Date:         Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:59:11 -0800
Reply-To:     Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: rebuild tranny when changing clutch?
Comments: To: Ben S <phlogiston420@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <485c3ee60701221432p16cf91e4l42685a2d218ffe3b@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

Did you check the level of the fluid in the clutch/brake fluid tank? The
clutch gets its fluid from a higher point in the tank than the brakes so
the clutch runs dry first. The fluid drops gradually as the brakes wear.
There should be a brake warning light on when the fluid is low with your
year but it may not be working or you may have overlooked it.

Mark

Ben S wrote:

> over the past weekend, as i was driving through the sierra nevada
> mountains,
> my clutch suddenly stopped disengaging with the pedal completely depressed.
> this was evidenced by the vehicle lurching forward as the starter was
> cranking the engine with the tranny in first gear and the clutch pedal on
> the floor.  subsequent gear shifts could not be accomplished without
> shifting into neutral and rev matching.  i am assuming this is not a
> problem
> with the clutch hydraulics because the clutch has been making a rattling
> noise when partially engaged (while parallel parking for instance) for a
> few
> weeks.  also, pumping the pedal does not cause the clutch to disengage
> and i
> did not observe any fluid leakage by the clutch master or slave cylinders.
> ...............