Realllllyy Short Clutch Travel on Mk1 Yaris?

[smokinmonkey]

Hey everyone,

I'm not a Yaris owner yet but I'm just about to buy one. It seems perfect except from this one issue.

The clutch travel is extremely short. I'm talking about 2 inches max. It seems you barely have to push the clutch in at all.

Is this normal on a mk1 Yaris? (2004 1.3 petrol if it makes a difference).

There's no other models in my area I can easily view to compare it too, and an online search didn't show up many results.

Thanks.

[m456an]

I would check the clutch fluid level,  I have normal clutch distance, though the biting point is high and on my avensis.

I would ask if a clutch change was done, it may just need some adjusting or is put in badly and was then sold cheap?

[smokinmonkey]

7 minutes ago, m456an said:

I would check the clutch fluid level,  I have normal clutch distance, though the biting point is high and on my avensis.

I would ask if a clutch change was done, it may just need some adjusting or is put in badly and was then sold cheap?

They said no clutch change, and that it's always been like that. They just got used to it. Has 10 months MOT at the moment.

[bathtub tom]

What happens if you dip the clutch and release it in top gear while it's pulling hard. If the engine revs slur, then the clutch is probably on its last legs. Either walk away or cost in a replacement.

[m456an]

I would walk away, if it was like that when they bought it it could be the other owners who changed the clutch. If it was like that when it was new it should have been fixed under warranty.

I test drove a yaris and it's clutch was slipping but the clutch still had full movement. I walked away and found a better deal.

[furtula]

Pedal should have nice long travel on it, with some free play in beginning, up to an inch or so.

If there's no free play, it means the hydraulic system, and clutch plate are under constant pressure, which means excess wear.

There might also be a thick rug under the pedal, not allowing it to be pushed all the way.

 

Personally, i'd look further. 

 

[bathtub tom]

1 hour ago, m456an said:

I would walk away, if it was like that when they bought it

You're believing someone who's selling a car. What is it they say about when do you know salesmen and politicians are lying?

[m456an]

I think you can try adjusting the clutch it may be easier with toyota as it can be done under the bonnet

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.howacarworks.com/transmission/adjusting-the-clutch.amp

Or the common sense option is to threaten to walk away....wait....look confused. Pause, look blankly then say maybe if they take the car to a clutch specialist for a second opinion like this one

https://www.halesowenclutchrepairs.co.uk

Which appears to be cheap and uses oem parts.

Hit the ball back to their side: why would you want to buy a car that is not working well.

 

[VosperD]

Some say that limited pedal travel means a worn clutch plate.

You don't say what mileage the car has on it. If it's high mileage or the car has been used a lot in traffic and the clutch is original it's quite likely it will need replacing eventually.

I guess you're buying this from a private seller. If you like the car anyway its worth finding out what a replacement clutch will cost and negotiate the price as has been suggested.

Best of luck.

Don

By the way, not having had to look at the cluctch on my 1.0 Yaris I had a  look in the manual. There is a common reservoir for both the brakes and clutch. Something I've learnt!

[Madasafish]

Short travel means there is something wrong. If it was easily fixed the seller would have done it. Or paid a garage to do it.  So we have established whatever the solution is, it is neither easy nor cheap..

 

Just find a better one.. Or discount the price by £700 to allow for repairs.. which should mean the car is free at that age. :-)

[Sala296]

When I got my yaris last december, I was questioning the same thing. It does have a much shorter clutch travel than any other car i've touched, but it's more than 2 inches. I think it also is a fair bit stiffer than most, as mine doesn't feel that short now, so I may just be used to the increased pressure required to get the clutch all the way down. I'd say make sure everything seems good, give it a test drive and see how it feels. Again, mine felt really quite short but after the 8 months or so I've had it, it now feels great. Do not be afraid to walk away though.