whats wrong with my Clutch!!

[lynda.caerau]

Hi folks, I have 1.9 petrol and having difficulty getting into 1st and 2nd gear, unless I double the clutch in which case its fine, can any of you wise chaps offer a solution or at least any idea ?

[VWCamperfan]

What is the clutch fluid level? Have you had to top up recently?

[lynda.caerau]

will check that, if I am honest I haven't checked it I kinda thought garage did that sort of thing on a service and have only done 1000 since then,

[VWCamperfan]

I doubt they could even find it, let alone top it up!

[RHINO79]

Def sounds like a slave cylinder/fluid level problem

Worse way new cylinder easy to do and not to exspensive!

[lynda.caerau]

Whoops ok is it that difficult to spot,,, even for a woman!!! else I could be in trouble . Also re new cyclinder do you have to be a mechanic to do it or could a mere woman do it...

[VWCamperfan]

It's hiding under the dashboards instrument cover! It is also the brake fluid resorviour, the two are shared from the one tank.

[Red Westie]

Just 1st and 2nd? cracked syncro ring.....dificult in all gears, well does the clutch pedal feel like it's disengaging? where does the clutch bite? could be air in the system, worn clutch itself, dry/rusty splines on the input shaft not allowing the centre plate to fully disengage. Soooooo many diferent things but if you can be more specific in your description.
Martin

[lynda.caerau]

taking it to work tomorrow so I will suss it and comeback with a tad more detail and will check the fluid levels before i leave
thanks chaps

[toomanytoys]

Where abouts in the world are you, could be a specialist or helpfull member that can take a look...

[happy camper]

Check that the nut holding the linkage to the selector mechanism at the gearbox is tight

Infact check the whole linkage, i removed the roll pins from the u/j and replaced them with nuts and bolts to take out the slack and tightened the linkage bolt at the gear box and this transformed my gear change from a sloppy bucket of bricks to a nice smooth change

[lynda.caerau]

SOuth Wales just outside Newport, took it out today and it seemed a tad better, didn't get time to check fluid levels will do so on the weekend., but if I pump the clutch a couple of time before I go to put it into gear then no problem, slips in fine, so thingking it could be fluid level..

[kevtherev]

... and I'm thinking pumping is... air in the system, shagged slave and/or master.

let's hope it's just levels

[clartsonly]

when mine was very difficult in 1st and 2nd, the gear linkage at the gearbox end was loose, I tightened the nut again and it has been quite good since, still gets a bit stuck in third if you stop in that gear.

[boatdog]

if it improves with a bit of pumping its got air in it! either low fluid levels or a seal has given up somewhere probs the slave cyl