Clutch Fluid Loss

[Llamapup]

Hello All

I went to go start my 1991 Westy 1.6TD the other day and the clutch peddle goes all the way to the floor. There was no pressure at all. I checked the clutch fluid resevoir and its very low. I had never noticed any loss of clutch pressure or any trouble shifting gears while driving recently. I have seen no puddles of fluid under the van.

I bought some DOT 4 clutch fluid, but have not put it in yet. Is this the right type of fluid?

Does this loss of fluid mean that I will need to replace the clutch cylendar? Is that a hard job.

Thanks

Chris

[Ian Hulley]

3 possibilities ... Slave cylinder (easy but a tad fiddly) Master cylinder (easy but fiddly) Clutch pipe (can be a can of worms). Chances are it's the slave cylinder

Dot 4's correct

Ian.

[Llamapup]

Okay. Finnaly managed to put some DOT 4 clutch fluid in. It used most of a 500ml bottle. I pumped the clutch peddle for a couple of minutes but there is no pressure at all. The clutch peddle is just completly floppy.

The van was parked on a hill so I started the engine in 2nd gear just to make sure things were still working. I drove it around the block pumping the clutch peddle as I went. Everything else seems to work fine. I can select gears with the engine off.

My intention was to drive the van to my garage to have the clutch cylendars replaced as needed, but given that adding clutch fluid has not solved the problem it looks like I will need to arrange a tow to get me there.

I was expecting to get the clutch working when I added fluid, particulary considering the level in the fluid resevoir was so low. Does the problem I describe sound like something that can be fixed by replacing faulty clutch cylendars?

Thanks

Chris

[clartsonly]

it is most likely your slave have a feel around the rubber seal on the bottom of the slave cylinder attached to the top of the bellhousing.

[ThorAlex]

try bleeding the clutch, even very small bubbles can make it soft. when it's bled you can trace the lines and check the slave for leaks, have someone pump it wile you look around.

[Red Westie]

You need to slacken off the bleed nipple on the clutch slave cylinder (on the gearbox bell housing) and bleed out all the air.
However, it does sound like there is a bad leak and this is most probably the slave cylinder given that you haven't seen a leak in the cab (around the pedals)

Martin

[Team28crew]

Just had the same problem mate and turned out to be the slave, thanks to Mr Hully who was very helpful online it is easy to fit just be carefull not to cross thread the the hose union into the slave, I did and it cost me a new slave cylinder, hydraulic pipe and a right telling off from SWMBO

Good slave from here
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-CAMPER-TRANSPO ... 2ea8f1baad

Good luck

[kevtherev]

GSF sell T25 slave cylinders for a price comparison they are £31.50 delivered less discount

[clartsonly]

I love GSF and have since my golf in 1994 but when I saw the GSF man in euro car parts and I asked "have you left because all of the camper van questions?" he answered.... "no GSF are going down the pan..!" what does that mean?????

[insitu_mouldings]

get a mate to pump the peddle and hold it down if your going to bleed, then open the bleed nipple to release the air. Then tighten and your mate can release and pump the peddle again. Then repeat. Do it this way and you wont drag any more air into the system.

[Llamapup]

get a mate to pump the peddle and hold it down if your going to bleed, then open the bleed nipple to release the air. Then tighten and your mate can release and pump the peddle again. Then repeat. Do it this way and you wont drag any more air into the system.

Thanks for this explanation for clutch bleeding. It helped me get enough pressure in the system to drive the van to a garage where I had my slave cylendar replaced. I wasn't able to undue the bolts holding the slave to the van so I ended up needing professional help in the end. They only charged me a couple of hours of labour and the price of the slave cylendar.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Chris

[insitu_mouldings]

Anytime mate.