 | Home > Puma (Tdci) > Driving a Puma smoothly |
 
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| Jerry Member Since: 13 Nov 2015 Location: Cardiff Posts: 217  
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My 2015 puma is very smooth - but I am pretty sympathetic and slow which suits me fine! (I also agree with posts elsewhere that it’s smoother changing at slightly higher revs so that it doesn’t labour in the next gear).
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3rd Oct 2025 7:09pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8486  
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If your lifting rhe clutch and accelerating before the clutch is fully up your just slipping the clutch.
Or the clutch is engaged and the remaining pedal travel is just travel which would suggest switch. Cheers James 110 2010 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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3rd Oct 2025 10:04pm |
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 3528 
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l just drive normally, like l've always driven. l don't ride the clutch. Changing up through the gears l just balance the rpm and speed like everyone else.
l don't accelerate until the clutch is fully engaged. |
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3rd Oct 2025 10:51pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 18038 
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Oops, my bad. Sorry! I was sure that 2.4 and 2.2 were different.  |
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3rd Oct 2025 11:26pm |
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 3528
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Yes it caught me out when l had my Defender TD5
And will do the same with people who buy one of these switches on Ebay advertised as compatible with "TD5/Puma" Fortunately l tested the switch before l fitted it, and realised the error. |
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3rd Oct 2025 11:53pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8486
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I was trying to help picking up on your previous comments. You've driven over 30 of them, from which I get the impression you found most do it. Blackwolf suggested either technique or vehicle problem. I have suggested two areas to look at one of each. From my experiwnce as an off road driving instr when you state you drive the same as everyone else I can assure you in the 15 + years I have been teaching there is no 'same as everyone else' Try not acclerating until the clutch is up. Cheers James 110 2010 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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4th Oct 2025 9:41am |
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 3528
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You mean no gas pedal at all until the clutch is up? l'll give it a try, although going uphill might be an issue keeping momentum.
What l normally do in this vehicle is clutch up and gas pedal down, balanced so the clutch doesn't slip as the power comes in. |
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4th Oct 2025 10:33am |
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| JPE Member Since: 19 Nov 2018 Location: South West England Posts: 347 
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Not accelerating until the clutch is up is I think sound advice.
That's certainly how I've learnt to drive mine. |
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4th Oct 2025 9:48pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8486
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No response from this then? Still does it driving as suggested? Cheers
James 110 2010 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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24th Oct 2025 10:22pm |
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 3528
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No, it's a lot better. l am getting used to it, definitely smoother making sure the clutch is fully up before getting on the gas.
And also off the gas before pressing the clutch pedal. Today l did a lot of driving and only a couple of fluffed gear changes. l've also changed all the transmission oils which has made it better. One example of gear changing that l have always got away with in modern vehicles, is l will turn right or left into a side road and change down to third or second gear, then bring the clutch up while pressing the gas pedal to accelerate away. The Defender doesn't like this at all, so l've had to learn to stop doing it. Also for the last three years l've been driving an automatic so had got used to not having to think about gear changes! |
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24th Oct 2025 11:12pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8486
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Good to hear its been of benefit. Cheers
James 110 2010 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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25th Oct 2025 8:28am |
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 3528
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Definitely has, yes. Sorry for not updating the thread.
l still think it would benefit from a clutch and output shaft. And if l keep the vehicle l will get it done and see what difference it makes. |
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25th Oct 2025 9:04am |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8486
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Not much, drive members and shafts are main culprits. Cheers
James 110 2010 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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25th Oct 2025 10:08am |
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| lightning Member Since: 23 Apr 2009 Location: High Peak, Derbyshire Posts: 3528
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l fitted new rear drive members only.
The front ones looked okay. The dealer l bought the Defender from said l would have been better with one piece drive shafts but they were quite expensive and they gave me the drive members for free. l forgot about the gaskets so had to re use the old ones, then l found a pack of about twenty gaskets in my boxes of Defender spares. Lay under the Defender yesterday replacing the diff oils you can turn the front prop shaft about 2cm before it stops. The play must be in the front differential or drive shafts so maybe l'll change the front drive members regardless of whether they looked okay. |
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25th Oct 2025 10:59am |
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