Getting used to owning a Berlingo - some questions?

[steviemac]

I have owned my 2004 Berlingo 2.0 HDi Multispace Desire for about a month now. I have been getting used to it's foibles and making an assessment of it's worth.

Good Points; Roughly 50MPG in combined use.
Comfortable and good on the motorway.
Very, very useful loadspace (the reason I bought it)

Not so good; The trim is crap, falls off if you sneeze too loud.
A bit noisy, however I suppose it is a glorified van.
A bit van like to drive.
Strange whistling noises from the door mirrors at speed.

My questions are:

(1) Is it just me, or are all the clutches quite heavy on these cars? My wife drove it the other day when her C3's battery gave up the ghost. She liked the Berlingo except for the clutch. I'm 6'2" and no weakling but even I think it's a bit heavy, and I also drive a 1949 Riley and 1972 VW Camper, so it's not as though I'm spoilt driving very modern cars.

(2) It also has a strange 'ticking noise' which only comes on at around 40mph plus. It doesn't vary in intensity or noise with speed and nothing seems wrong with the car otherwise. At a guess it's com[/size][/font]ing from somewhere near the front offside, however that maybe because that's where I sit. It's also inaudible when I close the window. It's just odd and I can't pin it down. Anyone else have this?

[ron]

I had a similar thing on a previous car & it turned out to be the wheel trims rattling.Good luck.

[knobblywobbly]

The clutch on my 2.0HDi was heavy too. When it was in for a service the mechanic commented on it, and said that the cure is a new clutch. However with a quoted price of £480 I decided to put up with the stiffness for a while longer, even though it was starting to judder a bit and giving me pains in my left knee.

On Friday morning my clutch failed completely and has now been replaced. The difference is huge - no more stiffness or pain in my knee when I change gear.

I needed a new clutch cable too - would you believe, even with 10% discount, it was £96 ?!?!?!?!?!

[nataloupy]

Just brought our Berlingo 2 days ago the clutch is so heavy nevermind might try a new cable first.

[bechstein]

HI, i also have a 2.0 HDI with a very heavy clutch, my wife hates it, its to hard for her to push down, maybe a "women" thing.

I have owned my 2004 Berlingo 2.0 HDi Multispace Desire for about a month now. I have been getting used to it's foibles and making an assessment of it's worth.

Good Points; Roughly 50MPG in combined use.
Comfortable and good on the motorway.
Very, very useful loadspace (the reason I bought it)

Not so good; The trim is crap, falls off if you sneeze too loud.
A bit noisy, however I suppose it is a glorified van.
A bit van like to drive.
Strange whistling noises from the door mirrors at speed.

My questions are:

(1) Is it just me, or are all the clutches quite heavy on these cars? My wife drove it the other day when her C3's battery gave up the ghost. She liked the Berlingo except for the clutch. I'm 6'2" and no weakling but even I think it's a bit heavy, and I also drive a 1949 Riley and 1972 VW Camper, so it's not as though I'm spoilt driving very modern cars.

(2) It also has a strange 'ticking noise' which only comes on at around 40mph plus. It doesn't vary in intensity or noise with speed and nothing seems wrong with the car otherwise. At a guess it's com[/size][/font]ing from somewhere near the front offside, however that maybe because that's where I sit. It's also inaudible when I close the window. It's just odd and I can't pin it down. Anyone else have this?

[Tutchi]

Hi Steve
have had a Peugot 2.0Hdi and currently have a Berli 2.0Hdi and mileage 35,000-40,000 miles and both suffered from heavy clutches. If you read thru search there are suggestions for lubricating the clutch cable and various other suggestions but none of them seem to work. It seeems that it only improves with a new clutch but at that mileage there is no way I will be going in that direction:whistle:

Tutchi

[pk7478]

lubricating the clutch cable

Tutchi

DO NOT DO THIS!!!!

[steviemac]

Thank you all for your replies. I can live with the clutch but my wife isn't so sure, but there again I drive it 99% of the time. I had a look at the wheeltrims, (not original) but couldn't see anything wrong - hey ho.

While I'm on I've thought of another quirk this car has. When I indicate, the indicators don't cancel but start indicating the other way!!! Is it just a worn canceller? ( is there such a word?)

I have to say I'm reminded of an old motor trade expression; 'There's right, there's wrong and there's French'

[800HDI]

My 2.0 hdi clutch is also heavy. When cold it releases fine, but once warm it seems to stick them release causing a nice sudden jurk when moving up the gears.

The ticking noise from the offside could be the crank pulley damper playing up. I had this for a while, changed the crank pulley and the noise went. check to see if your has the damper in the pulley

[aka_dino]

Multi function roof ...... My multispace drove me crazy with all the creeks and rattles coming from the modular roof. I solved the problem for less than £5 and 20 minutes work. Take a good look at the modular roof - the clearance between the module and the plastic roof liner around the edges is minimal, often touching, which is where the creeks come from! Solution : Slacken the 12 mounting bolts and then remove them individually fitting an 1/2 inch rubber tap washer as a packer on each bolt between the roof module and liner. This gives the roof module a flexible, shock absorbing, mounting while dropping the module about 5mm, increasing clearance and minimising frictional contact. This doesn't solve all of the rattle issues but reduces them dramatically