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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: Mopar44o on September 04, 2008, 09:05:00 am

Title: clutch cable
Post by: Mopar44o on September 04, 2008, 09:05:00 am
my clutch cable broke a while back. i wasn't sure if it was a manual or auto adjusting cable so i called vw and they said they were all auto in 96. So i ordered one. After comparing the two i realized it was manual. Either way i figured it would work so i installed it. Well now the clutch pedal doesn't return all the way up. It stops just before the friction point. A mechanic i know says there is supposed to be a plastic piece between the lever and the little metal block thatthe cable clips on to. Was wondering if anyone could confirm this or grab me some pics of their cable at the lever.                    

Could there be another cause?

Thanks
Title: clutch cable
Post by: zukgod1 on September 04, 2008, 09:13:48 am
the only difference from what I can remember is the rubber peice that goes under the foot where it rests on the trans.
Title: clutch cable
Post by: Mopar44o on September 04, 2008, 09:35:13 am
can you snag me a quick photo please? Also do you have a part #?
Title: clutch cable
Post by: zukgod1 on September 04, 2008, 09:37:50 am
No part# and I cant get to a car or camera till late tonight. Hopefully someone else will chime in.
Title: clutch cable
Post by: Vincent Waldon on September 04, 2008, 10:31:34 am
I suspect you gents are referring to the rubber spacer highlit in yellow ??

(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa85/vwaldon/clutchassembly.jpg)
Title: clutch cable
Post by: zukgod1 on September 04, 2008, 11:33:05 am
That's the one I'm referring to Vince.

On a manual cable I believe it's smaller and on the auto one its larger.

This would result in the cable possibly not extending all the way?
Title: clutch cable
Post by: Mopar44o on September 07, 2008, 04:16:22 pm
could this be the cause? what else coild it be?
Title: clutch cable
Post by: Mopar44o on September 10, 2008, 08:31:40 pm
gues no one has an idea eh?
Title: clutch cable
Post by: theman53 on September 11, 2008, 06:46:44 pm
My flat maroon rabbit had a clutch cable problem. I thought it was the cable...turned out that there is a piece of pipe welded to a peice of sheet metal welded to the steering column, or at least it is supposed to be. mine had ripped off the column. I had to take the column out, weld the sheet metal tab back on, strengthen it with a junk hex wrench from one of the million assemble yourself toys my daughter has, and throw it all back together. It was winter 15 degrees F and my garage is not heated. It was a general PITA. The symtoms were no matter how much you adjusted the cable it wouldn't release the clutch, and it was harder than heck to push the pedal. You can see the little pipe looking thing on the engine side of the firewall...if it is loose have fun.
Title: clutch cable
Post by: Mopar44o on September 11, 2008, 11:22:05 pm
Well those are definetly not the symptons. Its not hard to push. Its normal. Just doesn't return all the way...
Title: clutch cable
Post by: Dirtrag2 on September 12, 2008, 04:21:37 am
Use a srping to pull the pedal back  :?:
... ok maybe not  :lol:
Title: clutch cable
Post by: jtanguay on September 12, 2008, 05:24:08 am
you probably have the self adjusting cable.  it's a two man job.   you need someone to depress the clutch pedal all the way a few times while you yank on it from the tranny.  if it isn't messed up you'll be able to get it working... if the cable is messed up its probably seized... some people like the manually adjusted cable better, and for a good reason, but i managed to fix mine  :)

oh wait a minute... this might not even be the cable...  check the clutch release lever for play.  it should be rock solid.  i think that little arm fractured inside the transmission... what is it called again???

http://www.brokevw.com/TO.html 2nd pic down, actuation lever???  :wink:
Title: clutch cable
Post by: Mopar44o on September 18, 2008, 01:18:32 pm
So me and my buddy tried to do this. I lifted the arm on the tranny (that arm is tough to move) and he pressed the pedal. I was only able to lift the arm an inch or so. He was pressing the pedal. It didnt take any of the slack out. So is it the mechanism in the cable thats poouched?
Title: clutch cable
Post by: Mopar44o on September 24, 2008, 01:11:23 am
bump
Title: clutch cable
Post by: FoXBoXRaCiNG on September 24, 2008, 08:54:13 am
Fer the 20 bux why not try a manual cable?
Title: clutch cable
Post by: zukgod1 on September 24, 2008, 09:19:54 am
Exactly ^^^^^^
Title: Clutch Cable
Post by: VelocityConservation on September 24, 2008, 01:17:38 pm
Mopar44o,

When I experienced symtoms like you describe it was the automatic adjust failing.  It was cheaper to install a manual cable than get a new automatic one.

I actually like the manual one better, I get to decide where in the pedal throw engagement occurs.

VelocityConservation