GRIFFITH 99- BIG CLUTCH PROBLEM
Discussion
After a long journey the clutch started going down very easily, or was it adrenaline? My fealing of anxiety soon proved justified as my choice of gears available decreased from 5 to 4 shortly afterwards.
A lighter right foot seemed to eleviate the problem only slightly and we managed to limp home.
The morning after, hoping it was all a bad dream I discover that without the engine on, the clutch still heads south freely and most gears are available. As soon as the engine is on I cannot select any gear. A little push in 1st moves the car very slightly forward (in a flat garage) but the gear won't enguage!!
Is this as bad as I fear - BIG BIG BILL?
A lighter right foot seemed to eleviate the problem only slightly and we managed to limp home.
The morning after, hoping it was all a bad dream I discover that without the engine on, the clutch still heads south freely and most gears are available. As soon as the engine is on I cannot select any gear. A little push in 1st moves the car very slightly forward (in a flat garage) but the gear won't enguage!!
Is this as bad as I fear - BIG BIG BILL?
Sounds like you have lost your clutch fliud. You can check by removing the buldge on the inner drivers side wing inside the engine bay. Under there you will see the Servo and master cylinder. Check to see if you have any fluid.
If not then find out where it went, could be a broken pipe, or seals on the master or slave cylinder. Either way probably not as expensive as you thought.
If you're not loosing fliud it could be expensive
>> Edited by RAW-SEWedge on Saturday 16th April 20:01
If not then find out where it went, could be a broken pipe, or seals on the master or slave cylinder. Either way probably not as expensive as you thought.
If you're not loosing fliud it could be expensive
>> Edited by RAW-SEWedge on Saturday 16th April 20:01
I'd put money on it being problem with the hydraulic actuation (ie. master/slave cylinder or pipe - relatively cheap).
In my experience clutches themselves usually either go very suddenly (BANG! No drive!) or very gradually (several weeks) - not deteriorating over a day or two like yours has.
You don't always lose a lot of fluid with a faulty cylinder seal/pipe, though. Sometimes the seal is good enough to keep the fluid in, but draws a bit of air in on the return.
Best way to check is get the car up on a ramp and watch the movement of the clutch fork/slave cylinder pushrod as someone operates the clutch pedal, but to be honest I don't know how visible this is on a Griffith. Anybody able to elaborate?
Edited to add: I see from your profile that you are in Sheffield? If the worst comes to the worst, at least you are well served by specialists! I'm sure either Jules at Joospeed in Chesterfield or Richard Thorpe at RT Racing in the centre of Sheffield will sort you out, no problem!
>> Edited by Martin_S on Sunday 17th April 10:29
In my experience clutches themselves usually either go very suddenly (BANG! No drive!) or very gradually (several weeks) - not deteriorating over a day or two like yours has.
You don't always lose a lot of fluid with a faulty cylinder seal/pipe, though. Sometimes the seal is good enough to keep the fluid in, but draws a bit of air in on the return.
Best way to check is get the car up on a ramp and watch the movement of the clutch fork/slave cylinder pushrod as someone operates the clutch pedal, but to be honest I don't know how visible this is on a Griffith. Anybody able to elaborate?
Edited to add: I see from your profile that you are in Sheffield? If the worst comes to the worst, at least you are well served by specialists! I'm sure either Jules at Joospeed in Chesterfield or Richard Thorpe at RT Racing in the centre of Sheffield will sort you out, no problem!
>> Edited by Martin_S on Sunday 17th April 10:29
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