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Skoda Octavia clutch pedal pushes back on acceleration.
craig1410 - 4/5/13 at 04:12 PM

Hi,

Needing help diagnosing a problem with my Dad's 2006 '55 plate Skoda Octavia Estate. It's a 1.9 diesel and is in pretty good condition generally. The problems are as follows:

1. Vibration felt when accelerating reasonably strongly. Can be felt via the pedals and steering and internal surfaces. Feels engine speed related rather than road speed related and only under 70% throttle or more.

2. Clutch pedal bite point reacts to throttle demand. If you take up the free play on the clutch under cruise conditions then accelerate strongly, the clutch pushes up into your foot. Conversely, if you lift off suddenly, you can feel the clutch bite point sink a bit.

My guess is that the engine is moving too much due to worn engine mounts and certainly it does seem to have quite a bit of movement when sitting with the bonnet up and rocking the car in gear with brakes on.

Anyone able to confirm my diagnosis from experience and able to help me figure out which mount is needing replaced?

Thanks,
Craig.


Mark Allanson - 4/5/13 at 04:16 PM

It is usually the lollypop mount at the rear lower - do a google for an image


NigeEss - 4/5/13 at 04:32 PM

Personally I'd be pointing my finger at the dual mass flywheel.


Mark Allanson - 4/5/13 at 04:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by NigeEss
Personally I'd be pointing my finger at the dual mass flywheel.


Another good contender, but you would expect judder on take up


NigeEss - 4/5/13 at 06:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mark Allanson
quote:
Originally posted by NigeEss
Personally I'd be pointing my finger at the dual mass flywheel.


Another good contender, but you would expect judder on take up



In most cases yes, but I've done two that exhibited the above symptoms but no clutch judder. A freelander and a Mondeo.


britishtrident - 4/5/13 at 06:52 PM

If the Octavia has a cable clutch movement in the engine tie bar (lollypop) could interfere with the clutch.

ISTR there is a replacement bush available for most VW group models there probably also a Powerflex bush for the lollypop but based on experience of having used the Powerflex bush on Rover engine mounts you may find it is too stiff and transmits too much vibration, we fixed it on the Rovers by drilling 8mm holes in the Poweflex bush.


Ninehigh - 5/5/13 at 07:26 AM

quote:
Originally posted by NigeEss
quote:
Originally posted by Mark Allanson
quote:
Originally posted by NigeEss
Personally I'd be pointing my finger at the dual mass flywheel.


Another good contender, but you would expect judder on take up



In most cases yes, but I've done two that exhibited the above symptoms but no clutch judder. A freelander and a Mondeo.


When the dmf went on ours the only symptom was that it wouldn't start, the motor wouldn't engage!


craig1410 - 5/5/13 at 12:17 PM

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the comments above, much appreciated as always. Sorry for the late reply but I was travelling home from my folks' house last night and was quite late back.

Lollipop mount sounds like a good place to start and is pretty cheap so might be worth just replacing it and see what happens.

I'm aware of the DMF (isn't everyone these days???) but it didn't sound typical of a DMF failure from what I've heard and read. There is no signs of shudder on take up at all and no issues with starting the car for example. I also couldn't reconcile the clutch pedal bite point position change on and off throttle and came to the same conclusion as britishtrident that this was due to engine movement. It still doesn't make complete sense though as it would suggest that the cable inner and outer are moving in relation to each other which shouldn't be possible. That said, it might just be the the outer being stretched by engine movement. I can't think of anything which could happen with the clutch plate or spring or release bearing that would cause this pedal movement, at least nothing other than catastrophic failure of the release bearing or spring which would be rapidly evident.

My Dad's going to get it up on a ramp and inspect the lollipop mount - hopefully that's all it is and should be an easy fix.

Thanks all,
Craig.