1st breakdown....do i care....nope :)

[dkennedyvxt]

But wouldn't mind opinions to what it is though? Drove the car last week and all was well.....garaged during the week and came to take her for a spin today and the clutch seemed light and I couldn't engage any gear. The AA chap thought it might be the master cylinder and it had lost pressure due to a leak?!?!?!. Does this sound about right and if so....any ideas on costs to fix etc etc. Any advice greatly received.

Had so much fun in my 4 weeks of ownership so far this didn;t even make me even slightly angry.....best car i've ever owned

[JensenA]

Check it has fluid in it - if not top it up and bleed it. If the fluid has black bits in it, then a seal has gone. keep your fingers crossed it's the Master cylinder seals gone, well under a £100 for a new Master, and a fiddly but DIY'able job. Trouble is when you replace the Master the Slave seems to come out in sympathy and fail a few months later. If the Slave has gone then it's a major job and you may as well get the clutch replaced while your at it - about £1200

[touching cloth]

You can have leeks in either the slave or the master cylinders. Master usually ends up with black fluid in the drivers footwell, it is far more accessible and therefore cheaper to fix. Slave is in the bellhousing and is a gearbox out job and quite a lot of labour (most indies quote about 6 hours), you may or may not choose to change the actual slave cylinder as opposed to just the seals, if it is scored then this is what shreds the seals and you will be doing the same job again shortly. Whilst they are in there it is worth having a good look at the clutch, if it is going to need doing anytime soon then you have basically paid all the labour costs anyway so you may just choose to do the full monty. Can get quite pricey but often worth doing it all if there is doubts about the parts as the labour is a reasonably hefty chunk.

edited: gah beaten...

^^^^^^^^^^^^
what he said

Edited by touching cloth on Sunday 17th June 17:08

[dkennedyvxt]

JensenA said:

Check it has fluid in it - if not top it up and bleed it. If the fluid has black bits in it, then a seal has gone. keep your fingers crossed it's the Master cylinder seals gone, well under a £100 for a new Master, and a fiddly but DIY'able job. Trouble is when you replace the Master the Slave seems to come out in sympathy and fail a few months later. If the Slave has gone then it's a major job and you may as well get the clutch replaced while your at it - about £1200

Thanks guys.....I took out an AA warranty so i'm hopingt this will be covered. I'll book it in next weekend.