Help, Clutch & Brakes

[jamessim]

Hi Guys,
Any help would be much appreciated, a couple of weeks ago I used the Tuscan for work covered @160 miles got the car home and washed the salt/grit off it and went to put it into the garage. The clutch pedal depressed too easily and wouldnt allow me to engage the gear.
I switched the car off and pushed it into the garage, before that I noticed a small pool of fluid on the garage floor, however the resevoir was still more than half full.
Got some clutch fluid yesterday topped it up but the battery was flat, I charged it for @ 24 hours and just tried it a few minutes ago, it still wont start just lots of clicking noises but I also noticed the brake pedal was solid and wont depress any?
As the car has done over 21k miles now I was going to order the Clever Trevor clutch and slave kit but these other points worry me a little.

Regards,

James Sim.

[T66ORA]

Hi James
You have already diagnoised your clutch problem your self, (seals)
The clicking noise is the battery not quite having enough power to turn over the engine, either replace the battery or charge for a further 24hours, or try to jump start the car and let it charge that way.
The brake pedal WILL be solid because the engine is not running, go into your daily runner if you have one? and pump the brake pedal with the engine and ignition off 2 or 3 times and that pedal will be solid as well, nothing abnormal there, new seals and a new battery mate and your again

[jamessim]

Thanks Tony,
It's something that I've never given any thought's to regarding the brakes.


James

[whitey]

brake pads could also be stuck to the discs if you put the car away wet as the discs will have gone rusty. They will stick when you try to move it but should free themselves with a few extra revs and clean themselves after a few brake applications.

[jamessim]

Hi Whitey,
When I park up I always leave it in neutral, handbrake off and after a couple of hours go back into the garage and move it back and forwards to release the pads, as I have found that they sometimes stick if particularly hot.
As it was a Cup Final on TV I haven't been back into any car to test Tony's point about the brakes.
I couldn't beleive the battery had failed until I remembered being told that the alternator on a Tuscan will not operate until the engine is at 2K revs, I replaced the battery @ 18months ago, don't know if that theory is correct but I have repleced the battery twice before, hit 2k revs in Jersey in a Tuscan in any gear and your breaking the speed limit.

Regards,

James Sim

[T66ORA]

jamessim said:

I remembered being told that the alternator on a Tuscan will not operate until the engine is at 2K revs,.
James Sim

Not heard that one before?
I some times run my car at idle for a few minutes(rightly or wrongly) to charge the battery in winter?

[whitey]

Tony that's pointless my man, you will waste more battery starting it than it will charge at idle, not to mention lack of oil pressure to the top of the engine at idle. Either drive it or leave it on the charger.