T2 Sticky Clutch

[Kodiak]

Hi Guys,

Are we sitting comfortably? Good, Then I\'ll begin... :Typing

Took the car to Yeovil over the weekend. She performed brilliantly on the way there. On the way back we stopped of at Cheddar Gorge, up through gorge she was fantastic! Love this car more and more. :wiggle

Then we got to bath, slowing down to stop at a petrol station, shifted down into second and the Clutch pedal stuck to the bulkhead... so I rolled over to the side of the forecourt, reached down and pulled the clutch back/put her into neutral. :rolleyes:

Looked under the bonnet, fluids are fine, no obvious leaks. The pedal has movement. I\'ve taken the floor mats (non-standard that came with the car) out so it wasn\'t like that was getting it stuck. So at this point I\'m thinking/hoping/praying it was a one off... :cheers

At this point Rebecca (SWMBO) has filled her car up and is ready to go. So, bonnet down, clutch down, first gear... fine we\'re moving. (Really thinking it was just a one off at this point...). Straight off the forecourt into some traffic lights: Ok, Clutch down, Neutral, Fine. (It must have been a one off, right!?)

Green Light: Clutch goes down, stays there, but I can\'t get into first. It\'s like the gate is locked. :3Confused So I miss that green light, get to the next one and it\'s a struggle to get first. The clutch pedal stays down, I\'m trying to hook it back up with the toe of my shoe. Two young blondes in a hatchback behind me thinking i\'m having a seizure in the car i\'m sure...

From then on through the centre of bath became a game of russian roulette between the gearbox and the horrendous traffic light system, at one point the car got stuck in gear and stalled rolling up to a set of lights with the brakes on. that was the only time the clutch stayed engaged even when it was depressed.

So I\'ve gotten the car home.

Checked today. Sat in the car, depressed the clutch and it popped straight back up. Hmmmm :xconfused So without the car running I clutched, got first, clutched, got second, clutched, third...

Google search throws up a lot of Slave cylinder failures but most of the people who are predicting this problem also have cases of the car having been drifted, which I haven\'t done with mine.

The car has done 90k so wear and tear issue would be possible I suppose. Still no oil leaks.

Has anyone on here had something similar? What fixed it or where to look first?

Thanks guys.  :o

[Brett]

Has the fluid level dropped at all?

Usual culprits are the master or slave... its a PITA but not the end of the world

[Kodiak]

Fluid level in the reservoir hasn\'t changed since I changed the brake lines in april.

[Prof]

I had exactly these symptoms twice:
 
1st time it was the small rubber hose going to the slave cylinder - leaking at the crimp joint - replaced with a braided brake line from an mx5 kit
 
2nd time it was the clutch master cylinder seals - but no sign of fluid leakage - but fluid was going down just a little - got a rebuild kit from WGT and repaired the master - job done.
 
It\'s possible for it to also be the release bearing sticking, or the clutch fork to be sticking, slightly unseated or just generally sticking, and of course the slave cylinder.
 
I\'d check the clutch fork moves freely and check for dampness on the boot of the slave cylinder, hose joins or inside the bulkhead up under the steering wheel where the master cylinder plunger is - although it can be quite hard to see it leaking there - but if fluid level is going down, then it\'s a hydraulic issue.

[Prof]

Fluid level in the reservoir hasn\'t changed since I changed the brake lines in april.

Clutch on the FC has it\'s own resevoir - doesn\'t share the brake one !

[Kodiak]

Ahh... That\'s news. Where abouts is it? :Giggle:2eek


Edit: Actually feeling quite embarrassed now

[Prof]

It\'s quite easy to spot - if you are stood by the drivers side wing, look towards the passenger side and down a bit from the brake master - it\'s a small pot on top of the clutch master - about 2" diameter.

[Kodiak]

I know the one. Think someone may have changed the lid on it at some point.

Thank you! :Thumbsup!

[Brett]

Be interested to know if its still holding any fluid

[TiddlesRX7]

Yep had to change mine for similar reasons.

Ade

[Kodiak]

Well it was slightly below min, the top of the tube was coated in residue so it looked full :Hammer

Wiped that out and topped her up a few hours ago. Pumped the clutch for a while and it seems to be holding.

It was strange how it would shift more easily when moving than when stopped at a set of lights though...

[Kodiak]

There was a LOT of smoke pouring out the bonnet when I pulled up for petrol on the way there but I\'m pretty sure that was just due to the new exhaust wrap :mmmm

Still the petrol attendant noticed the car and asked me if it was a Mk2... As an FC I assume that\'s a suitable way of describing it, right? :evillaugh

Unless he was thinking of a Mk2 MR2 :Grrr

[grinder]

i had this on the EGI and it was a case of keeping flicking the pedal up with my foot

id start with the master cylinder rebuild ( and braided clutch hose at the same time ) just cause its easier to get to

then look at the slave ( i havent done it , but it doesnt look the easiest thing to get to )

I wouldnt be over worried mate

[Kodiak]

Well managed to get a look in today.

Had to take the drivers seat out to get into the drivers footwell but the return mechanism for the pedal seems to be working fine.

Clutch reservoir is holding the fluid, and no obvious leaks from the master.

As for the Slave, well you\'re right! looks like a right pain to get to! No obvious leaks there so I can only imagine that it\'s a problem within one of the cylinders.

Where did you get your rebuild materials from? :confused:

[TiddlesRX7]

I didn\'t find getting to the slave cylinder too bad. I do have small hand though!! Its only 2 bolts that hold it on. If you can get your hands on a wratchet spanner than it\'ll be even easier. If you take the intercooler off then that helps iirc