further to difficult selecting gears...

[gorrington]

You may remember I thought the clutch was of the old cable type..Wrong !
It's a hydraulic system. Checked out the hydraulic resevoir(I presume it's shared with the brake hydraulic resevoir) and it is full to the mark.Checked round the drivers footwell and no sign of leakage,nor any leakage under the car. So..why am I having problems selecting gears ? Clutch pressure plate ?? Clutch not slipping.

[tvrgit]

The clutch and brake reservoirs are separate. The brake one is either mounted on the master cylinder or is separate, on the bulkhead behind the coolant expansion tank. The clutch one is on the bulkhead beside the servo - be sure you're checking the right one!

[Roy C]

The brake reservoir is the clear plastic one on the bulkhead (usually with the wiring connection for a low-level warning light in the lid). The clutch reservoir is the metal one next to the brake servo (directly in front of the clutch pedal).

[tozerman]

I have been having the same gear selection troubles as you, my answer came from checking the clutch master cylinder and discovering that sometimes it was sticking therefore giving me no hydraulic pressure at all. New landrover master cylinder fitted, new clutch pipe made just need to fit the pipe tonight and bleed the system and then should be perfect

Cheers.....Tony..

[wanacoop]

tozerman said:

I have been having the same gear selection troubles as you, my answer came from checking the clutch master cylinder and discovering that sometimes it was sticking therefore giving me no hydraulic pressure at all. New landrover master cylinder fitted, new clutch pipe made just need to fit the pipe tonight and bleed the system and then should be perfect

Cheers.....Tony..

How is it now Tozer? Mine has just started being a swine to get into gear. No cluch slip tho..

[gorrington]

Mine is being fixed as we speak.I got aftermarket parts from Rimmer brothers,very cheap.Both the master and slave cylinder inc postage for £28.
However,the pipe connecting the master and slave needs an adaptor as the unions are different.This will also require a new pipe to be made up,got a local Landrover specialist to knock one up for £20.
Will let you know how it drives tomorrow,picking it up in the morning.

[tozerman]

wanacoop said:

How is it now Tozer? Mine has just started being a swine to get into gear. No cluch slip tho..

All good now, gear selection is fine, although the clutch pedal now has to be fully down to change gear,

Cheers.....Tony..

[GreenV8S]

Difficulty engaging gears usually means either the synchros are worn or the clutch is dragging slightly - which will then wear the synchros out as they fight to overcome the clutch. If the clutch is dragging it's probably because the clutch mechanism isn't fully disengaging the clutch, the clutch equivalent of spongy brakes. Other symptoms might be that the clutch pedal needs to be buried in the carpet to disengage the clutch.

[wanacoop]

Tried to take the S3 out for a spin yesterday, and it did it's latest thing, a grind into reverse, but then it stuck in reverse!! I didn't know what to do, it's been playing up the last couple of drives when I go for 1st, or reverse, but not had this!
I switched the engine off, and then it flew out of reverse, and was happy as Larry going into all the gears. I then looked for the clutch reservoir, but wasn't sure which one it was. A plastic one right on the master cylinder was full(was that the brake one?) Then there was a tubular metal one about 4" deep, and about 1.5" diameter, that was empty, was that my girl??

If it is, I suppose I need to find the leak before I can do anything?

Thanks in advance!

[Gerald-TVR]

wanacoop said:

, was that my girl??

Yep

[phillpot]

wanacoop said:

wasn't sure which one it was.

Try......

a. Follow the pipes
b. brake master cylinder has three pipes coming out of it, got three clutches?
c. think about the position, clutch is to the left of brake as you sit in the car so looking from the side of the car will be the one nearer the middle of the car.

all quite logical Mr Spock

[wanacoop]

what clutch fluid do I need chaps? Is it a standard brake fluid?

[mep12345]

wanacoop said:

what clutch fluid do I need chaps? Is it a standard brake fluid?

Yep standard brake fluid. You need to fix the leak first though which is most likely the internal seals in the slave cylinder, if not that check your drivers footwell, if damp then it may be the internal seals in the clutch master cylinder. There are plenty of threads on replacing both on here just do a search.

Also to see the picture of the slave cylinder it is HERE

HTH

Mark

[wanacoop]

mep12345 said:

Yep standard brake fluid. You need to fix the leak first though which is most likely the internal seals in the slave cylinder, if not that check your drivers footwell, if damp then it may be the internal seals in the clutch master cylinder. There are plenty of threads on replacing both on here just do a search.

Also to see the picture of the slave cylinder it is HERE

HTH

Mark

Thanks for the help Mark. Looks like a simple enough job if it means changing the slave cylinder, or master. I hope it's not too much hassle, 1st baby due in 5 weeks, and the wife is already talking about selling the S, problems now may seal her fate...