hydraulic clutch woes

Hi Everyone,

My first post on here so please take it easy on me! Looking at previous threads re the clutch it looks like a common issue. I have an 04 plate JTD with approx 35k on the clock. This car has been owned by us from new. Had some problems with the clutch over the last couple of months or so. Basically on start up we have no clutch. If we set off in second gear and keep pumping the clutch then over the first few miles it gets a lot better/usable. It is never quite right though, and will still feel like when the pedal is being depressed that the clutch is not operating fully.

The first time the clutch became unusable I paid a local garage to change the internals on the master cylinder. This worked for a while and then the problem came back. Second time we got the whole master cylinder changed. Again it worked for a while (approx 1000 miles) and then came back. The third time we got the clutch replaced (ker-ching!). Again this worked for a while and then the problem comes back. In reality, when the clutch is well bled, the problem goes away and then gradually comes back. I am not losing any fluid but presumably some air is getting in over time.

Could it be the slave cylinder? It is about the only thing that has not been changed. All help appreciated.

Currently we have lost confidence in the car and as a result it is just sitting there not getting used. This seems a shame because in many ways it is a great car and we used to really enjoy it.

On a seperate note, the rear electronic boot release button is no longer working, although the one inside the car works fine - any suggestions?

hi weed,

i run a small repair garage in somerset, we also have car sales on site. recently we did a trade deal and got a 2.0 jtd multipla. we took the vehicle with a fault, the symptoms were, 1. the clutch pedal felt fine but couldnt select any gears, we could start the car in gear and drive off but with the engine running we could not select a gear. with the engine running if we pushed the gear stick forward looking for 1st gear it would not select but the vehicle would start to move off until the gear stick was released.
we bled the clutch but to no avail, we changed the slave cylinder and bled the clutch again, still nothing. we then reconditioned the master cylinder and bled the system again, still nothing. i then borrowed a pressure bleeder and tried that, again nothing. i then ordered a clutch kit and changed the cluth. the old clutch had 2 fingers broken on the pressure plate this was the problem.reading some of the info on the net it appears that the same symptoms dont necessarily have the same fault at their base.
as a basic guide if you depress the clutch pedal and the push rod at the slave cylinder travels forward approx 3 inches then the hydraulic system is functioning as it should. if not get the system bled using a pressure bleeder.
most of what i have read on the net seems to be the same symptoms but most people end up changing the slave, the master and the clutch before the problem goes away so there is no sure fire way to diagnose the fault exactly without changing parts. however as i said 3 inches of movement at the slave means that the hydraulics are functional

hope this helps

pete

hi weed,

i run a small repair garage in somerset, we also have car sales on site. recently we did a trade deal and got a 2.0 jtd multipla. we took the vehicle with a fault, the symptoms were, 1. the clutch pedal felt fine but couldnt select any gears, we could start the car in gear and drive off but with the engine running we could not select a gear. with the engine running if we pushed the gear stick forward looking for 1st gear it would not select but the vehicle would start to move off until the gear stick was released.
we bled the clutch but to no avail, we changed the slave cylinder and bled the clutch again, still nothing. we then reconditioned the master cylinder and bled the system again, still nothing. i then borrowed a pressure bleeder and tried that, again nothing. i then ordered a clutch kit and changed the cluth. the old clutch had 2 fingers broken on the pressure plate this was the problem.reading some of the info on the net it appears that the same symptoms dont necessarily have the same fault at their base.
as a basic guide if you depress the clutch pedal and the push rod at the slave cylinder travels forward approx 3 inches then the hydraulic system is functioning as it should. if not get the system bled using a pressure bleeder.
most of what i have read on the net seems to be the same symptoms but most people end up changing the slave, the master and the clutch before the problem goes away so there is no sure fire way to diagnose the fault exactly without changing parts. however as i said 3 inches of movement at the slave means that the hydraulics are functional

hope this helps

pete

This is very helpful - thanks Pete!