Clutch problem

[Evangelion]

Had a strange problem this evening; over the course of a few minutes I found I was having to push the clutch down further and further to get it to disengage - until eventually it wouldn't! As I was to all intents and purposes without a clutch at this point I thought I'd better head for home.

Found that repeatedly pumping the pedal gave me just enough disengagement to get by. Managed to get the car into the drive, then a couple of hours later returned to it to discover that enough disengagement had come back to be able to reverse it into the garage.

Haven't had a chance to check the fluid level, but would have thought that if that were the problem the brakes would have been affected too, since they share the same reservoir.

Any ideas?

Edited by Evangelion on Sunday 28th June 01:10

[bluetone]

Evangelion said:

Haven't had a chance to check the fluid level, but would have thought that if that were the problem the brakes would have been affected too, since they share the same reservoir.

This is not correct mate. The clutch fluid reservoir is the small-ish grey box behind and the right of the brake fluid reservoir (on my Mk1 anyway).

Could be your clutch slave cylinder on it's way out (cheap to fix). Could be oil leaking onto your clutch housing (has a nasty habit of seeping inside and causing slippage). Could be your clutch is sh@gged.

Do you regularly indulge in clutch-abusing hi-rev launches?

Have a look-see here and good luck.

http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/p/200/361.aspx...

Edited by bluetone on Sunday 28th June 07:11

[Evangelion]

bluetone said:

a)...Could be oil leaking onto your clutch housing (has a nasty habit of seeping inside and causing slippage) ...

b)... Do you regularly indulge in clutch-abusing hi-rev launches? ...

a) No, it's the lack of slippage that's the problem!

b) No, but who knows what previous owners got up to?

Anyway, I've now checked the level, and topped it up. No change.

[bluetone]

Evangelion said:

bluetone said:

a)...Could be oil leaking onto your clutch housing (has a nasty habit of seeping inside and causing slippage) ...

b)... Do you regularly indulge in clutch-abusing hi-rev launches? ...

a) No, it's the lack of slippage that's the problem!

b) No, but who knows what previous owners got up to?

Anyway, I've now checked the level, and topped it up. No change.

The fact you had to top it up at all suggests a leak? If the clutch is not engaging to enable you to change gears I think you've either got a loss of pressure in your clutch hydraulics or an unpleasant mechanical problem. Any sign of leaks around the clutch fluid pipework/cylinders?

[Evangelion]

bluetone said:

. ... Any sign of leaks around the clutch fluid pipework/cylinders? ...

Haven't looked yet, that's the next job! Not that I'll be doing it, it was always the intention to get the car checked over as soon as possible after buying it anyway (by the guy who's been looking after my cars for more than a decade).

[Oldandslow]

Sounds like classic and fairly large fluid leak to me. Slave cylinder is most common culprit. Luckily new cylinders are not too pricey and easily fitted.

[Stickers]

Oldandslow said:

Sounds like classic and fairly large fluid leak to me. Slave cylinder is most common culprit. Luckily new cylinders are not too pricey and easily fitted.

I agree, depress the clutch several times and look underneath the car, there should be signs of leakage in line with, or slightly foward of, the rear of your front wheel & biast towards the drivers side of the centre of the vehicle when viewd from the front.

[Evangelion]

Just had the slave cylinder replaced but the problem remained. Replaced the master cylinder - that's a job and a half isn't it? There's so little room under the bonnet to get the mounting nut in and nine times out of ten it would fall off the stud before it got started on the thread. In the end it took two of us, one to guide it on and the other to turn the foot-long extension. Anyway after bleeding it all seemed to work fine.

[Evangelion]

After leaving it overnight I checked that the fluid level was ok and took it out for a run (I would say a hoon but I've no idea what that is. Must be something nice though as it seems fairly popular round here). Everything is now fine. Clutch take-up point about half way up and really smooth.

Edited by Evangelion on Wednesday 22 July 17:50