How to Scrap a Car with clutch gone

Jo2008

The clutch on my old car is gone and I'd like to get money for scrap for it. It's a an old old Fiat Punto. It is twenty miles from any scrap yard and I have been told that it will most likely cost more to tow the car to the scrap yard than I would get for the cars scrap. Does anyone know if any company provides a free towing service or does anyone have advice of any sort please?

L-M

Put it into gear and start the car, it should take off. I know of a fella who drove an escort van 15 miles this way, although he did pull it into second and third(so he says). First would get u there but very slowly lol.

Zube

Limerick-man wrote: »

Put it into gear and start the car, it should take off. I know of a fella who drove an escort van 15 miles this way, although he did pull it into second and third(so he says). First would get u there but very slowly lol.

The tricky bit is starting, after that changing gear is not a big problem.

fletch

Yeh you should be able to drive it no problem.....provided there isn't too many t-junctions and you anticipate every junction so you dont have to stop. I wouldn't do it at rush hour either

charlesD

I would contact the scrap yard before you bring it.

In the states when scrapping a car you have to take the gas tank out and remove the tires. The tires are no problem as they can be done in a few minutes at the yard, but the gas tank can take a little bit more time and you don't want to have to mess around with a full tank of gas.

Jo2008

Is there any alternative to starting the car in gear? The gears won't change once the engine is on so i imagine i would have to drive the car in second for the whole time.

R32 Golf

I recently scrapped an 01 plate Vectra SRI with 110K on the clock - It was a cam chain failure so it was a non runner. I had stripped and sold all interior, exhaust, cat, manifold & front end (bumper, lights), wheels & brakes.

I contacted a scrappy through Yell.com and they came and collected the remenants and paid just over £100 for it. So anythings possible.

fletch

They will change...with a little bit of skill/persuasion.

Pete67

Use a towrope and get a mate to tow you? (Not sure if that is still legal but I once brought a car from Limerick to Dublin that way)

alias no.9

Is the clutch slipping or refusing to disengage? If it's the latter it can be driven but it requires a little skill. As has been said, moving off is the biggest problem, but since it's going to the scrapper anyway, just stick it in first and start the engine. Other than that you just need to match the engine speed with road speed to engage the gears. When changing up, slowly lift off the throttle while gently pushing the car into neutral then just push the gearstick gently into the next gear up as the revs fall and it will slip in when the revs match the road speed for that gear. When changing down or if the revs fell before you could get it into gear on an upshift, a quick blip on the throttle and again gently push the gearstick gently into the desired gear as the revs fall.
If the clutch is slipping, you'll need a tow truck.

Edit: practice a little in a yard or something before trying this on a public road but once you get the knack, it's easy enough.

keepherlit

once you are moving you should be able to keep it going. drop into neutral rev it up and as the revs drop just offer it up to the gear you want to select. it should pop in with a little shove, just make sure you dont have to stop en route to the scrappy.

Jo2008

When the car is off and i press on the clutch, there is no pressure under it at all. Even changing gears with the engine off is a bit difficult. When I turn the engine on,even trying to force it, it will not go into any gear except for reverse.

Damomayo

Not too hard changing the gears without the clutch once its rolling (first time is worst) you may need to get it towed to a suitable location to start from ....... trying to reverse up a steep driveway might no be the easiest place to start from. Park on an incline that will make it easier to start in gear

Good luck

Avns1s

Jo2008 wrote: »

When the car is off and i press on the clutch, there is no pressure under it at all. Even changing gears with the engine off is a bit difficult. When I turn the engine on,even trying to force it, it will not go into any gear except for reverse.

Are you sure its not just the cable or the fluid/hydraulic cylinder (not familiat with Punto's) that's gone?

biko

Put it on adverts.ie or http://www.freecycle.org/group/IE/Ireland as "free to pickup".