Technical Unable to bleed clutch on 500 Lounge 2008

[Garyw32]

Hi, I’m trying to do the simple job of replacing the clutch fluid on my daughter’s car but I have run into a problem. I’m using the Gunston auto bleeder and when I open the bleed screw, fluid does not come out of the bleed nipple. If I keep loosening the screw, fluid will start leaking from the bleed screw but still nothing from the bleed nipple. I’ve tried poking some wire into the nipple but that didn’t help.

Prior to starting the job the clutch was working ok (although my daughter did say that sometimes it did feel weird hence why I am changing the dirty looking fluid)

Any idea why this could be and is there a solution apart from changing the cylinder?

 

[Jockstrap]

Just been there. 2008 1.4 lounge.

Dirty looking fluid is likely corrosion in the slave or possibly the easy connector.

I tried the bleed nipple and screw which was clearly a source of the dirty fluid.

Before, going further check that the two retaining bolts of the slave cylinder will release. I found out too late and both snapped .

If they release, I'd replace the slave and manually bleed. If they don't release just flood with rags underneath by topping up the reservoir. Clear fluid and replace the screw after a clean.

My learning curve? Drilling out the snapped bolts.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Slave cylinders are cheap and easy to change. I would change it and this issue should disappear. Clutch will be much nicer to operate in my experience. See shop4parts.co.uk

 

[Jockstrap]

Shop about for the slave and replace the connector with a compression fitting. Easy access after taking off NSF wheel.

shop4parts are not in my opinion the 'go to'. LUK product at GSF or carpartsinmotion are a third the price.

Gasplus and release the bolts first .

 

[Garyw32]

Thanks for the advice. I managed to get one off the shelf at GSF fairly cheaply and fitted it without any problems and successfully bled the system. However test driving the car highlighted a problem which my daughter has said occasionally happened to her; when stopping with the clutch depressed and in gear, the car still tries to move forward. Next question is, could the master cylinder be faulty too? The clutch is only a few years old so probably not that.