Car is away in the big city on Sunday and the clutch pedal goes to the floor. Gears cannot be selected with the motor running but can with it stopped. No noises, report of slight difficulty getting first gear the day before.
Tow truck driver insists the gearbox is knackered. There is fluid everywhere. He sent me pics and the gearbox is wet like it was dipped in a bath of oil.
Trying to think what could happen to a gearbox that would at the same time drop the clutch pedal to the floor ?
They're quoting 700 for a used box and saying scrap it. I think it could be the slave.
Any opinions ?

The tow truck driver is wrong wrong wrong.
I can't think of anything in gearbox that would cause pedal on the floor.
Yes it could very much be slave cylinder or broken pipe/hose from master to slave.
Get it back, but be very polite to tow company so they don't mess up your car.

700 squid for used 8v gearbox? ask them if they are feeling okay

look if slave moves when you press clutch

obviously an issue with clutch pipe or slave cylinder
they are trying to pull your pants down and nick your car

Had a look this morning. Slave rod is snapped off and jammed between the cylinder and the rod arm. Brake reservoir is down to min and fluid is dribbling out the boot on the slave.
Fingers crossed we'll have her back by the end of the week. Pain in the ass when things happen so far away.
Recovery now say mechanics hadn't had time to look at it properly. Do I want them to fix it?
How common is it for that plastic rod to snap. Is 130k miles and sixteen years a bit soon

No it's lasted well for plastic , longer than some Italian steel used too.
Of course they have an excuse !
Do you have brake down recovery to your home cover?
If not some people might consider getting that type of cover , getting public transport to broken car and phoning for recovery to home address.
Or get them to give you a fixed price for fixing it .
I would have thought 1 hour labour should be more than enough op including putting fluid in and bleeding air out.
Other forum members please chip in on time required please .
I wouldn't want them to touch it myself .

Fitted a new slave cylinder today and we are back in business. The old plastic rod had snapped the ball end off.

Remember to charge yourself £700

I get the feeling the tow truck dispatcher moonlights from his dayjob which is flying drones from a hole in the ground. He had no idea where the car was and was unable to simply tell me the possible locations. He had to text me the address which is code for push the button on the screen.
The car was in a rundown part of the inner city with literally dozens of outfits operating from the same yards and sheds. Bodywork, servicing, valeting and modding. Not a word of English, all Eastmen and a more helpful bunch you couldn't ask for. Offered tools, jumper packs even, when the time came to start, insisted on piggybacking their pack on top of our jumpleads to give it more ooommph. Then a great cheer when she fired up. Any attempt to ask for the gaffer and they point to a mobile number on a piece of cardboard nailed to the wall. Half a dozen emerged from the shadows to see us off on our journey home.

Isn't it marvellous when people want to help each other out, imagine what the world would be like if we were all like that.
Thank you so much for sharing , you have really cheered me up .

Seems to have something to do with the amount of coin in pocket.
I wonder how much of it was them delighted to see an older car rescued one more time.
Who knows. A nice bunch of people in any event.

If it happens again .. with the engine off, put the car in 1st and turn the key .. the car will jerk forward on the starter but it will start .. You're off .. in first gear!

If you listen to the engine note / revs as you accelerate, you can 'time' the gearchange and get into 2nd .. 3rd .. It's a bit like a 'crash gearbox'.

Years ago I drove across Chelmsford like that (the clutch pedal actually fell off..) .. then again, it was the company van, so it didn't matter if I damaged it ...

But, it can be done. Next time you drive somebody else's car try it

Brendan W said:

Car is away in the big city on Sunday and the clutch pedal goes to the floor. Gears cannot be selected with the motor running but can with it stopped. No noises, report of slight difficulty getting first gear the day before.
Tow truck driver insists the gearbox is knackered. There is fluid everywhere. He sent me pics and the gearbox is wet like it was dipped in a bath of oil.
Trying to think what could happen to a gearbox that would at the same time drop the clutch pedal to the floor ?
They're quoting 700 for a used box and saying scrap it. I think it could be the slave.
Any opinions ?

Click to expand...

€700????? Is that for another car? you know the value of old Fiats here! Glad you got sorted.