clutch change fluid leak

Hi guys,

Had a holiday knightmare in my MK1

Aside from missing a speed Cam (roadworks + camera on A1 tried to get down to 50 limit without killing anyone!!)

My Clutch gave up on day 2.

AA took me to a local garage who fitted a new clutch. New clutch is very very light, slippy and sqeeky (really difficult to get used to)

Problems now after long drive home 4 hours plus I have a rattling on passenger side footwell at 50mph+ and a leak of some sort (big enough to puddle 20cm overnight - too smelly for oil - grease perhaps?) from the passenger side.

What have they done to my motor???

help

It may be coming from your slave cylinder if its on the passenger side under the engine area? Check your brake fluid level just incase and also all your other fluids, the brake fluid also works the hydraulic clutch so if its that then it should be low.

all fluids fine... oil water brake etc

vibration on passenger side sounds like when a cassette tape is rattling in your glove box - but under the footwell of passenger side...

Fluid coming out is sticky and very potent? gear box oil or grease - I guessed they might have had the drive shaft and gears out???

Also allthough the clutch is working it is kinduv weak in terms of pressure - like your just pressing the gas pedal???

Gearbox oil has a strong 'fishy' smell to it and amber in colour, CV grease is grey/black with no smell.

Frankly there should not be any fluid leaks after a clutch change.

Is the fluid directly under the passenger side driveshaft? It's possible when they removed the driveshaft to get the gearbox out, it wasn't fitted correctly (there's a circlip on the end to 'lock' it into the diff inside- I've seen these break/go "missing") or they may have damaged the diff seal.

Either way I'd get it checked thoroughly underneath at a garage/someone you trust.

The light pedal may just be down to them cleaning and greasing the lever arm and sleeve inside- nothing to be too concerned with.

thanx guys,

I put a bowl under to catch the fluid last night... On the passengers side - directly under the offside rear corner of the engine. (is that where the driveshaft is?)

its amber and smelly - so that gearbox oil

where would that come from??? (gearbox I know) but how is it leaking??

And What would the vibrating be?

J

P.S I may ring the AA to complian - the sent me to this garage - they should sort it out.

Update:

Phoned the garage (who are safely 200 miles away) - I told them the leak was under the passengers side and the fluid was amber and smelly.

They bluffed that its a gator that needs replacing and its leaking grease not gear oil.

I dont think they are right. I think they have broken something down there!



Its deffo coming from passengers side and from the vibration at high speed I think its the driveshaft! but could be the slave cylider.

I some questions:

Could it be coming directly from the gearbox? (leak on passenger side directly under footwell)

If not does the drive shaft have grease or oil in it?

And will I be safe drivin it (my garage cant see it till wednesday!)