Clutch not disengaging - randomly but worsening.

Clutch not disengaging - randomly but worsening.

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Discussion

Whitehandle

Original Poster:

2 posts

18 months

Tuesday 15th August 2023
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1.0l ecoboost focus mk4.

Clutch sometimes won't disengage.

Sometimes you can start the car and everything's fine
Others it won't shift into or our of Any gears.
Then suddenly it will and smoothly.

Others it'll happen when driving , at a moments notice and completely at random.

When it's clearly not disengaging. I've tested by trying to start the car in gear with the clutch pedal in.
And you can feel the car slightly pull forward. So the clutch definitely isn't fully disengaging. But what's confusing is the randomised nature..
There is no pattern what so ever..

Any ideas?
I have a garage and full tools and I'm moderately competent with mechanics..

I'm thinking air in the system.
But clutch feels fine and pedal returns every time.

Is there anyone who knows how I can better diagnose or test to narrow down the culprit?

Car is currently out of action, and I may or may not be praying it spontaneously combust or disappears.
Best of luck to the would be thief however with the clutch

TwinKam

3,170 posts

102 months

Tuesday 15th August 2023
quotequote all
Obviously check fluid level if you haven't already, and a fluid bleed (or complete change) would not go amiss, but have a look at the master cylinder and pushrod to check that the clutch pedal is returning fully, if it doesn't, it won't uncover its input port.
Next time it fails, lift the pedal gently with your toes and then try again... also try pumping the pedal.

stevemcs

8,990 posts

100 months

Tuesday 15th August 2023
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Spring on the pedal or master cylinder

Whitehandle

Original Poster:

2 posts

18 months

Tuesday 15th August 2023
quotequote all
Fluid is fine max level and hasn't budged.

Clutch will move the slave cylinder when pressed.
I bled it last week but possibly not fully. So will try pressure bleed to see if that makes a difference.
The slave cylinder on the focus is a two clip style rather than bleed nipple nut.

The pedal never doesn't fully return. Even when the car won't go into gear..

Pumped it about 3 billion times over the past few days 😅

Pain in the absolute backside.

GreenV8S

30,484 posts

291 months

Wednesday 16th August 2023
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Does the pedal feel any different when the problem happens?

fatjon

2,298 posts

220 months

Wednesday 16th August 2023
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I had this on a citroen. It was the seal on the master cylinder inverting. A new MC fixed it. No idea if this is a “thing” on fords but it certainly is on Berlingos. Pedal felt quite normal but did nothing at the slave end as it didn’t apply any real pressure. Quite intermittent too.

stevemcs

8,990 posts

100 months

Wednesday 16th August 2023
quotequote all
fatjon said:
I had this on a citroen. It was the seal on the master cylinder inverting. A new MC fixed it. No idea if this is a “thing” on fords but it certainly is on Berlingos. Pedal felt quite normal but did nothing at the slave end as it didn’t apply any real pressure. Quite intermittent too.
Yes its common on the Focus but even more common on VW's

Peanut Gallery

2,523 posts

117 months

Wednesday 16th August 2023
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Alan Howat (sp) on Youtube I think had similar once - part of a seal had been broken and was jammed in the slow return valve.