My clutch went! How???

Post by **airhead** » 29 Jul 2006, 13:45

OK ordinarily at this point Id say that it was my clutch cable that had snapped, but my van doesnt have a clutch cable, it being a T25 syncro, and this was different too. The clutch is hydraulic too. But yet as I drove up a long hill in 4th, I found myself unable to get into any gear when I went to change. I stopped, got second, revved her up and slowly released the clutch and started moving. Grand so, it was working then, so why was it while I was moving I couldnt change gear!? And yet while I rolled to a stop in second gear after putting the clutch in, the engine did not disengage until I had nearly stopped. Then it would idle fine, I could get a gear and start moving in that gear after bringing the clutch out slowly. In my knowledge of how clutches work, and I have a fair idea, this does not make sense. SO what the hell has happened? I managed to get the van home driving in second gear but it was a bit of a slow way to get around and was causing irritation on the road for other drivers too. And to top it all off, those f**king chavs heckling at me really didnt help! SO can anyone else help me, pleeeease!?? Im going away next weekend and need my van!

Post by **HarryMann** » 29 Jul 2006, 15:53

Bleed your clutch at the slave cylinder, inspect it at the slave cylinder for leaks, and when you bleed it see if you get any air out of it... a fairly comprehensive decription is in the Wiki.

http://www.club80-90.co.uk/wiki/index.p ... isengaging

http://www.club80-90.co.uk/wiki/index.p ... s/clutches

Check whether brake fluid is dripping down from the master cylinder above the pedals too.

You might need a new slave cylinder if it shows the signs... don't try to over analyse the symptons, just get bleeding to see if that gets it working again.

Worst case scenario - the clutch release bearing is cracking up.

Post by **airhead** » 29 Jul 2006, 16:12

Lovely stuff. And tell me, is the brake fluid and clutch fluid one and the same? Cause I think theres been a very slight drop in my brake fluid level. Still afe but noticeable nonetheless.

Post by **HarryMann** » 29 Jul 2006, 20:37

Yes it is one and the same, but just above a nominal danger level the reservoir is split into two - to preserve brake fluid if the cluch leaks badly...
Sounds like the clutch slave, look for signs of fluid... on 2WDs I think the clutch pipe can leak as it goes over the fuel tank.

Post by **airhead** » 31 Jul 2006, 19:23

OK the operating mechanism for the clutch seems fine. The hydraulics are all working. The fluid level is fine. So am I looking at a new release bearing here? Is it worth it to get the clutch replaced while the bearing is replaced too? How could the release bearing go like that? I mean the van only has 52k miles on it! Is it normal for it to have such a short lifespan?

Post by **toomanytoys** » 31 Jul 2006, 19:30

If you are going to the trouble of changing the bearing then change the lot.. also check that the faces where the actuating arms press on the release bearing are nice and rounded, you can reshape them with a hand file, if there are flats the new clutch will most likely stick jam be horrible.. once rounded, the clutch pedal will feel super smooth and silky.. oh and dont grease them liberally.. just a "smear" of coppaslip

52k.. but how old?? lots of gear changes as prob used for short trips in town...!!!

Post by **ermie571** » 31 Jul 2006, 20:27

hi airhead,

have you actually BLED the clutch yet?

I had very similar symptons with mine.....only to get a gear I had to stop, turn the engine off, then select the gear.. Threee point turns were fun...

Anyway, Harrymanm, to whom I will be forever indebted instructed me on how to bleed the clutch. I have to admit, that when we looked under the van, the arm on the clutch appeared to be moving ok, and we worried about the release bearing too - but followed Haryymann's advice to bleed before buying any parts! The fluid came out a manky brown/green colour, and I topped up the reservoir with a small bottle from Hal****ds.

The clutch then worked fine, and has done so ever since. The thread will be on here somewhere!

Thanks again, Harrymann - scoobs is still going strong.

Plucking up the courage to do the brakes, but have heard that the nipples can be very delicate....

Good luck, and hope its nothing serious.

Post by **airhead** » 01 Aug 2006, 15:05

It was an ambulance. Full VW service history and all that. Made in 92 in the last month of syncro production. I havent bled the clutch. I think Ill try that next. Thanks for the advice guys! If Ive to change the release bearing Ill check the actuator arm too and replace the clutch itself.