimes I feel that it's a bit notchier than it used to be. Is it just my imagination?

The dealer didn't find anything obviously wrong with it. The service manager claimed that the Multispace don't have a track record of clutch problems, his main concern being the 1.6HDI engine itself, which he says needs dealt with exactly as per the service schedule otherwise it can be fragile. I've been changing the oil every 6k miles.

He suggested that one of the clutch bearings (I forget which) might be going. His take was, if we take out the clutch and find something wrong, we can get it fixed for you under warranty and you pay nothing. If we find nothing, you'll have to pay, and since the cost of the parts is small compared to the labour involved, you might as well have the unit replaced. Which would be 700 quid, give or take. So it's a gamble. But if you wait, and it gets worse, it will be harder to argue at 50k miles that it isn't just normal wear and tear.

Any advice from those with greater experience?

[rdfb2]

i find the spring loading on the gear stick is very over powered and tends to snap the gear stick out your hand , when selecting a gear , and feels like the clutch is not disengaged fully before the stick shoots into place like a rocket try making sure clutch is fully depressed before even touching gear stick ,my picasso i think had this spring removed ,as was so smoth and silky ,and not like a rifle bolt.

[onthefence]

i find the spring loading on the gear stick is very over powered and tends to snap the gear stick out your hand

Thanks, this is something to consider. However, not sure why I would be feeling a change in the clutch. Unless the spring itself had begun to wear or change in some way?

[onthefence]

The clutch has slowly got worse so I'm going to take it in to the dealer.

[homeruk]

At only 25,000 miles the clutch nor gearbox should be showing any signs of fault nor wear and tear unless it had been thrashed that dealer is talking out of his arse.

I would be getting onto Citroen uk and complaining that one of their dealers is refusing to look at or fix it under warranty (is it still under warranty?)

He is right about the 1.6hdi needing a good regular service but just because Citroen don't have a record of dodgy clutches doesn't mean that yours isn't faulty

[onthefence]

At only 25,000 miles the clutch nor gearbox should be showing any signs of fault nor wear and tear unless it had been thrashed that dealer is talking out of his arse.
I would be getting onto Citroen uk and complaining that one of their dealers is refusing to look at or fix it under warranty (is it still under warranty?)
He is right about the 1.6hdi needing a good regular service but just because Citroen don't have a record of dodgy clutches doesn't mean that yours isn't faulty

Thanks for this. Yes, it's well in warranty. I wrote the dealer an official letter, carefully worded, and they are going to inspect it and see. To be fair to them so far they have been pretty helpful. Let's see if that lasts.

[onthefence]

At only 25,000 miles the clutch nor gearbox should be showing any signs of fault nor wear and tear unless it had been thrashed that dealer is talking out of his arse.
I would be getting onto Citroen uk and complaining that one of their dealers is refusing to look at or fix it under warranty (is it still under warranty?)
He is right about the 1.6hdi needing a good regular service but just because Citroen don't have a record of dodgy clutches doesn't mean that yours isn't faulty

Thanks for this. Yes, it's well in warranty. I wrote the dealer an official letter, carefully worded, and they are going to inspect it and see. To be fair to them so far they have been pretty helpful. Let's see if that lasts.

The dealer has looked at the Blingo and been in touch with Citroen. It seems that there was a problem with the release bearing and this was damaging the clutch plates. Citroen UK have agreed that this is 100% warranty item and it is being replaced as we speak, hopefully will be ready by tomorrow.

I'm using a C4 Picasso as a courtesy car and while it drives nicely and I think than the Berlingo is noisier, the C4 is almost useless for my needs. Can't wait to get mine back.

[Trevor]

That's good news, nice to hear of a good result.

[Jed Clampit]

Great news no big hole in your pocket

[onthefence]

The clutch has slowly got worse so I'm going to take it in to the dealer.

Well, it's four days since I picked up the Berlingo after its clutch replacement and everything seems to be okay. I'm more conscious of the clutch than I was and I'm trying to change gear more smoothly - not that I was brutal with it before. Still, problem resolved. Thanks to everybody for their advice in this thread.