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Date:         Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:27:31 -0600
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: No Clutch....
Comments: To: greg@pottsfamily.ca
In-Reply-To:  <7e577c06541e893db3c19c18a65dee53.squirrel@ketchup.teksavvy.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

---- greg@pottsfamily.ca wrote:

thanks, sounds like this is a job I can do myself (with my wife's help). All I need to do is find the slave cylinder and the bleeder valve. I assume I bleed it all out, then refill the reservoir, pumping until I get fluid out the valve again. Anything else to it? Thanks, David Mc

> Hi Dave, > > Without asking your mechanic it would be impossible to know for sure if > the clutch was bled at the same time as the brakes were. Chances are that > unless that mechanic works on vanagons often, he probably did not know > that they share the same reservoir. > > Best thing to do would be to crack the bleeder valve on the slave cylinder > and have someone press the pedal. If the fluid coming out is clear, then > you have little to worry about. If it's yellowish, then it should be > changed. The best part there is that your helper pressing the pedal just > needs to press another 12-15 times and the old fluid will have been pumped > out, and the job is done. It's the same procedure as bleeding brakes. > > Greg > > > > Thanks. So, I changed the brake fluid in May. I'm assuming from what you > > say that the clutch hydraulic system needs separately changed. Is that > > correct? Nothing in the owner's manual about that, unless I remember > > incorrectly. I'll check it. But regardless of what it says, it sounds > > like you are saying to change the clutch fluid in addition to the brake > > fluid. Or did my mechanic do that as a part of changing the brake fluid? > > Thanks again, David Mc > > > > ---- pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET> wrote: > >> The reservoir is fail-safe for the brakes as the clutch draws fluid from > >> a > >> higher point, i.e. if the clutch circuit completely fails and all the > >> clutch > >> fluid drips out on the pavement, the brakes will still have plenty of > >> fluid > >> left. > >> The clutch and brakes are 2 completely separate hydraulic systems. The > >> fact > >> they share a storage tank doesn't mean much. > >> > >> The biggest factor regarding longevity is replacing the brake fluid in > >> both > >> systems every 2 years. The fluid constantly absorbs moisture which in > >> turn > >> rusts and pits the bores of the cylinders, both clutch and brake. > >> And a big problem on vehicles that haven't had the fluid changed often > >> is > >> this pitting, not necessarily the seals. > >> > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf > >> Of > >> Dave Mcneely > >> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 10:22 AM > >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > >> Subject: Re: No Clutch.... > >> > >> Thanks. I have been told by a couple of mechanics that it does, but > >> that > >> probably was regarding brakes. > >> > >> BTW, does the fact that brakes and clutch share a reservoir make for > >> shorter > >> life for either system than if each had completely separate hydraulics? > >> Does it mean that if one fails hydraulically, the other will (certainly > >> would in the case of leakage, since if one loses fluid, the other > >> automatically has done so)? > >> > >> Thanks, Dave Mc > >> > >> ---- pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET> wrote: > >> > The piston is aluminum, not rubber. > >> > Also I don't think metal contraction due to temp is relevant here. > >> > The piston has a small rubber seal that I would bet is causing the > >> problem. > >> > Rubber gets hard when cold and doesn't seal that great. > >> > > >> > > >> > -----Original Message----- > >> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On > >> Behalf Of > >> > Dave Mcneely > >> > Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 9:02 AM > >> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > >> > Subject: Re: No Clutch.... > >> > > >> > differential contraction of parts can allow fluid bypass more readily, > >> I > >> > think. Though I have heard it suggested that if bypass is a sometime > >> > problem, cold will make it less likely because the cylinder itself > >> > contracts, while the piston is rubber and doesn't. But I guess my > >> ignorance > >> > is showing. David Mc > >> > > >> > ---- Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote: > >> > > Cold weather has a way of making clutch and brake hydraulics > >> suddenly > >> > fail. > >> > > Especially if the fluid is old and has enough moisture in it to make > >> ice > >> > > crystals. > >> > > > >> > > Dennis > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > -----Original Message----- > >> > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On > >> Behalf > >> Of > >> > > Bill Shawley > >> > > Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 6:56 PM > >> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > >> > > Subject: No Clutch.... > >> > > > >> > > Ok gurus, went out to show the van some love, (and to measure > >> something), > >> > > took the key to start it as well. Put my foot on the clutch and > >> straight > >> > to > >> > > the floor, no resistance. It is very cold, dark, and kind of > >> immobilized > >> > in > >> > > some shoveled snow, hardcore diagnostics can wait. No problems last > >> time > >> > I > >> > > drove it, may 4-6 weeks ago. Any guesses to trim the > >> troubleshooting > >> > curve > >> > > for me? > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > Ryan > >> > > > >> > > _________________________________________________________________ > >> > > Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. > >> > > http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469226/direct/01/ > > > >


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