Back on the recovery truck.

[Carlos29]

It had to happen, I expected it to happen at some point and sure enough, had to get breakdown recovery truck out to the Cerb yesterday.
Had a great day out driving in it, then the inevitable happens I guess
Pulled away from my local Tesco forecourt after fueling up and the clutch failed completely resulting in having to push the car off the forecourt so as not to hold up all the other slightly more reliable, though ordinary vehicles.

Haven't had chance to have a good look whats happened yet as the car was revearsed off the recovery truck and into my lockup garage just in time for me to go out to a party last night.
I got a few pictures (not very good ones) on my mobile of the car on the recovery truck and accepted the Joys of TVR ownership with a smile.

Symptoms prior to failure:
Sometimes struggling to get the car in gear intermittant.
I had a feeling I should have left the car at home on this day as the clutch felt unreliable at first , but then no problems as I went out driving for 5 hours

The clutch fluid resevoir is apparantly full.
There was a small amount of oil (probably clutch fluid) on the floor where the car was prior to loading on the recovery truck.

There is NO pressure in the clutch pedal now even with the engine and oil cold so I do have a problem

Being not so mechanicaly minded do you guys think it is likely to be the entire clutch or a slave cylinder or seal perhaps.
Also I'm guessing the car has the original clutch, would it be better to upgrade it anyway rather than repair and wait for the inevitable again ?

It's a 4.5 Cerbera lightweight 2001.

[petclub]

Sorry to hear that, I'm not much use mechanically but it does sound like a clutch failure.

[Byker28i]

Sounds like the fingers have broken.

If it were me I'd replace the lot - slave and master as well as the clutch, just to be sure. I'd hate to put a new clutch in then have something else fail.

[BLUETHUNDER]

Yep sounsds like the fingers.Will need a replacement clutch.As as been said you might as well replace the slave as well as it sits in the bell housing.Opt for the Race approved slave as its better quality and lighter to use.Master is the easier job to do.So i would leave that until it gives you problems.

[Carlos29]

Thanks guys , I'll get onto it next week.

I think the best idea is to get a new clutch assembly together with the slave cylinder.
I'll look into the CT ones.
Anybody got any links to any high performace components available ?

Expensive hobby Cerbera ownership, but I just see it as running and maintaining a high performance race car that is road legal, whilst also being a cherished classic British sports car, so much fun and the occasional pit stop is to be expected

[trooperiziz]

BLUETHUNDER said:

Yep sounsds like the fingers.Will need a replacement clutch.As as been said you might as well replace the slave as well as it sits in the bell housing.Opt for the Race approved slave as its better quality and lighter to use.Master is the easier job to do.So i would leave that until it gives you problems.

Nah, sounds like the clutch slave cylinder to me, if there is no pressure in the clutch at all. When the fingers go, the clutch still feels the same, you just can't engage anything, can you?

[BLUETHUNDER]

trooperiziz said:

BLUETHUNDER said:

Yep sounsds like the fingers.Will need a replacement clutch.As as been said you might as well replace the slave as well as it sits in the bell housing.Opt for the Race approved slave as its better quality and lighter to use.Master is the easier job to do.So i would leave that until it gives you problems.

Nah, sounds like the clutch slave cylinder to me, if there is no pressure in the clutch at all. When the fingers go, the clutch still feels the same, you just can't engage anything, can you?

I suspect you could be right.My fault did'nt read all his post.Especially the part where he said there was traces of fluid on the floor.

[Keithyboy]

wot they said . . . ^^ exactly the same symtoms when my slave cylinder went u/s last year. CT do a complete Raceproved upgrade kit to include full clutch assembly and new l/w slave too. Unless the cars had a new clutch recently I suggest you go that route as I did http://www.clever-trevor.net/tvr-part-category/6-c... Part#RP002

[kojak]

trooperiziz said:

BLUETHUNDER said:

Yep sounsds like the fingers.Will need a replacement clutch.As as been said you might as well replace the slave as well as it sits in the bell housing.Opt for the Race approved slave as its better quality and lighter to use.Master is the easier job to do.So i would leave that until it gives you problems.

Nah, sounds like the clutch slave cylinder to me, if there is no pressure in the clutch at all. When the fingers go, the clutch still feels the same, you just can't engage anything, can you?

I agree with this. My pedal still worked perfectly on both occasions my fingers broke.

[Carlos29]

From all that I've read on here I am inclined to believe it is most likely the slave cylinder now, specialy due to there being no resistence in the foot pedal and the give away 'oil on the floor'.
I'll have to dig out my reciepts, though I doubt the clutch has been changed on this car and it's done 16,000 miles almost so I'm thinking due to the position the slave cylinder is located in and the labour involved it may be better to do the whole lot, what would you guys recommend?

If I replace the slave cylinder only , the clutch will probably go in the next 4k miles anyhow.