Glosphil Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Hi, I am down in Essex miles from home and my clutch keeps sticking down. When I pull away I have to pull it back up with my foot and its getting harder to change gear and keep stalling. Have checked clutch fluid level, (think its the black rubber cover near the break fluid bottle) but its full. What could this be? should I attempt to drive it home or call the RAC? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miko_supra Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 master cylinder gone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay_vr6 Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 sounds like the master cylinder seals have gone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miko_supra Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 how far away from home are you? as in could you get away with sticking it in 2nd and crawling a few miles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I know its not the same, but i had this happen on my company van (Renault Trafic) last week. It was the master cylinder that had gone. Apparently the seals had failed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glosphil Posted January 25, 2008 Author Share Posted January 25, 2008 Im 130 miles away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daston Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 deffo master cylinder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miko_supra Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Im 130 miles away. yeah id get it on the back of a flat bed then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 You can drive it indefinitely with NO clutch. Just start it in 1st gear and do gentle clutchless up and dowb changes matching revs to roadspeed with the accelerator. I have driven MKIV's hundreds of miles, even in rush hour traffic, like that. Just don't brutalise the gearbox and match the revs and it'll get you back. You could drop it off here for me to fix.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xanderroan Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Yep - you can drive most cars w/out using the clutch at all, only getting in and out of first that's an issue. My dad was a mechanic when i was real young and he taught it to me, it's just matching up the revs to the low point that you would normally just enter that gear.. hmm - maybe i've done serious damage on a string of cars i've owned by practising this every now and then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonball Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Nothing wedging against it is there - like the carpet etc? Might be a really daft suggestion - but it happened to me!! (the shame - I did actually call the RAC out when I had a company car! When he pulled the carpet away I looked for the nearest cliff to throw myself off ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glosphil Posted January 25, 2008 Author Share Posted January 25, 2008 Right guys, I'm home. It held out, just !!!. Was a nightmare through towns. Now I need to know what to do? Where is this master cylinder and is it hard to fit? Dont think I've ever seen one before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miko_supra Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Right guys, I'm home. It held out, just !!!. Was a nightmare through towns. Now I need to know what to do? Where is this master cylinder and is it hard to fit? Dont think I've ever seen one before. hooray! congrats its the silver part that sits beneath the reservoir in the engine bay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glosphil Posted January 25, 2008 Author Share Posted January 25, 2008 Ok, that didnt really clear it up for me... lol Anyone got a pic, and idea on price, and a 10 minute guide to fitting one lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daston Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I could do with knowing where it is and how to fit it too as mine has gone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glosphil Posted January 26, 2008 Author Share Posted January 26, 2008 Bump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Where you checked the clutch fluid level, that's the reservoir, and that should be sat on top of a little unit. That'll be the master cylinder. Mr Steve Manley will be able to sort you out a set of seals, but I'd replace the cylinder if the condition of the internals looks any way dodgy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glosphil Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 Ok, update on this... I checked the level again, and in the light I found it was about 4-5 mm below the minimum line. Now due to the angle of the tube, I cant see how this could of got air into the system, but topped up anyway and pumped the pedal a bit etc. Seemed ok for a bit, but then started doing it again. Do you rekon its just a case of having air in the system, or is the master cylinder knackered? How do you get air out? Bleed it I guess, but how? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kranz Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 You need to get to the bleed nipple on the slave cylinder (just follow the metal pipe from the master to the slave). Get a ring spanner that fits over the nipple (its like a nut that sticks out of the slave cylinder at the high point and looks like it has a nipple on the end) and if you have some slip sone clear hose over the nipple and into a small clear bottle (coke bottle or milk bottle/jam jar). Get someone to press down on the clutch pedal as you open the nipple. You call "down" and they repest "down" as they press it. Close the nipple off by turning the spanner and shout "up", the other person then lets the clutch pedal up and calls "up". Check the level in the master cylinder after a few pumps & KEEP IT TOPPED UP. At some point you should see an air bubble or ten come out. Keep going until no more air comes out and the fluid looks as clean as the fluid you're topping up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glosphil Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 Ok thanks, I tried to follow the pipe in the engine bay the goes from the master cylinder, but looks like it goes into the firewall? Where exactly is the slave cylinder? is it under the car near the gearbox? never seen one before so dont know what it looks like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foodfreak Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 slave cylinder is on the near side of the gearbox. it is common for these to wear & give the same symptoms as yours, especially if you use a heavy aftermarket clutch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest suprapaul1980 Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 i have the same problem and wasnt sure if it was the slave cylinder or master cylinder this has helped cheers i priced a master cylinder near me and its going to cost £135 + vat hopefully will be able to get one cheeper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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