Citroen Xsara (1997 - 2004) - 99 2.0 Clutch pedal pressed knocking or pulsating

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Sat 11 Oct 2008 15:11
99 2.0 Clutch pedal pressed knocking or pulsating - frenchmike
citroen xsara 2.0HDI 90bhp '99. Over the last 1000 miles or so, a knocking or pulsating sensation is felt (and heard) through the clutch pedal. This only happens when the pedal is depressed AND THE CAR IS MOVING! The pulsating feeling is relative to the speed of the car and can still be felt if the gearbox is in neutral - but the pedal must be pressed and the car moving. It feels like one pulse per front wheel revolution There is no noise or knocking when the car is stationary!? Please Help..

Frenchmike

Edited by Pugugly on 11/10/2008 at 20:10

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Sat 11 Oct 2008 15:41
99 2.0 Clutch pedal depressed knocking or pulsatin - smokescreen
I had a very similar problem with my hdi 110 xsara clutch. It was the release bearings giving way in the end. A new clutch sorted that out. About £200 for this car, depending on where you are in the UK.
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Mon 13 Oct 2008 10:00
99 2.0 Clutch pedal depressed knocking or pulsatin - frenchmike
Thanks for the reply - I have read that the release bearings giving up would give you the thumping effect even if the car is not moving, typically just the engine running would show this sign. was your problem related to the car moving, like mine?

Frenchmike
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Sun 27 Sep 2009 12:07
99 2.0 Clutch pedal depressed knocking or pulsatin - frenchmike
Ok, so i know its a year later, but the fault has finally been fixed! I just wanted to post my result to help others. Essentially, the fault had many strange effects to it. One was that if you accelerated too hard the noise would start and could only be stopped if you pulled over and pulled away gently. another was that the fault got only slightly worse over the space of a year and often was undetectable.
Anyway, the fault was the clutch cable: on uk version xsaras it is twice the length of the european version and gets routed around the base of the engine. Mine had a section that runs close to the inner CV joint and the plastic sheath around the cable was rubbing on the inner CV joint clip (the type that has a pinched edge to crimp it tight) This gave the thumping/knocking noise approximately once per revolution. It may have been twice per revolution, but whose counting at 30mph+?
The cable must have been making intermittent contact with the gaiter, a few cable ties later and the fault is FIXED :)
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