Date:         Tue, 29 Dec 2020 19:30:53 -0500
Reply-To:     KIM BRENNAN <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         KIM BRENNAN <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Clutch line
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

So, on my 91 (non-GL) passenger Syncro, I stopped to get gas. While I was walking up to the van, I noticed it was marking its spot. Didn’t smell of coolant. More of an oily feel to it. I looked up and noticed that the front differential mount was wet (drivers side). Pondered the mystery and traveled a bit down the road…and suddenly realized, I no longer had a clutch. Brakes still worked. I got myself over to the side and checked the brake fluid reservoir and noticed it was, effectively, empty. I was right by an auto parts store and got some DOT 3 fluid added it to the reservoir. Pumped the clutch for a while, and got the clutch back. So, I’ve got a leak in the hydraulic clutch line. Since I’m not near my regular mechanic, I’m pondering the imponderables. Can a (brake fluid rated) rubber line be grafted in at the leak? Will that be a reasonable long term fix? Not sure about the local shop (here in WV) working on replacing the whole clutch hydraulic line…getting to the slave cylinder being such a bear anyway.