Date:         Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:51:26 -0800
Reply-To:     Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: HELP CALL : clutch issue on the road?
Comments: To: chris <vanagon@FRONTLEFTSPEAKERPOSSE.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <46006903.5060301@frontleftspeakerposse.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

Vanagons like their 87 have hydraulic actuated clutches and no cable.

First, check the fluid in the brake reservoir behind the speedo. The
brake fluid is shared with the clutch. The clutch is supplied from a
point higher in the tank so when the fluid get low the clutch runs out
first, long before the brakes.

If the fluid is low to the point of air getting into the clutch system
just adding fluid won't be enough but may help some. The clutch will
need to be bled after the tank is filled.

There are various things that can go wrong inside the clutch as well as
in the tranny and not many things that can be fixed easily at the side
of the road. Does it shift ok with the engine off? If not, there are
things that fail in the shift lever and linkage that could a problem and
would be easy to replace if you have the parts.

Mark

chris wrote:
> hey guys, Chris from www.westaygone.com called from just north of me in
> Eureka CA saying he has some sort of problem with his clutch currently.
>
> he isn't able to get it in or out of gear suddenly, but the clutch still
> feels like it has some resistance to it... - where it doesn't seem as
> though the cable would have just snapped.
>
> what can he do to try and find out what the problem is?
>
> I may be able to drive up to where they are 'stuck' and help
> troubleshoot if I know what to look for.
>
> thanks,
> chris
>