Help! Odd clutch problem....

[phil1979]

I have an Alfa 159 1.9 diesel, which has developed an odd problem with the clutch.

In town, all works fine. Driving first thing in the morning, or after a period of rest, the clutch is also fine.

However, if driving along a motorway for example (fast speeds, no depressing of the clutch etc), when I do finally come to press the clutch it feels 'tighter' than usual. Basically harder to press down, and has a little more restistance when lifting of the clutch again.

After that first clutch engage, it works fine, unless I then travel for another distance at speed, after which it feels 'loaded up' again.

I should add that the car changes gear perfectly, and there are no noises. And no, it's not the carpet getting stuck behind the pedal.

Any ideas?

[Big Rod]

Hydraulic or cable?

[phil1979]

I believe hydraulic.

[Big Rod]

Off the top of my head then I would say that for some reason there might be a restriction in the pipework causing reduced flow of fluid.

Maybe a kink in a flexihose or something, but I have no idea how that would happen during a drive. Might serve you well to have the fluid bled/flushed out.

Something daft like the heater vent drying out the lubricant of the pedal perhaps?

[DaveL485]

I used to get spongy pedal in my Renault after a high speed blat. Clutch fluid was boiling in the line. Does the hydraulic line run close to anything hot?

[phil1979]

Hmmm, will have to check - interesting potential diagnosis, though.

[muley]

It might be that the release bearing isn't fully off and starting to seize after a long run.

A while ago i did a long run on a motorway and when I depressed the clutch the release bearing (having seized) punched almost all the centre of the clutch out. Luckily it happened fairly near a Ford dealer and it was fixed relatively cheaply - but then it would be on a Mark I 1300 Escort Estate..