Hey team-

Just in my third week of model 169 ownership and the clutch pedal has stuck to the floor momentarily for the third time ?

There no such thing as a free-lunch! (Or car; in this case)

I know there's an instant diagnosis for this, in terms of master or slave cylinder, but I don't have that knowledge.
Just wondering whether I should get it fixed before attempting the 300 mile drive South next week.

Can someone say whether this is the slave or master cylinder- and maybe quote me a generic part No. for such a thing..? (If that's not a bit rude)
I'm rocking an '07 plate 1.1, with 80k on it.

Thanks for your help; keep-on-Panda'ing!!!

JimP

Hi

probably slave cylinder but best to have someone with a bit of knowledge look at the parts moving under the bonnet when you move the pedal.

Do you know when the brake fluid was last changed or bled through as this will give you a clue

Tim

Thanks for coming back to me on that, Tim

I do know it is overdue a few service items- but only by a bit;

I hadn't considered that fluid could be a factor- do you think that could be influencing the failure- or is there no escaping a part needing replaced?

Hi

Its common for the clutch fluid change to be overlooked so unless you know its been changed its best to assume its not been done,

Best get someone to look at the clutch arm movement on top of the gearbox to make sure its doing what is should, then work out from there.

Tim

There will be wear in the master and slave cylinders (letting air in and fluid out) so best to change the whole system. They are supplied with pipes prefilled so just fit and be done with it.

Well,

High controversy.

A local garage, (not my local Italian specialist, but another decent garage, near to where I am at the moment, away from home) has diagnosed the problem as the gearbox.

?

Apparently it's the 'cylinder or the arm to the cylinder physically jamming' in the gearbox.

Now, I have this information relayed to me 2nd hand, and I intend to catch up with these guys personally tomorrow to hear this 1st hand.
I was unaware of any 'cylinder' within the gearbox, and find this a bit spacey as a concept.
Can anyone think of anything this could have been misconstrued as (chinese-whispers style)? (apologies if that's a racist cliche now)

Are Pandas known for gearbox problems like this..?

The clutch is probably knackered causing all sorts of odd things to happen.

However, the clutch pedal sticking shows the hydraulics are shot. When that's done and the clutch action is sticky or heavy or not releasing properly, you will need a new clutch.

Bleeding the hydraulics is an option but the job requires the battery carrier to be removed so you might was well just replace the worn system.

Had this problem on my 100HP, only when the engine was hot, quite disconcerting when it happens! Had the slave and master replaced.

Have also had what feels like this when the mat gets displaced!

buttonsandzips said:

Had this problem on my 100HP,

Have also had what feels like this when the mat gets displaced!

Click to expand...

You dont need more than 55 hp to get the mat jammed in there..

Clutch slave cylinder, pipe and QD connector
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LuK-CLUT...487981&hash=item5209863375:g:-98AAOSwSXFa7YN8

Clutch master cylinder, pipe and QD connector
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-500...270542&hash=item215d7832a7:g:OLoAAOSwOmtdC4tT

You "could" swap just the cylinders, but the parts are supplied pre-filled with fluid and they simply plug together. Also the QD connector corrodes internally and will eventually leak. Mine had seized solid so I cut it open to find that corrosion had almost entirely undermined the O ring seal.

DaveMcT


Sorry if this sounds like a silly question, Have do you relese the so called QD connectors?
Thanks
Tony

IIRC its a push and turn bayomet connection. But frankly it doesn't matter. UK salt clogs up the insides so they wont separate. Just get a complete new system, remove the old cylinders and pipes, fit new and be done with it.

The hydraulics will last about as long as the clutch so its not a waste to replace the system only to find the clutch is also worn out.

hey team-

I don't now what the QD connectors are- are those hydraulic fittings?

as it happens; my local (at the time) decent-garage diagnosed the fault at the clutch release bearing.

This being the hinged arm-point on the top of the gearbox, which turns to augment the clutch.
NOT, as in fact was initially suspected the hydraulics further up.

I must say (I have a whining clutch release bearing on another FIAT) I am surprised to hear that one could 'jam' given the resistance against the pedal (from within the gearbox I assume).

It must be 'some jam'! so to speak!

However; a couple of squirts of white-lithium grease, whilst having the pedal pushed repeatedly, and the car has done 300 miles down the country today without issue- and in fact without issue since I started this thread.

Has anyone heard of the release bearing jamming a clutch pedal down???

Hi Dante

Its possible that the release bearing housing was not sliding backwards and forwards on its support shaft, the lithium grease was clearly very well aimed

Tim

The release bearing is a sealed ball bearing that allows the clutch release lever to push the spinning clutch without putting bare metal against bare metal. When they fail the the gearbox has to be removed from the engine. Fiat clutches are not costly so the whole clutch assembly would be replaced. Wear in the clutch pressure plate can cause the clutch to jump or engage with a delay.


The hydraulic system pushes the release bearing towards the engine. Under normal conditions the pedal is down only when the clutch is open. Your pedal staying down indicates the hydraulics contain air so no force is being applied to the clutch.

QD connector means Quickly Detachable. It is located in the clutch hydraulic line with one part on the master end and the other part on the slave end. They prevent fluid escaping when the connector is separated. UK road salts and mild climate lead to internal corrosion seizing the connector. The whole system will be replaced complete with a new connector.

Fitting a new clutch without fitting new hydraulics often leads to problems a few miles down the road as the hydraulics will be at end of life with the clutch.

thankyou for going into so much detail over that- that sounds a lot more convincing and understandable

I am now back within distance of my Italian specialist, so will have a think

The alternative being that the car goes 'pop', and turns into a Cinquecento...