clutch - what's wrong?

Post by **ermie571** » 15 May 2006, 08:11

Mornin',

we have been told the clutch has gone on our donated van. Could this be anything other than the actual clutch (cylinder thing?), and if so, how would we diagnose?

Thanks in advance,

Emma and John.

Post by **Mocki** » 15 May 2006, 08:15

if the clutch slave is duff, it will either have nothing on the pedal, ( no feeling) or you wont be able to push it down.... and it will have no "Clutch" ie, you will need to start it in gear or have no drive, if its slipping, chances are its the clutch its self...... it could just be siezed as could the atuator arm.....

Post by **ermie571** » 15 May 2006, 08:40

Mocki, thanks for that.

So straight down, no resistance - likely to be the slave cylinder, then?

But with the clutch down, engine off, we can select gears - ie the stick seems to move into the right gear, and then will return to the neutral position. Still the cylinder?

What happens if we start the engine? Tried the other day, but battery very low - turned over sluggish, but not enough to start. No leaping forward as if in gear, though.

Sorry so vague,

thanks
Emma

Post by **Aidan** » 15 May 2006, 16:44

sounds like clutch and gears ok, slave cylinder gone.
With engine off get someone to lie underneath and watch the slave cylinder and arm on the nearside of the gearbox while person in cab depresses pedal. Likely to see no movement and fluid oozing out of slave cylinder boot.
Replace slave cylinder, bleed and all should be good.
Check also there's no fluid seepage at pedal end...master cylinder, or pipe failure in between and check level hasn't gone down so low as to allow air into brake system too.