Technical Clutch Problems

[volvo_saint]

My UNO 1993 999cc is experiencing clutch problems.

I have difficulty in engaging gears - especially in stop/start traffic. Once on the open road it works much better. Usually the problem takes about 5 mins to appear from cold start....

I have a thought that the hydraulic clutch master or slave cylinder is worn and fluid is leaking. 2 weeks ago I had to top up 3/4 of the fluid.

Although since then the fluid level has not shifted much. Could be an internal leak of the cylinder I guess....

Is this a known failure point in the UNO range?

 

[antsuno2]

Is it damp around the slave cylinder (oil) you may have let to much brake fluid out and has sucked air into the system, so may need bleeding Ant!

 

[Ucof]

Sounds like a problem I sometimes have in stop/start trafic that I have learned to live with.

All the forward gears 1/3/5 feel like they are filled with treacle when I try to engage them. I think it's just me using the clutch too much really. It's really hard to engage them and a great increase in force is needed to get them to work.

I could be driving for hours on the motorway with no problem (well, staying in 5th isnt really a problem is it?!), but when I get to the congestion, they gum right up.

 

[volvo_saint]

Well my mechanic advised me to change both SLAVE and MASTER cylinder at the same time.....which I guess makes sense on 16 year old car.

So I hope to report a change in the gear selection for the better in 2 weeks....

 

[[email protected]]

may be you check the rubber hose which may be blocking the return of oil, rubber hose get clogged in due course. I had similar problem with break hose. recently with the clutch also but I didnt check the clutch will do it soon..

 

[volvo_saint]

I changed the master/slave cylinder of the clutch hydraulics and there is a definite improvement. Still experiencing some 'hesitation' in clutch engagement but I think this will disappear with use....

 

[alexGS]

Once the clutch is working right, consider the gearbox oil (Ucof, I'm talking to you too )

If the gearbox has an EP gear oil (smelly), I've found that can form a black sludge with age. I like to drain it out, put in some engine oil flushing agent and some 20W40 (or similar) engine oil - yes, engine oil in the gearbox, drive the car a little (maybe a couple of days), especially at high revs in first gear, drain the gearbox when hot, and refill with the correct non-EP gear oil (FIAT ZC 90 or the Castrol VMX product "for five-speed manual gearboxes").

Many times this makes all the difference to the gearchange, but you have to flush out the EP-oil residues first.

-Alex

 

[Ucof]

I topped up the oil once. Seemed to work for a little bit, then went back to being as it was

I doubt I have to keep topping the oil up every week or so should I?