Clutch gone soggy

[grovest]

My clutch has felt a bit off for the last few weeks, especially when selecting reverse, with a bit of grating, but I’ve been putting off doing anything as it's booked in with APM in a few weeks for the annual service. However, today I couldn't select any gear from stationary without lots of grating, so to get home I had to put the beast into gear before starting. Once moving I could change gear with careful rev matching and by coming to a halt in 1st or second there was enough clutch slip to not stall the engine with the clutch pedal fully down.

There is no resistance to movement for the top 1/3 of travel so I'm assuming this is lack of fluid/air in the hydraulics but I've got no unusual puddles on the garage floor suggesting a leak.

Does anyone know if this is a simple fix/bodge so I can drive it down to Andy and have it sorted properly during the service?

It’s an ungrateful sod of a car considering I ordered it a nice new exhaust system from ACT today!

[esso]

I would bleed it first & see if it improves it.

[grovest]

Ah! Forgot to add Andy reported at the last service that the clutch bleed valve/nipple was snapped off. But he said it needs the gearbox out do this so leave it until something else big needs doing! I guess at best this means loosening/tightening the valve as an assistant presses the pedal rather than having the luxury of an auto bleed thing in a jar.

Any idea where the bleed valve is located? Any info, gratefully received, cheers.

Edited by grovest on Monday 21st June 20:47

[JensenA]

The Bleed nipple is in the engine compartment. Take off the F2 panel, and you will find a a stainless steel braided house at the back of the engine, proabably tie-wrapped to the bonnet realease bars.

[Mad Mark]

I am sure it can be changed without removing the gearbox!!!
But check the fluid anyway and if its low you might get away with topping it up and pumping the pedal a few times without actually bleeding it!!
I have a small leak in my slave and if I forget to top up I can usually get away with doing this.

Naturally if you have someone to hand bleeding is the best option but not always necessary

[billy no brakes]

grovest said:

My clutch has felt a bit off for the last few weeks, especially when selecting reverse, with a bit of grating, but I’ve been putting off doing anything as it's booked in with APM in a few weeks for the annual service. However, today I couldn't select any gear from stationary without lots of grating, so to get home I had to put the beast into gear before starting. Once moving I could change gear with careful rev matching and by coming to a halt in 1st or second there was enough clutch slip to not stall the engine with the clutch pedal fully down.

There is no resistance to movement for the top 1/3 of travel so I'm assuming this is lack of fluid/air in the hydraulics but I've got no unusual puddles on the garage floor suggesting a leak.

Does anyone know if this is a simple fix/bodge so I can drive it down to Andy and have it sorted properly during the service?

It’s an ungrateful sod of a car considering I ordered it a nice new exhaust system from ACT today!

I would say it is either slave clyinder or master clyinder, first check master clyinder to see if there are any black bits in the fluid if so then thats gone, if not then it probarbly is slave clyinder and it will be leaking into the bell housing and the fluid will be in there and it could be difficult to tell without getting the cerb up on a lift and see if there are any drips coming from the back of the bell housing, but by the sounds of it something will go and it would be best to sort it now rather than being stranded some where.

The bleed nipple is under the panel at the back of the engine compartment and you should just be able to undo the old one and put a new one in as long as it has not be bogged in the end of the hose.

hope that helps.

Gary

[grovest]

Thanks for the advice guys. I've had a quick look this morning and found the pipe and valve, and I'll have a proper look tonight. Ta!