IS my clutch OK or do the seals need replacing?
Discussion
About 4 weeks ago I had no clutch. On examination the clutch reservoir was completely dry. I topped it up and bled it, and all seems fine. I've driven it probably 10 times since, mainly local but with one journey of around 50 miles. I've subsequently checked the level 3 or 4 times and it hasn't moved at all.
I'm planning a decent blast on Saturday of around 100 miles (should be in Le Mans
). Is this a bad idea? Am I likley to end up with no clutch? Clearly I can top up the fluid on the roadside if necessary, but wondering if this is not a good idea.
I can't remember the last time I'd checked the fluid before this issue, could be as long ago as 2011 when the master cylinder seals failed and were replaced. The car is serviced annually but I don't know if the clutch fluid is checked. So it could be that the fluid drained over years and this is normal, or it could be that the seals have recently failed and need replacing. If it's the later, why am I seemingly not losing clutch fluid now?
Is a spirited drive of around 100 miles likely to cause issues?
I'm planning a decent blast on Saturday of around 100 miles (should be in Le Mans
). Is this a bad idea? Am I likley to end up with no clutch? Clearly I can top up the fluid on the roadside if necessary, but wondering if this is not a good idea.I can't remember the last time I'd checked the fluid before this issue, could be as long ago as 2011 when the master cylinder seals failed and were replaced. The car is serviced annually but I don't know if the clutch fluid is checked. So it could be that the fluid drained over years and this is normal, or it could be that the seals have recently failed and need replacing. If it's the later, why am I seemingly not losing clutch fluid now?
Is a spirited drive of around 100 miles likely to cause issues?
spitfire4v8 said:
Hopefully your fluid has been changed every major service, you've paid for that to be done as it's part of the schedule. It often gets *overlooked* though …
It's good practice to change the clutch fluid every service not just every major service though.
And it's also 'good practice' to check the fluid level regularly too, you know, every first Sunday of the month when you check your tyre condition, & pressures, oil, coolant & brake fluid levels on all your fleet... It's good practice to change the clutch fluid every service not just every major service though.
So if only TVR had made that task easier to do. When mine goes back together I will be looking at improving that access; I would be interested to see pics of what others have done
I made this prototype cover. A piece of rubber stretched over a section of ballcock sandwiched between 2 rings of aluminium. 2 tabs - top and bottom - lock it in place. But you only need to turn the top one to remove it. A small mod to the opening (cut off the downward lip) and add the rubber seal (same size as the one round the headlight glass). Been using it for a couple of years now. No water ingress. I anodised it to give it a bit of colour and protection.
TwinKam said:
And it's also 'good practice' to check the fluid level regularly too, you know, every first Sunday of the month when you check your tyre condition, & pressures, oil, coolant & brake fluid levels on all your fleet...
So if only TVR had made that task easier to do. When mine goes back together I will be looking at improving that access; I would be interested to see pics of what others have done
Yeah, thanks TVR! It's such a simple task to get at the clutch reservoir So if only TVR had made that task easier to do. When mine goes back together I will be looking at improving that access; I would be interested to see pics of what others have done
Bonkers idea. Having said that, at least you can get under the bonnet with a Cerb. I've owned 2 Tuscan's, bolting the bonnet down was an even more ridiculous idea! Got stopped once at customs heading to Le Mans - Customs office "Can you open your bonnet sir?"
Me "No"
Customs officer "Excuse me? Can you open your bonnet I'd like to take a look under there"
Me "OK, I can open it but it involves me getting a tool kit out of the boot, unbolting it and you and I lifting it off and finding somewhere safe to put it down whilst you inspect under there. I'm more than happy to lift the camshell front for you to take a look but I'd rather not go through the ballache of taking the main bonnet off"
Customs officer "OK sir. In that case lets take a quick look in the boot. Nice car by the way!"
notaping said:
I made this prototype cover. A piece of rubber stretched over a section of ballcock sandwiched between 2 rings of aluminium. 2 tabs - top and bottom - lock it in place. But you only need to turn the top one to remove it. A small mod to the opening (cut off the downward lip) and add the rubber seal (same size as the one round the headlight glass). Been using it for a couple of years now. No water ingress. I anodised it to give it a bit of colour and protection.
Notaping, I've seen a photo of your set-up before and was totally blown away. It is the most beautiful upgrade to a Cerb that I've ever seen
Now that you've given the details of how you made it I can have a coupla hundred cups of Tea whilst I realise that I don't have the talent to do it.
Fancy £100
WhyTwo
Sorry to be pragmatic BUT if you haven't checked your Clutch Oil level in 9 years then I wouldn't trust your Cerb to go and get the paper with.
Really?
My car is serviced annually by a tvr specialist and any and all required maintenance is carried out without question
Given the fact I drive less than 3,000 miles a year, and the clutch fluid reservoir it’s pretty inaccessible (removing the air box and cutting Though Mastic to get to it), how regularly do you think I should be checking the clutch fluid level?
Genuine question as other than when the clutch seals failed within a week of buying the car and now 9 years later, I’ve never given the clutch any thought at all
My car is serviced annually by a tvr specialist and any and all required maintenance is carried out without question
Given the fact I drive less than 3,000 miles a year, and the clutch fluid reservoir it’s pretty inaccessible (removing the air box and cutting Though Mastic to get to it), how regularly do you think I should be checking the clutch fluid level?
Genuine question as other than when the clutch seals failed within a week of buying the car and now 9 years later, I’ve never given the clutch any thought at all
Crikey. I’ve just read the manual and apparently I’m supposed to check the clutch fluid weekly! 
As was said above, it's a good job TVR made it simple to do so 
Along with coolant level, brake fluid level, power steering fluid, tyre pressure, washer bottle. Blimey!
Oh and check the oil daily
Wow! Who knew?! ??
As was said above, it's a good job TVR made it simple to do so Along with coolant level, brake fluid level, power steering fluid, tyre pressure, washer bottle. Blimey!
Oh and check the oil daily
Wow! Who knew?! ??
Edited by WhyTwo on Tuesday 9th June 21:16
WhyTwo said:
Crikey. I’ve just read the manual and apparently I’m supposed to check the clutch fluid weekly! As was said above, it's a good job TVR made it simple to do so
Along with coolant level, brake fluid level, power steering fluid, tyre pressure, washer bottle. Blimey!
Oh and check the oil daily
Wow! Who knew?! ??
I did, as posted above. But I was kinder and suggested monthly checks as an absolute minimum.... as we should all do on all our cars. As was said above, it's a good job TVR made it simple to do so Along with coolant level, brake fluid level, power steering fluid, tyre pressure, washer bottle. Blimey!
Oh and check the oil daily
Wow! Who knew?! ??
Edited by WhyTwo on Tuesday 9th June 21:16
This is stated in every handbook of every car, but it still comes as a surprise to some/most drivers that they are responsible for doing anything other than keeping between the white lines and refuelling.
It is the responsibility of the driver alone to do these basic regular checks (unless you retain a groom/footman...) and even more so the older/more exotic/temperamental (read TVR) the car.
I often feel that I am banging my head against a wall when I have this conversation with my customers, but surely on PH this should be a given?
If you fail to reach your destination/ wreck the engine or, God forbid, have/cause an accident simply due to the disappearance of a vital fluid that you haven't recently checked, who else is to blame?
WhyTwo said:
Really?
My car is serviced annually by a tvr specialist and any and all required maintenance is carried out without question
Given the fact I drive less than 3,000 miles a year, and the clutch fluid reservoir it’s pretty inaccessible (removing the air box and cutting Though Mastic to get to it), how regularly do you think I should be checking the clutch fluid level?
Genuine question as other than when the clutch seals failed within a week of buying the car and now 9 years later, I’ve never given the clutch any thought at all
To be fair earlier on you said this which implies you haven't a clue if the fluid is topped up or fresh or anything :My car is serviced annually by a tvr specialist and any and all required maintenance is carried out without question
Given the fact I drive less than 3,000 miles a year, and the clutch fluid reservoir it’s pretty inaccessible (removing the air box and cutting Though Mastic to get to it), how regularly do you think I should be checking the clutch fluid level?
Genuine question as other than when the clutch seals failed within a week of buying the car and now 9 years later, I’ve never given the clutch any thought at all
WhyTwo said:
I can't remember the last time I'd checked the fluid before this issue, could be as long ago as 2011 when the master cylinder seals failed and were replaced. The car is serviced annually but I don't know if the clutch fluid is checked.
You're assuming a lot there. Going on the number of cars I run on the dyno which boil their clutch fluid I suggest not many service centres are checking/changing the clutch fluid until something goes wrong …
Not having a go here .. TVR don't make it easy for the owner to check the clutch fluid, but do it once after a major service and see if your service centre has actually changed it for you, then you will know if you need to 1) change your service centre for one who gives a damn and 2) check things yourself if not.
TwinKam said:
Posted a number of fair and reasonable comments
The TVR Specialist I use is one of the very best around so I have absolute faith in them diligently carrying out the service beyond the requirements defined by TVR.Don't get me wrong, I know one end of a spanner from another and undertake regular checks of all my vehicles. However I'm by no means a mechanic and constantly in awe of the type of projects many of the people on this forum are able to take on and complete. I just couldn't do that stuff and pay a trusted local specialist to do that on my behalf.
I also haven't tracked my Cerb and only once taken it to a rolling road (shortly after I bought it and it had had the clutch seals done and a full service)
I return to the original point about checking the clutch fluid. Having owned TVR's for around 13 years now, I'm well aware of the quirky nature of these cars. But in all honesty, who thought a typical owner would be taking the airbox off and cutting through mastic to check clutch fluid on a weekly basis? That's just bonkers. I'm now imagining David Beckham, Kevin McCloud and Keith Flint doing this
As always, thanks to everyone for their replies. I've learned something new and will now periodically check the clutch fluid (maybe not weekly though
)WhyTwo said:
But in all honesty, who thought a typical owner would be taking the airbox off and cutting through mastic to check clutch fluid on a weekly basis? That's just bonkers. I'm now imagining David Beckham, Kevin McCloud and Keith Flint doing this
Don't forget Dawn FrenchI bet they all bought their cars new and sold them as soon as the warranty expired, if not sooner
Let's face it, it's not just TVR who make life difficult for a driver to follow the manufacturer's own advice regarding checks and basic maintenance (e.g. bulb renewal).
Ford, Volvo, VAG, each make it nigh on impossible to check/top up PAS fluid when they site the reservoir beneath the headlamp/ inner wing/battery, and even the brake fluid reservoir is inaccessibly low on many VAG TDis (probably as they were designed LHD) whereas on many BMWs and Mercs it requires the removal of plastic covers and even the OS cabin filter! Topping up the brake fluid on a Galaxy or a Zafira is a joke due to the overhung windscreen. Even Honda (as great as they are in nearly every other area) make it impossible to see the coolant reservoir level on many models.
But none of the above require cutting/resealing any mastic, that is just plain daft.
Ford, Volvo, VAG, each make it nigh on impossible to check/top up PAS fluid when they site the reservoir beneath the headlamp/ inner wing/battery, and even the brake fluid reservoir is inaccessibly low on many VAG TDis (probably as they were designed LHD) whereas on many BMWs and Mercs it requires the removal of plastic covers and even the OS cabin filter! Topping up the brake fluid on a Galaxy or a Zafira is a joke due to the overhung windscreen. Even Honda (as great as they are in nearly every other area) make it impossible to see the coolant reservoir level on many models.
But none of the above require cutting/resealing any mastic, that is just plain daft.
My neighbors and step kids think I am mad checking the fluid levels and tyre pressures of each car on a weekly basis. I was taught to do it by my Dad when I learnt to drive and have done it ever since.
To be honest though, I don't check the Griff clutch fluid weekly, although I do check it at each service.
At Notapping, if you fancy developing a Griffith clutch cover cylinder cover, give me a shout....
To be honest though, I don't check the Griff clutch fluid weekly, although I do check it at each service.
At Notapping, if you fancy developing a Griffith clutch cover cylinder cover, give me a shout....
WhyTwo said:
Really?
My car is serviced annually by a tvr specialist and any and all required maintenance is carried out without question
Given the fact I drive less than 3,000 miles a year, and the clutch fluid reservoir it’s pretty inaccessible (removing the air box and cutting Though Mastic to get to it), how regularly do you think I should be checking the clutch fluid level?
Genuine question as other than when the clutch seals failed within a week of buying the car and now 9 years later, I’ve never given the clutch any thought at all
Lucky you! My car has had about 5 slave replacements and it still consumes a reservoir full of fluid every few weeks, just sitting in the garage. There is a tray underneath to catch it. If I ever sell it (and if I do it will be because of the clutch) I’ll just pour a bit of dot4 straight into the tray every other weekend to keep the “ownership experience” and not miss it too much.My car is serviced annually by a tvr specialist and any and all required maintenance is carried out without question
Given the fact I drive less than 3,000 miles a year, and the clutch fluid reservoir it’s pretty inaccessible (removing the air box and cutting Though Mastic to get to it), how regularly do you think I should be checking the clutch fluid level?
Genuine question as other than when the clutch seals failed within a week of buying the car and now 9 years later, I’ve never given the clutch any thought at all
Whenever I get in the car to go somewhere after a period of inactivity there’s a c10% chance there’ll be no clutch pedal. I can bleed it blindfolded and one handed
Edited by FarmyardPants on Wednesday 10th June 21:33
Edited by FarmyardPants on Wednesday 10th June 21:38
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