Hi guys! Sorry if this is in the wrong section, i think I'm right.

The other day i was driving home from work, changed into fourth and the clutch did not come back up. Car still drove as expected so didnt notice until the next change, then stopped to look. There was a huge puddle under my car of what looked like hydraulic fluid and a flapping pipe.

Called my brilliant mechanic friend up who works for mercedes and he said there it is something to do with the cyclinder for the clutch (cant remember if it was slave/master), basically its broke off and all the fluid has leaked out the pipe. Recently the clutch pedal has been making a slight squeak like a old spring sort of noise and that went as soon as this happened. Can anyone offer and ideas? Is this a fault on these cars will it happen again? Or is it about time i got a new clutch?

Its a 2004 MK2B 1.2 8v active sport with around 90,000miles and this is the first problem ive had it drives like a dream other than the airbag light problem. Just trying to get a idea on what can be done if a similar problem has happened to others?

thanks RB

I have not seen a broken pipe but at 90k a worn out slave cylinder would not be unusual. if that is the case it is a simple and relatively cheap fix.

Yep, a broken clutch slave cylinder sounds about right. Believe it or not, I had the exact same problem in my '95 Sedicivalvole this last thursday. Clutch went down, wouldn't come back up. I tried topping the brake fluid and pumping the brake for hours on end before calling in a flatbed to take it home.

As soon as I pulled off the intake ducts and the battery, I spotted the ruptured cylinder hemorrhaging brake fluid all over the place. Took me and two friends no more than two hours of a cold Saturday morning to replace the cylinder and bleed and setup the clutch, as well as do a minor tightening of the valve timing belt and distributor. Hope this helps, let us know how it Works out for you.

Peter

Dropped it off to have a whole new clutch and slave cyclinder put on tonight. Guy doing it is a friend so didnt mind waiting a while. New clutch and I'm servicing it soon so should be happy motoring from now on!

RB