Technical Clutch / gearbox issues?

[Cheeky123]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to update everyone since a few months ago. My 2015 fiat 500 1.2 colour therapy was having issues with getting in gear especially in slow stop and start traffic.

I went to a fiat specialist and they changed my clutch. Still having the same issues, went back and they said the master and slave cylinders need changing.

I didn’t go back again as wasn’t happy with their service.

I decided to change the slave cylinder myself the other day. Clutch felt better and no squeak.
The drive seemed better initially, however today in slow traffic was struggling to get the car in gear. The clutch peddle felt fine, but gear was rock solid to change.

What could be the issue?

My dad bleed the slave cylinder without any kind of kit or bottle, we just pressed on it until the clutch felt firm. Could that be the issue, do I need to bleed it again? (though the Clifton peddle felt ok).

Or does the master clylinder or gear box need doing?

I’m lost.

Thanks for your help.

I’ve love my car but not had any luck. I think I will part exchange for a newer one.

 

[John202020]

Can you select the gears without issue engine off?
If yes it suggests clutch or operating of it, you can replace the master, without replacing the pipework certainly worth a try?
No reason why you shouldn't try bleeding again but if it's hard without being spongy probably won't help.
You could try removing the master and see if it's leaking(leaks behind the dash) so hidden.
Fixing the fault will be far cheaper than changing the car
Is it mainly 1st or 2nd you're having issues with? Next time it plays up see if it's all gears?

 

[Cheeky123]

Care goes in gear fine with its off.

I would say the issues is getting it in first and second. When the gear is stuck. The only way to get unstuck is to turn off the car and then it will go back to neutral.

I checked the clutch reservoir and it seems full, so shouldn’t the master cylinder be ok?

I was so hopeful my car was getting better. So annoyed.

 

[Cheeky123]

I’ve just checked my engine again. I noticed drops of fluid coming from the join of the clutch reservoir and pipe.

Could this be the issues? I didn’t see any leaks by the clutch pedal.

 

[jrkitching]

Care goes in gear fine with its off.

Usually a sign that the clutch hydraulics are faulty; the clutch itself quite likely never needed changing.

Both master and slave cylinders are known weak points on these cars, and many folks here just replace both when the time inevitably comes; if one is faulty, the other isn't likely far behind.

If the internal seals in the master cylinder fail, there aren't necessarily any external signs of leakage, but it won't properly pressurise the system and the clutch drags, causing exactly the symptoms you've described.

Get your head down in the driver's footwell and, with the help of a torch, examine the master cylinder pushrod; you may find evidence of leakage at that point. There's not usually anything to see in the engine bay.

 

[Cheeky123]

I looked at the pedal. There seems to be like thick gunk at the end of the Master piston. Would this be a leak? I thought perhaps this was some sort of lubricant?

 

[The Panda Nut]

Get someone to sit in the car and press the clutch while you watch the slave cylinder movement under the bonnet. If the pedal goes down but the slave pushrod does not move you know its a hydraulics issue. If they slave cylinder moves 3-5cm when the pedal is pressed, then its working and you need to look at something else.

 

[John202020]

Drops of fluid from pipe, get someone to repeatedly press the clutch pedal engine off, see if the leak at the master pipe gets worse? Also ask them if the feel of the pedal changes.
It's a simple fault that just requires some work to find the actual issue.

 

[Cheeky123]

Ok so, since putting in the new slave cylinder. I thought things were getting better, but now and then the car won’t go gear. I’ve bleed the system twice now- still having the issue.

There are no obvious leaks. Yesterday after 20 mins of driving it should go in gear or it was very hard. Pumping the clutch didn’t help, I had to turn the car off and then it helped.

Do you think I should change the master cylinder? Or could it be something else?

I have booked into a local garage next week.

 

[John202020]

Leave it to the garage, tell them what's going on and what you've changed and tried?