'Notchy' gear selection.

[Boatbuoy]

Hi All,

Gear selection is slowly getting more and more difficult, but by no means impossible. The situation improves as the car/box warms up. I know the gearbox has been loosing fluid (by this I mean the odd drop) and it's been discussed on here before (probably from the rear seal). The clutch pedal has a bit of initial slop, but there-after is positive. There is distinct disengagement of the clutch when fully depressed and bite is positive. There's no sign of clutch fluid loss either inside the drivers foot well or below the bell housing.

Is it simply a case of low gearbox fluid, or are there more serious issues looming?

As always, your thoughts and advice would be much appreciated.

Regards,
Olly

[Mad Mark]

Sounds more like its the clutch thats leaking not the gearbox. This explains the initial sloppiness and as the clutch fluid and the air in the system heats up it expands and this is why your clutch gets better as the car warms up.

[Boatbuoy]

So, leaking slave or master, despite no obvious signs?

[Mad Mark]

You said "know the gearbox has been loosing fluid" How do you know this?

The usual places to check for clutch fluid leaking is between the gearbox and bellhousing but the fluid will travel along under the gearbox. There is a small hole in the bottom of the bellhousing, check here too and also lift the drivers carpet and feel if its wet or not.
Don't rely on the fluid in the reservoir dropping. Mine leaked and the level stayed the same.

[Boatbuoy]

The bell housing to gearbox joint, and surrounding area are dry. There's a film of red fluid (ATF?) eminating from the rear seal of the gearbox and the occasional drop falls from the lowest point of the box every so often once enough has accumulated. I've had a board under the car to spot any fresh drips which I've been checking periodocally. I would expect the clutch fluid to be a darker colour, right? I've had the drivers carpet out, and it's bone dry under there.

[Mad Mark]

Try giving it a bleed anyway. It's not hard to do easier if there are two of you but with the right bits its easy to do on your own.
It doesn't sound like you have a leek but it does sound like you have air in there somewhere.

[Boatbuoy]

Many thanks Mark, that's been really helpful. I'll give it a go.

[Mad Mark]

It's worth giving it a go.
As they say always start with the cheep and easy stuff first.

[Boatbuoy]

Hello, me again!!

It's getting worse! I'm in Sheffield having driven up this lunchtime for the Derbyshire run-out today, and Chatsworth tomorrow. I havn't had a chance to bleed it yet and now it's now almost impossible to select 1st with the engine running, 2nd is also difficult! With the engine off these's no problem. Once moving (I've had to use 2nd a few times to get going) it climbs up through the cogs without a problem, but there's not a hope in hell of downshifting through the box.

There's still no sign of leaks from either the master or slave as far as I can see. Someone today suggested that it might be the seals in the slave allowing oil/fluid to pass. I guess this makes sense?!?!?

Mad Mark, you seem to know your onions - are you attending Chatsworth this weekend?

Regards
Olly

[FarmyardPants]

Definitely sounds like a clutch problem. Perhaps you are experiencing a gradual failure as more fingers break. In any event I would book it in for a clutch inspection (or DIY).

[Boatbuoy]

Hmmm, I thought this might be the case!

I really want to do it myself, not only for cash saving purposes, but also one of the reasons I bought the car was to have a 'project'. I tried to view Mad Mark's guide to clutch replacement hosted by Clever-Trevor but it seems to have imploded, I guess since Racing Green took control.

Does anyone have a copy??

[Mad Mark]

I am afraid I am not attending this weekend.

It is very weird that you are not seeing any fluid at all I guess it could be as FP says gradual finger failure. But when this has happened to me it went from fine to no clutch in an instant.

Here is a thread with some useful pics of the slave cylinder and it's seals that may help understand that side of things.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

The clutch guide is here...
http://www.thetvrsite.com/cerbera/how-to-replace-t...

mind you if the seals in the master cylinder go I am not sure what effect that would have on the clutch having never had this happen

[vroom]

On a flat surface, put the car in first gear (if you can) with the engine running and with foot off the brake.

If the car very slowly moves forward (indicating clutch not completely disengaging) then its fluid (seals or air) or fingers.

My first Cerb was like this and the clutch failed about a month afterward I sold it(fingers)

[Boatbuoy]

Thanks for the advice Vroom, I've not noticed any 'creep' in the situation that you described, and can't feel the clutch slipping. But, I'll give it a go in the morning and report back.

[Boatbuoy]

vroom said:

On a flat surface, put the car in first gear (if you can) with the engine running and with foot off the brake.

If the car very slowly moves forward (indicating clutch not completely disengaging) then its fluid (seals or air) or fingers.

My first Cerb was like this and the clutch failed about a month afterward I sold it(fingers)

Hi Vroom,

Me again! OK, so I made it - with some difficulty - to Chatsworth and back, and it seems you were right. The car rolls forward so the clutch is not fully disengaging. Time to jack it up and get my hands dirty. Le Mans deadline looms!!!!!

Regards,
Olly

[Mad Mark]

If your going to bleed it then there is no need to jack it up! All is done from the engine bay.

[Mad Mark]

glad you made it to Chatsworth and back ok

[Boatbuoy]

Hi All,

Just thought I'd follow this up as the issue has now been resolved. I've been a bit busy with work this past week (I'm still there!) but I did manage to find some time yesterday (with the aid of some mechanically minded friends) to bleed the system. It wasn't a simple affair, and took several runs with an easy blled kit to get all the air out of the system. But the good news is that it turned out to be the cheapest and simplest issue of all the available possibilitys.

Thank you all once again for your advice, no doubt I'll be back soon with my next querey!

Regards,
Olly

[Mad Mark]

No worries. Glad it worked and was as simple as that.