Troubleshoot Clutch Issue?

[RossoDiamante]

Something happened out of the blue the other day that really has me perturbed.

2007 Noble M400 with 4500 miles.

Driving early in the morning to work. Still dark outside. Drive about 1 mile from home. Sitting at a red light -- clutch pedal in and transmission in 1st gear. Engine suddenly dies. I thought the battery disconnect loosened itself and now I wasn't getting any spark? The battery has self-disconnected once before. But I still had electrical power. The odd thing was that the clutch pedal was limp on the floor. With key turned on, a couple of pumps of the clutch pedal repressurized the system and the car started back up. Turned around and crossed my fingers and gingerly went back home and got into another car to get to work. Happened again the following day. Nothing like this has happened to me before (in my extensive 6 month history of owning the car!).

Based on this description, what does it sound like and what is the troubleshooting algorithm?

[andygtt]

very strange, not had that happened to me before either, in my inexperience in the symptom but knowing what the components are I suspect the slave or master cylinder has an issue... unless you are handy with the spanners and plan to fix it yourself I would recommend you ring Jetstream as they know the cars better than anyone out there imo.

[coolchris]

I had a problem engaging gears checked in the footwell and there was fluid around the top of clutch pedal diagnosis was the master cylinder was leaking the seals can fail.check other side of the bulk head where the metal L shaped cylinder is see if its low on fluid and check at top of clutch pedal if all seems fine could be slave cylinder.for the record labour and master cylinder cost me £150 all in.

[Spindoctor]

I had sudden loss of clutch pressure a while ago. Master and slave cylinder were fine (slave replacement is an engine out job isn't it?), turned out to need a new clutch pipe. As said, check for fluid loss.

[RossoDiamante]

All good things to look for. I will see what I can find.

Spindoctor, what is a "clutch pipe"?

[Spindoctor]

RossoDiamante said:

Spindoctor, what is a "clutch pipe"?

My technical term for the braided hose that runs from the reservoir under the front clam to the rear. Mine had split somehow. A bleedin' nuisance but not as much of a pain as the slave cylinder going.

[RossoDiamante]

Gotcha. The symptoms are getting worse over time. The pedal is getting limper and limper over time. And pumping the clutch pedal now fails to make the system pressurized. The master cylinder still has fluid in it and I don't see any fluid on the ground. I wonder if it is on the undertray and just hasn't declared itself yet. I'm bummed. I was just getting ready to show it to trade in on a new car!

[TuxMan]

Sounds like the slave cylinder in the bell housing is knackered .

[wessexrfc]

TuxMan said:

Sounds like the slave cylinder in the bell housing is knackered .

Had this and it was the master cylinder on mine, which you can get to without removing the engine!!! Might be worth a check...

[RossoDiamante]

Back from spring break vacation and have discovered the clutch reservoir is separate from the brake reservoir! But tucked up underneath the tray pretty good. Doh!

Empty.

So filled with fluid and now trying to bleed the system.

But also discovered a leak underneath the boot on the pedal side of the master cylinder "tube" that the clutch pedal moves to actuate the master cylinder piston.

So it looks like I might need a new master cylinder.

What is the recommended setup? Is there an improved or more reliable model?