Technical Clutch cable woes

[YellowFred]

On Saturday I had my clutch cable snap. RAC dropped the car off at a garage, and have been speaking to them this morning. They say that since it's a Sporting (2000 - the last one before they changed the logo badge), it doesn't just need a new clutch cable, it needs a new bracket too.

They want £200 or so for the repair. This seems rather a lot to fix a broken clutch cable...

Does this sound legit?

Edit: English model, right hand drive.
Edit 2: I phone back and clarified that it wasn't the linkage that was broken. They say no, it's the cable and as it's a sporting it needs the bracket too.

 

[blu73]

They may mean the plastic quadrant, its like a white triangular bit of plastic that one end of the cable attaches to, they do fail sometimes...

its item 13 if you follow this link.. http://eper.fiatforum.com/eper/navi...INT_MODE=0&EPER_CAT=SP&WINDOW_ID=1&GUI_LANG=3

Can't think of anything else they could mean. How much extra do they want for said item as they cost under £10 new, can be found here http://www.eurocarcare.net/clutch-control/ecc7665266-clutch-cable-quadrant.html

 

[fingers99]

Which bracket?

Can't really say if they're right or wrong (but the year of the car is irrelevant -- none of the clutch components, except the adjuster, changed since the Cinq Sporting till end of production) without knowing what they're talking about.

Where are you?

I'd get the car back unless they can clarify. Be aware that clutch cable failure usually means that the clutch itself is at the very end of its useful life.

 

[blu73]

he says its a 2000 sporting before badge change, so i'm thinking its a sei sporting spi

 

[YellowFred]

They initially quoted me £80 which I was happy to pay. But then they phoned back and said "Because it's the Sporting, rather than the non-Sporting, to replace the cable we also need to replace the bracket, which is going to cost more. About £200 to get it fixed and fitted."

They don't really seem to know what they're doing though as they kept referring to the car as a "Cinquecento" and said "we've been told we need to order" rather than saying "We've identified the problem and will need to order this extra part".

I'm in Wolverhampton so I've phoned Willie Dick's place (http://www.wad-fiat.co.uk/) for advice, waiting on their call back now. I'm told they're competent, helpful and honest there. Annoying that it broke on a Saturday afternoon or I'd have had the RAC take me straight to there.

 

[fingers99]

Get the car back. Authorise no work.

It's all DIYable, awkward, but not exactly brain surgery.

Again, where are you?

 

[YellowFred]

I added my location in an edit but it must have crossed paths with your last post. I'm in Wolverhampton.

he says its a 2000 sporting before badge change, so i'm thinking its a sei sporting spi

I had to change the spark plug cables (forgive my ignorance of technical terms ) and had to find out which of the two 2000 models it was - one had a single and one a dual cable thing. Mine was the last model to have the single and the way I eventually found of identifying which was that the change in cable happened on the same model as the change in badges. If any of that means anything to you

 

[blu73]

Well like i say they can only really mean that quadrant... If we look back on EuroCarCare, we can see that the cable itself is only about £15, then you may want to buy a quadrant which is about £10 and there is a small bush that might need replacing, this is all so standard that they have them on the same page if you buy a cable. And they are genuine parts on there not cheap pattern items.

So you are looking at about £25 in parts (they will defo get it that cheap or cheaper with trade price). And should take them, what 20mins to change it and adjust the clutch, maybe half hour. So to pay a garage to do it, not something i would do myself mind, £80 don't sound too bad all in but £120 is steep, they are wanting an extra £40 for soemthing they will probably get for £5-6.

edit: regarding model, 1.1/sportings upto 2000 (x-reg) they were single point injection after than multi point injection, easiest way to tell is mpi has round airbox on top and different bumpers. Should make no difference to the clutch or its cable and mechanisms, the only difference is the 0.9 engined ones have a different cable to 1.1 engined cars

 

[YellowFred]

Thanks for your advice! I'm a bit stuck with picking it up for the next few days though, which puts me in a bit of a position. The only car I have access to with a tow bar is not available for at least the next couple of days. So I'll tell the garage no to any work and see what I can come up with to get it back here!

 

[fingers99]

You might see if Midland FIAT are still going (in Dudley).

I'd do the lot (including a new clutch!) for £250, but I'm miles away.

If you want to DIY, we'll guide you through it, but assuming cable and quadrant (what, £30 in parts) £200 is barking mad.

 

[blu73]

Well if you are going to incur costs getting it moved it may end up being best to let them change it in end but i'd be quizzing them further about what exactly they think they are gonna change and a breakdown of costs. You might get them down a bit by knowing what your on about a bit more. You can get the part numbers from that link, here it is again

http://eper.fiatforum.com/eper/navi...INT_MODE=0&EPER_CAT=SP&WINDOW_ID=1&GUI_LANG=3

cable is number 15, part number 55182464
the quadrant is number 13, part number 7665266

they clearly should know what part numbers they are ordering so compare it and if not the same numbers search for the part numbers in the eper to see what it is they want to change.

and then let us know how it goes cause i'm nosey

 

[YellowFred]

My sister's boyfriend is a fairly competent mechanic (via his farm work and car enthusiasm rather than specific qualification, but he replaced the wheel bearings on my old Golf so I imagine he could handle this...)

My hands are arthritic and shagged so I'm pretty useless for this kind of thing now

Guess I'll be hitting up the favour mill!

Will be calling them back in an hour or so or sooner if I hear back from Willie Dick's. Seems rude to ask their advice and then not to at least listen to it before taking further action.

 

[blu73]

yeah, totally a diy job, even fitting a new clutch is easy enough for a keen diy mechanic - that would be pretty good description of myself and as it happen i did new clutch on my cinq the other week. I did it casually over a weekend but is easily doable in just a few hours if you just crack on with it. But you will defo owe the man beers afterwards

 

[YellowFred]

I was reading elsewhere that the car is pretty driveable even without a working clutch cable. Sounds like a terrifying prospect but would it be a viable option to get the car back here? The route I'd have to take would be fairly trafficy though, which definitely gives me pause...

 

[sei16v]

I was reading elsewhere that the car is pretty driveable even without a working clutch cable. Sounds like a terrifying prospect but would it be a viable option to get the car back here? The route I'd have to take would be fairly trafficy though, which definitely gives me pause...

Yea I had to do it the other week, when mine snapped (40 min fix, and £11 parts)...

You just have to rev match, from stationary, ignition off, and select first... As you turn the key, rev and your away... then listen to the engine, match the revs and select 2nd... etc... If your unlucky enough to have to go stationary again, key off, select 1st and start over...

Id advise to do it when there's hardly any traffic around (IE if you get the garage to leave it outside for bringing back in the evening).

Oh and whatever you do, keep your left leg/foot away from the pedals... you don't want to accidently try and put the clutch down, which then turns out to be the brake... Easily done lol

Its possible to drive, but if your not confident its best to wait until your able to tow... or order the bits and do it outside their garage lol...

 

[blu73]

yeah i would drive it back at night without a clutch and its quiet on the road.. Have a little practice at clutchless driving in another car before you go to get a taste. As said its really not that hard but you prob grind a few gears at first.

 

[tommosei]

Mine went on my sei, think its cost me about £30 for the part and about a hour to fix, then just keep an eye for tightness

 

[YellowFred]

Thanks everyone for your input, I'll update once things are resolved!

 

[anc]

If it was me I'd be getting my car back and driving it home, yes it can be done without a clutch cable, just needs a bit of care with the revs and slotting it into gear with the minimal of crunching. Red lights need to be timed as best as possible otherwise it's turn the engine off, hold it on the handbrake, keep it in 1st, wait for amber then turn the key with your foot to the floor, keep it turned until the engine fires up and away you go again. I'd also be checking that the staff at the garage aren't wearing masks and have a black horse tethered out back. (highway robbery!)

 

[YellowFred]

Hey all, a partial update. I didn't dare drive the car home - too many traffic lights and too much traffic, even late, and I'm not a natural driver myself. Finally got the opportunity to tow it back today, which I just did.

Having actually spoken to the guys at the garage in person, it was clear that they weren't trying to rip me off, but just had no experience with Sie Sportings and were quoting on the pessimistic side. They stored the car in their lot for me for a week without complaint or charge, and were very pleasant when I picked it up - genuinely seemed concerned I thought they were ripping me off. So I have absolutely nothing negative to say about them. Was still not going to pay £200 though

Attached is a photo of the parts they left on the seat. Dunno what any of you can make of them It really doesn't look that dirty in person, but clearly I need to give it a very thorough clean this weekend too...

I'll be dragging either my sister's boyfriend or a friend over to get it fixed in the next few days. I'll be back either for help or to give another update