Hi Alex, When you think about this, what's happening is the pressure plate isn't getting pushed far enough away from the flywheel/clutch disc when you depress the clutch pedal. The most likely culprits are the clutch master or slave cylinders. If they lose their seals, fluid pushes by, and they don't disengage the clutch far enough. Eventually, you will seem to have no clutch at all, and you get to learn to drive clutchless, a la the broken clutch cable in an old beetle. :) In any case, look around the master and slave cylinders for leaking hydraulic fluid--if you see either one leaking, it probably needs replacement. The slave is located on the driver's side of the engine/tranny--you can see it from the engine compartment, or from underneath. There is a hydraulic line going to it, whitish color. The master is up above/behind the steering column, just follow the clutch pedal arm. It's a little harder to see. The master takes about 1-2 hours to replace, the slave about the same, depending on tools and experience. There are other things that could cause these symptoms (bent pressure plate fingers, breaking/broken cross shaft arms that hold the throwout bearing, etc.), but they are far less likely. tx, bmc :) Ben McCafferty ben@volkscafe.com Volks Cafe 1823 Soquel Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 95062 831-426-1244 http://www.volkscafe.com
> From: aj <ajay@SUFFOLK.LIB.NY.US> > Reply-To: aj <ajay@SUFFOLK.LIB.NY.US> > Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 17:29:01 -0500 > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: symptoms of a failing clutch > > Can someone describe the symptoms of a failing clutch. In the last few > days I've had to floor the clutch pedal in order to shift gears. The > gears engage when I release the clutch pedal about an inch or so from > the floor. There is difficulty in shifting gears. How does one > troubleshoot this problem? Is it the clutch, the clutch hydraulic > system, the linkage.etc.etc.? I would appreciate any information about > this problem. TIA. alex |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.