Clutch or gearbox nightmare?

[pleasestartnow]

Hi all hope someone can help me.

Driving to work this morning and I was stopped at traffic lights. Left the can in 1st and had the clutch pushed in but out of nowhere it just started to try and take off. Lights went green so I just assumed my foot must have been slipping off or something. When I got to the next lights though the same thing happened and the clutch started to feel very light. Got into work and had to stop at a zebra crossing and similar situation, van felt like it was going to take off. However when I went to go I could t select any gear for about 30 seconds and then they changed no bother. Got to work and parked up turned off the van and tried to change gear. Again no joy but then I could change OK.

I went to look in the engine bay and the column thing that has coiled piping going into it on the gearbox looked to be leaking a good bit of fluid from the bottom. Trying to upload a picture so ye can see but the Internet isn't great.

Any one have any ideas what's going on? Bricking myself now incase I need a new gearbox or something.

Van is jx 1.6 1990 (6 speed gearbox, 1-5 and reverse)

[pleasestartnow]

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[multisi]

Sounds like the hydraulic clutch slave cylinder has leaked and lost pressure, needs replacing. Dont buy the cheap type.

[pleasestartnow]

Cheers for the reply. Is that a big job. I don't mind doing good these things myself once I have a guide to follow.

Do you think it will be alright to drive it back later? About an hour most of it I. Motorway so not to many gear changes

[bigbadbob76]

I'll second what Multisi says.
You might want to top up your brake fluid reservoir (the reservoir is shared with the clutch) before you try and go home.

[pleasestartnow]

Cheers guys the slave is the only place there is a bit of fluid so it does look like it is leaking. Will order one today and sort it then. Good idea for topping up the reservoir. Any brake fluid will d?

[bigbadbob76]

Any DOT4 will be fine.
If the level has dropped so low that there's basically no fluid in there then I'd be wary of driving it without bleeding brakes first.

[pleasestartnow]

Good man cheers for that. No it hadn't dropped that far as the leak only happened close to work. Got home there now and had to top up twice but it'd not the end of the world. Have the part ordered so will sort it out next week at some stage.

Thanks again for all the help. I am sure I will be back next week. With a new issue hahaa

[Mocki]

The clutch takes it's feed from the top of the reservoir. So no need to worry about the brakes unless no clutch at all ( i.e. Push pedal and no movement from the slave )

[Sir Brixalot]

Wouldn't there be evidence of fluid in the cab?

[pleasestartnow]

No there is nothing in the cab, I checked around to see was there any leaks from the master cylinder and there was nothing there. Dried up around the slave and topped up the brake reservoir behind the dash. Started pressing on the clutch and all around the slave cylinder there was fluid so Def the slave cylinder

[bigbadbob76]

Glad you made it home ok.