Technical clutch slave cylinder - i think, total novice, any advice?

[karie]

hi all

i have a little r reg (98) punto.
i have a clutch problem, and after reading everything i can possibly find online, i have concluded that it is probably the slave cylinder...

i dont drive it very often at the moment due to working away during the week, so after not driving it for a fortnight i got in it about 2 weekends ago to give it a run, and the clutch was completely slack and wouldnt go into gear when the engine was on.
however when the engine is off it will go into gear.

i bought brake/ clutch fluid from halfords and filled up the fluid reservoir thing which was surprisingly low considering i only had the car serviced at the end of January...
anyway, i pumped and pumped the clutch and it came back to life!

BUT, all I did was move it around my car park and then a week later came home and had the exact same problem - clutch completely slack, filled it up again and it came back to life again.
now it has happened again so surely it must be that there is a leak in the slave cylinder? (bearing in mind i have only figured this out from reading and observing, so am no expert)

I have the following qs!:

• i could top it up again - how far is this likely to get me; unfortunately my breakdown cover doesnt cover me if i am broken down within 1 mile of my flat, and i need to get it to a garage (could bring it to a garage just up the road though, about half a mile)
• is there any point in me trying to replace the slave cylinder myself with the help of haynes?
• is this worth getting fixed? my poor little car got bashed up the other week by kids in my area, so is probably only worth about 500 quid or so at the moment (only have 3rdpartyf&t insurance...) and i dont plan on keeping it for more than the next 6 months - just cant afford a new one right now! but it still has about 10 months left on MOT...

Any advice would be really, really appreciated, as I am a bit concerned and dont really have anyone to look at it as am Irish living in UK, so have just had to ask my Dad and male friends at home their advice over the phone but everyone just seems to say I need a new clutch - I think they're wrong though!!

Thanks in advance! karie

 

[dave]

Hi welcome to here, sounds like the slave to me, well done for reading up and finding out for yourself.
top it up should get you the half a mile but watch the brakes as they use the same fluid pot so may also be spongey.
it shouldnt cost more than £80 all in including checking if the brakes need bleeding at the same time.
we have many Irish on here you should have joined sooner
where abouts in the uk are you living?

 

[karie]

ah thank you! thats a bit of a relief! hopefully the mechanic will agree.

i should have joined here sooner alright, i just naively assumed i didnt need to know much apart from how to drive the car but after all this clutch investigation i am actually developing a weird interest in the mechanics

i live in warwickshire - lovely part of the world... not quite home, but not a bad second

 

[dave]

we have a few meets in that area, have a look in the events section.

a lot more goes on on here apart from mechanical stuff

 

[vtec]

Hello.,:wave:
Welcome to the forum from one of the irish., lol

i replaced the slave in one of the puntos a couple of months ago.,
I got it for 20ish euro in a breakers yard and they will only take you about 15minutes to fit.,
it helps if you have someone to press the clutch while your doing it.,

it might help to check other stuff like the break lines etc, that could be where the fluid lis leaking from.,
i got a new break line for 23euro at a fiat dealer too.,

if you fancy having a go at doing it yourself post back and i'll get you some pics of the parts for ya and where they go etc.,

 

[karie]

vtec,

would you really? that would be so nice. i guess i am a bit concerned that i wont be able to do it, but i dont need to drive it again for a couple of weeks so i might as well give it a go in the meantime... what harm... (famous last words )

karie

 

[vtec]

yep., no problem.,

this might help you identfy where the fluid is leaking from., the brake lines are a common part to fail.,
https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-guides/97378-changing-breaklines-mk1.html?p=1046329
I'll get some pics of the slave cylinder and related parts tomorrow.,

 

[karie]

vtec,

thanks for that. am away now until mid-week, so no hurry at all, whenever is fine.

speak to you soon,
karie

 

[vtec]

Heres a few pics to help you.,


The 2 lower arrows are the 10mm bolts that secure the slave cylinder to the gearbox.,
The top left one is the fluid line into the slave cylinder.,
The top right is the bleed valve.,

you have to first remove the battery and tray, then the 2 10mm bolts on the slave, then the fluid line,
thats the old slave out now.,

Now put the new one on in the reversal of the old one.,
once its mounted, loosen the bleed screw a bit and get someone to pump the clutch a few times, you will see the fluid comming out of the bleed screw, let it come out for a couple of squirts and then tighten the bleed screw, the person in the car should feel the pedal getting stiffer.,
tell them to pump it a few times and then hold it down, while they have it held in, you open the bleed screw again and the breakfluid should squirt out, the person in the car will feel the pedal go light again, make sure they keep it pressed and then you tighten the bleed screw again.,
press the pedal a few times and you'll feel it working.,
your done.,

 

[tom_snelling]

It really is VERY simple.

I made a guide when I changed mine, its on www.puntosports.co.uk in the members section.

Take the battery tray out, undo the bolts and the bolt that holds the fluid line on.

Screw the line onto the new slave cylinder and bolt it down.

All you need to do then is bleed it using the bleed nipple whilst pumping the clutch pedal.

 

[vtec]

But you'll need to register to see it and if i remember correctly the guides section over there is only for paying members.,.,
15quid!! .,.,lol

 

[tom_snelling]

Yeah I know.

Its a guide with loads of pictures as we changed it on my old Sporting, its more fool proof for people with a very basic mechanical knowledge thats all.

Its very easy to do anyway, you dont really need a guide.

 

[markirish]

i have this same problem been looking over the boards today will have too try it myself, vtec where'd ya get the slave for that price been quoted 80

 

[markirish]

nm about what i said before got two of them from red cow scapyard for 10each and before pressed 8 instead of 5 on numbpad. Fixing it was simple since vtec put up the pics.

 

[vtec]

alright mark.,
i replied to your previous post but somebody must have removed it for some reason???
yeah, you'll get one for about a tenner usually., i went to summerhill spares for it.,

 

[Goldie Punto]

You can get clutch slave cylinders brand new for cheaper that £80.

Your better off buying a new one as these are known for failing on puntos.

 

[vtec]

You can get clutch slave cylinders brand new for cheaper that £80.

Your better off buying a new one as these are known for failing on puntos.

when we say "tenner", thats about 6quid in your money so id sooner get a secondhand one.,

 

[tom_snelling]

Mine was £36 I think.

www.shop4parts.co.uk

 

[markirish]

yea and when said 80 meant 50 as pressed the wrong button and was watching tv while typing so didnt notice. 50 is about 35 sterling but managed too go too a better place that had one that had just been put on a car new and the other looked new enough 20 for both which is about 12 quid . Bought a second while was there as you said there known too fail. Vtec gearbox giving me problems again so bought one that day for 130 so am going too try do it myself next weekend can picture my car exploding after i do it lol

 

[djrose007]

Well, thanks to the guys on this forum I've just come back in from fixing exactly the same symptoms you mention.
It was the clutch slave cylinder and it was one of the easiest things I've ever fixed on a car, and I'm no mechanic by a long shot.

I got a second hand cylinder in the post from a breakers yard via http://www.partsgateway.co.uk/
It was £17.xx including about £5.xx postage. Excellent service, arrived within two days from DA Motors. I had been quoted over £50.00 for a new one.

Socket set with an extender of a few inches is useful but ring spanners will do it.
Remove the Battery, and the battery shelf (two bolts down the side and two on the top toward the front of the car).
This gives you clear access to the cylinder.
Crack the nuts indicated in the photo so that you know you can get them off when you do the hydraulic pipe.
You need to clamp the pipe itself with clamps you get for bleeding brakes but I used mole grips with a couple of large allen keys so there was no sharp edges (be careful not to do it toooooo tight or you can split the pipe). I tested it by loosening the bleed nipple to ensure no fluid was flowing.
Undo the universal joint with a spanner, put a rag underneath in case any fluid leaks out. When the pipe is clear then undo the nuts on the side of the cylinder, when they are coming out hold the piston end where the rubber is, to stop it flying out.
There is no bolt on the piston, it just rests on the clutch lever to push it when the clutch pedal is depressed.
Replace with the 'new' cylinder, bolt it into place, put the universal joint back in tight and take of the clamp.
I was on my own so I found the easiest way to do the bleeding was:
Take the top off the fluid resevoir, fill it up, loosen the bleed nipple but not much, operate the piston by pushing the clutch lever towards the cylinder but keep your eyes out of the way as the fluid might spurt.
Holding the lever over, tighten the nipple, release the lever.
Keep doing this until you are sure there is no more air coming through, and if you have to do it a few times check the fluid level in the resovior regularly.

Good luck, I was amazed at how easy it was.