Go Back   The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums > The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums > The 75 and ZT Owners Club General Forum
Register FAQ Image Gallery Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read
Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 26th October 2018, 09:04   #1
TBennet
Regular poster
 
MG ZT-T 190

Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Manchester
Posts: 58
Thanks: 3
Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts
Default Great car, spoiled by the clutch action (ZT 190)

I've had my ZT for almost a year now. It's a great car in almost every way, but I'm seriously considering selling it on because I can't live with the incredible sensitivity of the clutch action.

3rd, 4th and 5th are fine, but when it comes to 1st and 2nd, I'm able to drive the car smoothly only by being very careful when releasing the clutch. Slightly too little throttle? The car bogs down and jerks forward. Slightly too many revs at the point you finally come off the clutch? The car kangaroos forward like a learner driver.

As I say, I can drive smoothly with care, but I'm getting sick of having to nurse the car every time I pull away through 1st and 2nd gear. I have frequent use of several other cars and this is the only one I have trouble with, and I've been driving for something like 12 years.

So is this common for ZT 190s, or is it just mine?

I'm willing to change some components if that's the issue, but what do I change? Is there something that will improve the feel of the clutch? It seems to me the clutch begins to bite fairly early on as you are releasing it, but it doesn't finally bite fully until your foot is almost off the pedal.

(As an additional thing, when starting the car from cold, I am beginning to experience some clutch judder for the first couple of minutes of driving when pulling away from a standstill. Again, I'm not sure if this is a fault or a "feature". I'm aware it's a common issue with BMWs of a certain era.)

I'd be very grateful for any advice.

Last edited by TBennet; 26th October 2018 at 09:11..
TBennet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th October 2018, 09:34   #2
Avulon
This is my second home
 
1.8t Tourer

Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Tanelorn
Posts: 4,830
Thanks: 956
Thanked 1,148 Times in 916 Posts
Default

Sounds like clutch wear could be an issue. If the difference between bite and lockup is that wide then it should be easy to pull away smoothly though. May be well worth your while checking the engine mounts for excessive movement especially the bottom teardrop mount. Wear or damage to that allows the engine to move too much during take up and can cause jerky takeoff. As for the engine bogging down - depends what revs you are talking about I guess. Best ask fellow 190 owners what a good rev range for take off is.
__________________
Need a T4 ?: T4 Owners Map thanks to Stevestrat ( use at your own risk)

Where?:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanelorn
Mods/Retrofits:

PCV vortex 'filter'; bluetooth; inline thermostat; reversing sensors; plenum spyhole ; headlamp washers ; Diy mp3 player replacing CD multichanger; FBH with remote; Headlamp washers; black/chrome front grille, rear blind; Xenon projectors
To do:
puddle lights; 2 Din cd/nav to fit; boot release button
Avulon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th October 2018, 09:38   #3
SD1too
Doesn't do things by halves
 
SD1too's Avatar
 
Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model.

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Former Middlesex
Posts: 20,262
Thanks: 1,587
Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by TBennet View Post
So is this common for ZT 190s ...
No Tim, I'd say it isn't. I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to drive a ZT-T 190 and the clutch was superb.

It's a long time since I've had the dubious pleasure of dealing with manual drivetrains but the obvious things to consider are: is there air in the hydraulics and is the clutch plate in need of renewal? I seem to remember that on my BL Minis, a biting point near the floor and judder meant a worn out friction plate.

Simon
__________________
"Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble."
Sir Henry Royce.
SD1too is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th October 2018, 10:25   #4
Ched
I really should get out more.......
 
Ched's Avatar
 
MG ZT V8, MGZT 135 derv ,MG TF 135

Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Romsey
Posts: 2,280
Thanks: 553
Thanked 573 Times in 385 Posts
Default

Check the lower gearbox mount.
Ched is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th October 2018, 11:06   #5
mh007
This is my second home
 
mh007's Avatar
 
MG ZT260 SE, MG ZT190+, MG ZTT 160, R75 Conn SE 2.0, R75 Conn SE 2.5 X 3, R75 Club SE 1.8, P5B Coupe

Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Keynsham, Bristol
Posts: 4,211
Thanks: 65
Thanked 635 Times in 499 Posts
Default

As said, check the lower mount/tie but I agree with what's already been said, it shouldn't be like that.

My ZT190 has a nice action on the clutch & it bites & pulls away quite happily with hardly any acceleration at all.
mh007 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th October 2018, 11:25   #6
first-things-first
Posted a thing or two
 
first-things-first's Avatar
 
MG ZT

Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hornchurch
Posts: 1,255
Thanks: 176
Thanked 352 Times in 272 Posts
Default

Sorry, as I have a dizzle, I'm not sure about the KV6.

Could it be the idle control valve? My other car (non MG Rover) had similar symptoms - clutch judder, jerkiness, pig to get moving off at lights. The ICV caused the revs to drop too much or not be controlled well.

A quick clean got it unstuck. May need a new gasket also if not sealing well.

Could the throttle body also need a clean and be the cause?

These 2 cleaned could be quick and cheap solutions.
first-things-first is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th October 2018, 11:31   #7
trikey
Premium Trader
 
trikey's Avatar
 
Rover 75

Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Devon
Posts: 33,710
Thanks: 8,837
Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts
Default

I’d be budgeting for a new clutch and flywheel.
__________________
Lest we forget..
trikey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th October 2018, 11:53   #8
TBennet
Regular poster
 
MG ZT-T 190

Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Manchester
Posts: 58
Thanks: 3
Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by first-things-first View Post
Sorry, as I have a dizzle, I'm not sure about the KV6.

Could it be the idle control valve? My other car (non MG Rover) had similar symptoms - clutch judder, jerkiness, pig to get moving off at lights. The ICV caused the revs to drop too much or not be controlled well.

A quick clean got it unstuck. May need a new gasket also if not sealing well.

Could the throttle body also need a clean and be the cause?

These 2 cleaned could be quick and cheap solutions.

Not so long ago I bought and used a throttle body rebuild kit in response to a suggestion on this forum, although that was suggested in response to a slightly different problem to do with fluctuations in the idle revs (which I still have.)

https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/s...d.php?t=280980

No difference was made to the way it drives though.
Thanks for all suggestions so far.
TBennet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28th October 2018, 15:03   #9
Robson Rover Repair
NI/ROI RS
 
Robson Rover Repair's Avatar
 
ZT-T 190 / 75 Diesel x3 / 6 door limo / 216 Cabby / Rover 25 van

Join Date: May 2009
Location: Antrim
Posts: 8,100
Thanks: 299
Thanked 1,046 Times in 568 Posts
Default

To me it sounds like the pedal bracket has bent. I've saw several of these now and acts like an on off organic clutch then.

Easily checked.
Robson Rover Repair is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29th October 2018, 11:31   #10
TBennet
Regular poster
 
MG ZT-T 190

Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Manchester
Posts: 58
Thanks: 3
Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts
Default

Thanks for all responses. I will check the gearbox mount and the pedal bracket and report back if I learn anything worth sharing.
TBennet is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 09:05.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © 2006-2023, The Rover 75 & MG ZT Owners Club Ltd