Clutch Problem?

[foxy600]

Not sure if anyone can help, but I had a strange experience yesterday. Was driving along quite happily, came to a junction, and when I tried changing gear (with the clutch all the way in) the gears crunched and it was very difficult to change both up and down gears. I pumped the pedal and after 5 mins the car was back to normal. This has never happened before, can I assume there is some air in the system, or one of the clutch cylinders is on its way out?

[honourablepickle]

you assume right - might pack in tomorrow - might go on for months - who knows
worth looking carefully at the cylinders on the off chance you can spot a leak - at least you would know which cylinder to change first.
reb

[niels]

I had this a while ago. Check the clutch pedal for fluid. If it's wet, the master cylinder rubbers are worn/leaking. This is pretty easy to repair.

good luck!

[foxy600]

I have had a look at both the clutch pedal and slave cylinder, I cannot see any visible leaks anywhere. Also there is no loss of fluid in the reservoir. Do you think new fluid and a bleed would be enough, or should I replace the slave cylinder anyway?

[RJC-S3]

I don't like to admit this but.......when I first got my S I had the same problem.Just about to book my friends ramp when I noticed the carpet had moved under the pedal!
Wot a Prat!

[foxy600]

First thing I checked, as that's the kind of thing I would do!

[silverback mike]

Same problem as mine presented.....no visible leaks etc etc. I changed the slave, which was marvellous, then after I sold it, recently minimax changed the master. It's even more marvellous now

[ceejay73]

Hmmm Carpet moving and causing pedal problems.. I had one of those moments.. Trouble was for me that it was the throttle that stuck VERY MUCH OPEN!
I was having a bit of fun hanging out the arse end through a double roundabout figure 8 type complex at the time! I eased off to line her up for the second roundabout but the pedal was stuck down on the carpet and she didnt want to slow down! Brown trousers time! Bit of fancy footwork with the clutch and brakes then shut her down and coast to a stop then get out to see whats wrong whilst shaking from the major adrenaline rush.. Lifted bonnet expecting to find a broken cable and jammed linkage but everything was now back to normal.. It took me a few mins to work out what had happened, when I did I pulled that section of carpet out..
Moral of the story is, make sure the carpet around your pedals is well and truly glued in as mine now is......

Edit to add: Sorry for the hi-jack just got the urge to tell that tale. Carl.

>> Edited by ceejay73 on Thursday 20th April 09:30