Boring Alert: Mitsubishi Carisma 1.8 Clutch issue

[neil_bolton]

Alright everyone

The girlfriend has a 1.8 16v R reg Mitsubishi Carisma, and we had an issue yesterday when driving home.

It seemed that the car wouldnt engage gear or declutch correctly, and after leaving it for a while and investigating whether there was any leaks etc, I noticed that the gearbox/clutch (to my uneducated eye) looked to be leaking slightly.

I deduced that it may the slave cylinder that has failed, losing clutch fluid and thus not giving proper operation.

We gingerly got it going and made it home via my grandad who kindly gave me some DOT fluid to top up the clutch fluid reservoir with, and I'm now looking to repair it, based on my granddad saying it should be an easy job.

Can anyone give me any idea of whether I'm right, and what to look for?

I've downloaded the Mitsubishi workshop manuals for the car and it makes no mention of a slave cylinder, just a Master, and I'm a little confused

Can anyone help me?

Ta in advance

[neil_bolton]

BTTT

[Podie]

Interesting forum move...

[neil_bolton]

Podie said:

Interesting forum move...

Gotta abuse the powers sometime, eh?

[neil_bolton]

Anyone?

[Moose.]

A leaking clutch slave/master cylinder would certainly cause problems engaging gears. It basically means the clutch isn't fully disengaged when you press the pedal, so replacing the leaking item (or just the seals) should do the trick

[neil_bolton]

Moose. said:

A leaking clutch slave/master cylinder would certainly cause problems engaging gears. It basically means the clutch isn't fully disengaged when you press the pedal, so replacing the leaking item (or just the seals) should do the trick

I've had a good readabout and the fact that the fluid isnt leaking from the Master cylinder (and thus onto the firewall) means (as indicated by the leaking down below) that it must be the slave cylinder - but lack of info, nor a reference in the workshop manual to the slave cylinder isn't helping!

Is a Slave Cylinder an easy swap usually?

[The Wookie]

Wow that really is boring topic.

How much of a pain depends on whether the slave it outside or inside the bellhousing.

Assuming it's outside, it should just be a swap it and bleed it job. If it's inside you'll need to break the box away from the engine at which point it starts becoming a pain in the arse

[The Wookie]

Also, I'd flush the whole system rather than top it up if you can. I've had slave cylinders die not long after a clutch change because the bleed at the end of the procedure has sent all the crud and crap through it.

[neil_bolton]

Makes sense

How would I tell if its external or internal? I've done a few jobs on the car and have handy mates to help, so not unhappy to give it a go, but if its going to be a pain in the arris, I might get a local garage to do it.

Can anyone recommend a GSF/Eurocarparts type supplier for Jap car pattern parts?

[mechsympathy]

What the walking rug says You know where I am if you want someone to provide tea/hiss throught their teeth at it.

(I've used DCL just up the Gloucester Road for small jobs.)

[neil_bolton]

mechsympathy said:

What the walking rug says You know where I am if you want someone to provide tea/hiss throught their teeth at it.

(I've used DCL just up the Gloucester Road for small jobs.)

All tea and teeth-sucking-through gratefully recieved

[Matt_N]

Im pretty sure the Carisma uses the same engine and box as my Colt Gti, in which case the slave cylinder is located on the front of the gearbox, towards the front of the engine bay.

You'll be able to see it from undernearth if you jack the car up, they are pretty easy to change, just two bolts holding it in and the banjo nut on the fluid line.

[mechsympathy]

He mailed me an exploded diagram yesterday with the question: "It is number6, isn't it?"

[The Wookie]

neil_bolton said:

Makes sense

How would I tell if its external or internal? I've done a few jobs on the car and have handy mates to help, so not unhappy to give it a go, but if its going to be a pain in the arris, I might get a local garage to do it.

Well there you go, you've got Bill to help you... wether he's considered 'handy' or not is another matter

[mechsympathy]

Apt name change

[The Wookie]

mechsympathy said:

Apt name change

It derives from the amount of time and effort my team has had to put into making me fit properly into the race car! Which now includes cutting bits out of the floor

Bartrum gave me the choice between 'The Wookie' or 'The Incredible Bulk'

[mechsympathy]

The Wookie said:

'The Incredible Bulk'

No offence