I own a 1996 OBW with a 2.2L. I had a clutch installed this spring with all the usual extras. My question is, does an adjustment need to be made to the system after a period of time/miles? It seems that the system feels spongy lately. I mean it does not have the power to climb hills from a stop as well and seems to labor more recently. Please advise as I do only minor repair on my own and rely on forums such as this to guide and make decisions. Thanks in advance.

I own a 1996 OBW with a 2.2L. I had a clutch installed this spring with all the usual extras. My question is, does an adjustment need to be made to the system after a period of time/miles? It seems that the system feels spongy lately. I mean it does not have the power to climb hills from a stop as well and seems to labor more recently. Please advise as I do only minor repair on my own and rely on forums such as this to guide and make decisions. Thanks in advance.

 

Cable or hydraulic?

I own a 1996 OBW with a 2.2L. I had a clutch installed this spring with all the usual extras. My question is, does an adjustment need to be made to the system after a period of time/miles? It seems that the system feels spongy lately. I mean it does not have the power to climb hills from a stop as well and seems to labor more recently. Please advise as I do only minor repair on my own and rely on forums such as this to guide and make decisions. Thanks in advance.

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I think that a '96 2.2 OBW should have a cable type clutch. If so, yes, it does need periodic readjustment. They tend to need a lot of readjustment shortly after a clutch was replaced, then less frequent adjustment later.

 

Does the clutch only begin to engage near the top of the pedal's travel? If so, the cable needs to be loosened.

 

When the car will not climb hills from a stop, is the engine revving up while you're trying to climb? (i.e. is the clutch slipping?) If so, that's a sure giveaway that the clutch is either misadjusted or shot again! Very bad to continue to drive it this way; you'll ruin your new clutch in no time. If the engine is not revving up, then you're probably just down on power due to an engine problem of some sort- a whole different kettle of fish.

 

Nathan

The clutch adjustment tends to tighten up as the clutch disk wears out. Two ways to do it: At the clutch fork adjust for 1/8" to 1/2" of play. At the clutch pedal you should have 1/2" to 1" of play. I usually adjust at the clutch fork and monitor the pedal play and adjust whenever necessary.

 

Someone's previous comment about it needing adjustment more often just after replacing a clutch or cable is correct. Don't let the adjustment go since that will cause the clutch to slip and cost you premature wear of the clutch disk.

 

I don't know why your car should feel sluggish or lack power unless the adjustment is so far out that the clutch is slipping all the time. Better check it now.