Clutch problem

[Schmeeky]

My clutch pedal has suddenly gone very light, and first gear is impossible to select (although others gears are ok). What could the possible problems be? I've not been able to check clutch fluid levels yet, and I'm hoping it's that rather than cylinders...

[Pied Piper]

It could be the slave or master cylinder, check for fluid leak around slave first.

[Schmeeky]

Right, now I'm back home and at my PC I can give a better description of the problem.

When I took her out on Saturday, I noticed the clutch was a bit light, but everything worked just fine.

This morning, the clutch felt very light, and first gear wouldn't engage at all. All the other gears worked, but not as smoothly as usual.

Then trying to come home from work, pedal felt like is wasn't connected to anything at all, and no gears would engage. I tried pumping the pedal, and after maybe 12-15 strokes all gears would engage - and I was able to get home under my own steam.

I've just consulted the owners manual to find out where the clutch fluid reservoir is, and found it was empty!

So I guess next stage is to get my workshop manual out, and learn up about the system, then have a ratch about and see if I can find the leak...

[MG CHRIS]

Check around the master and slave cylinder for dampness if either is leaking will need to be replaces slave is the cheaper of the 2 too replace.

[ronime]

Odds on it's the slave cylinder that has failed. Pinch the rubber bellows and watch for fluid pissing out. It's a rite of passage on these cars - almost every Mk1/Mk2 owner has to replace a clutch slave cylinder at some point. Thankfully a new part is only £15 or so.

[Oldandslow]

Slave cylinder is the most common. Drivers side of the gearbox. Get at it from underneath or take off the right front wheel and go in through the arch.

New one is about £20, takes about an hour to fit and bleed through new fluid. Use a jar or bottle and a bit of plastic tube as a cheap bleed kit. 2 spanner job, no special tools

[Rage Page]

Another vote for the slave cylinder, just happened to me.

£12 on mx5parts for the oem one and easy to fit. I just flushed the system through with new fluid and works better than it did before. Just don't drain the system right down use a bleeding kit and just keep topping it up with the new fluid until it runs completely clear.

[Schmeeky]

Thanks for all the replies, turned out it was the slave cylinder. Got a replacement from MX5parts for £17 all in, and now the clutch action is spot on!

[Rids64]

Genuine Mazda items appear to be £70 on mx5parts as opposed to £16 for non-gen. Is there really any reason to pay 4 times the price?

[MX-5 Lazza]

Everyone seems to go for the cheapy and you never see any threads about them being rubbish so I'd assume from that that they aren't 4 times worse than the Mazda item.

[renaultgeek]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Everyone seems to go for the cheapy and you never see any threads about them being rubbish so I'd assume from that that they aren't 4 times worse than the Mazda item.

and sure wasn't it the mazda item that failed in the first place?

[MX-5 Lazza]

Though to be fair, they are usually 15 years old or more before they fail which isn't bad for rubber seals under pressure

[alfettagtv2000]

nice easy job, especially when compared to slaves buried inside the clutch....