Clutch - Hydraulic Leak
Discussion
'97 4.2 Cerbera acquisition is my 1st TVR so the buzz remains fresh
Whilst bought privately, car thoroughly checked by independent expert & FTVRSH, I did expect some costs, however a big one within weeks of ownership and Xmas!!
Without warning clutch pedal went soft, then no clutch. Pumped pedal, eventually gained some pressure, limped home to find fluid dripping from bellhousing.
According to Gassing threads & HHC this probably means slave cylinder O-ring leak, "min £450 for new slave fitted, Max £1,200 with new upgraded clutch whilst bellhousing out - if req'd".
As HHC remain V busy I refilled reservoir then topped up every run; However since refilling, flushing & bleeding reservoir, seems leak may have stopped/ slowed!!
Anyone had this before?
Could a one off leak occur?
Will I cause further damage by driving with topped up reservoir?
If I could guarantee slave cylinder only with a prompt repair I'd do it today, however the Full works is a bill & delays I could do without until new year; although don't want this to become my 1st road side recovery!!
Tks in advance for any advice on the issue, the likely costs or the potential additional damage
Whilst bought privately, car thoroughly checked by independent expert & FTVRSH, I did expect some costs, however a big one within weeks of ownership and Xmas!!
Without warning clutch pedal went soft, then no clutch. Pumped pedal, eventually gained some pressure, limped home to find fluid dripping from bellhousing.
According to Gassing threads & HHC this probably means slave cylinder O-ring leak, "min £450 for new slave fitted, Max £1,200 with new upgraded clutch whilst bellhousing out - if req'd".
As HHC remain V busy I refilled reservoir then topped up every run; However since refilling, flushing & bleeding reservoir, seems leak may have stopped/ slowed!!
Anyone had this before?
Could a one off leak occur?
Will I cause further damage by driving with topped up reservoir?
If I could guarantee slave cylinder only with a prompt repair I'd do it today, however the Full works is a bill & delays I could do without until new year; although don't want this to become my 1st road side recovery!!
Tks in advance for any advice on the issue, the likely costs or the potential additional damage
Not sure how leak could be 'cured'. First possible problems I see with refilling is that than getting better, the leak could suddenly get worse. If it's down to a fracture in the o-ring, it could give up altogether.
The second problem may not actually be a problem...if you have a warranty. If you keep adding fluid and it's leaking out the slave cylinder, then it could contaminate the clutch plates and knacker the clutch...so instant large bill. However, read your warranty if you have one, and while clutches aren't covered being classed as consumable, they often are if they're damaged by contamination. What would happen then is that the warranty company 'should' pay for your new clutch upgrade etc., but in a propoertion to the amount of wear left, so if there was estimated 50% life left, they should pick up 50% of the costs as the contamination as caused the replacement 50% early.
I had this with mine - it was quite genuine, the [early style] clutch slave went pop and contaminated the plates. Unfortunately the clutch had 30,000 miles on it so they only estimated something like 20% life left. Nevertheless, the wee contribution helped.
You might have an arguement on your hands, and you'd have to weigh up the risks of damaging the plates and maybe getting some cash. Of course, you might find the plates are contaminated already, in which case this is all academic...and of course you might not have a warranty.
WB
The second problem may not actually be a problem...if you have a warranty. If you keep adding fluid and it's leaking out the slave cylinder, then it could contaminate the clutch plates and knacker the clutch...so instant large bill. However, read your warranty if you have one, and while clutches aren't covered being classed as consumable, they often are if they're damaged by contamination. What would happen then is that the warranty company 'should' pay for your new clutch upgrade etc., but in a propoertion to the amount of wear left, so if there was estimated 50% life left, they should pick up 50% of the costs as the contamination as caused the replacement 50% early.
I had this with mine - it was quite genuine, the [early style] clutch slave went pop and contaminated the plates. Unfortunately the clutch had 30,000 miles on it so they only estimated something like 20% life left. Nevertheless, the wee contribution helped.
You might have an arguement on your hands, and you'd have to weigh up the risks of damaging the plates and maybe getting some cash. Of course, you might find the plates are contaminated already, in which case this is all academic...and of course you might not have a warranty.
WB
I had a similar problem in Le Mans this year; ring road in the Thursday evening rush hour and the pedal went to the floor. On investigation fluid was leaking heavily from bottom of bell housing. I suspected slave cylinder and arranged recovery to UK via AA 5 star. On return to the dealer in UK, they topped up fluid and bled system and couldn't fault. Car has been fine since. I know of at least one other Cerbera owner with the same story (see Cerbera group on Yahoo). I can't explain it, but I've chosen to carry on and see what happens. So far so good.
Thanks for info/ moral support. At least I'm not alone in the quandary, but may be "alone" without a warrantee as chose independent expert instead - both seem expensive and neither a real guarantee!
Reckon I'll keep an eye on the level & clutch performance, but save for new upgraded clutch anyway!
Reckon I'll keep an eye on the level & clutch performance, but save for new upgraded clutch anyway!
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