Most people who responded to my clutch = problem post thought it was low or dirty brake fluid. Its funny because after looking = at my Bentley the level was the first thing I checked, I must actually be = catching on or something.

The level was about half way between = Max and Min so I think its OK, but the fluid itself seemed pretty dirty. Moreover I was = hit with an additional "symptom". I was driving along and the vehicle = hesitated or lurched. It was open road and not necessarily accelerating, nor was I touching the clutch at all. It didn't feel like slipping like = clutch problems I've had in other vehicles where the revs climb and the vehicle = doesn't accelerate. Is it possible that the brakes came on momentarily, because = that is what it felt like...

Next question, I want to replace the = fluid in my brakes myself and I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendation on a = good brake bleeding tool to buy? Plus, I'm not really happy with Bentley's = instructions has anyone seen a better description of = how-to-bleed-brakes-for-the-complete-idiot? Also, I heard you really have to watch out for the bleeder screws as = they can break... any thoughts?

Things seem to be getting worse with my = clutch.

I usually leave the westy in gear after I shut down = the engine, then push the clutch when starting the engine. This morning when = I tried to start my westy I got that kind of hesitation and lunge you get when = you try to start the car in gear, even though the clutch was FULLY depressed. = With the engine off I shifted into neutral and managed to start her, but then had = trouble finding a gear. I also heard a couple of "clunks" while = looking.

First gear was impossible to find but I = got her into second and she did finally get going. After I got moving the = problem seemed to go away, I have only owned her a short time and I've always found it = somewhat difficult to find gears. See below for earlier symptoms.

----Original Message = Follows----
From: "Christopher Michael Gronski" <chrisgronski@hotmail.com>=
Reply-To: "Christopher Michael Gronski" <chrisgronski@hotmail.com>=
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM&g= t;
Subject: Dead / not dead clutch pedal
Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2000 16:48:48 -0400

I'm still trying to diagnose exactly when this = happens but here's what I know so far: Today I was driving along in 4th and saw the = light changing ahead, I pushed the clutch in and everything was fine but when = the pedal reached the bottom it felt dead, like it didn't have the spring = back or resistance that it should. I came to a stop at the light, shifted into = 1st, lifed my foot off the clutch and everything was fine. Any thoughts? Is = this just because I'm not used to my vehicle yet or is it a symtom of an impending = problem?