Clutch fluid top up

[Mark P.]

Very notchy gear change came on yesterday, almost impossible to change gear even with pedal flat to the floor, but will go into gear with engine off.
Decided to try to top up clutch fluid today.
Interior trim is removed, cap and rubber thingy are removed.
I can get my finger about 50mm down before I feel any fluid in the resevoir but the stuff that is in there seems clear.

By my reckoning I need to add about an egg cup full to get it upto 15mm from the top of the cyclinder. Is that about right?

Also do I have to reassemble the whole thing before I see if it has worked or can I check the gear change with the cap and rubber thingy still off or will the fluid just shoot out the top of the resevoir when I press the clutch?

[COLVERT]

You can test it before putting all the bits back in place.

HOWEVER---there will be a reason the level is low.

At best a trace of a leak at the master cylinder.
At worst a leak from the slave cylinder which is the start of failure.

[FrenchMike]

Originally Posted by Mark P.

Very notchy gear change came on yesterday, almost impossible to change gear even with pedal flat to the floor, but will go into gear with engine off.
Decided to try to top up clutch fluid today.
Interior trim is removed, cap and rubber thingy are removed.
I can get my finger about 50mm down before I feel any fluid in the resevoir but the stuff that is in there seems clear.

By my reckoning I need to add about an egg cup full to get it upto 15mm from the top of the cyclinder. Is that about right?

Also do I have to reassemble the whole thing before I see if it has worked or can I check the gear change with the cap and rubber thingy still off or will the fluid just shoot out the top of the resevoir when I press the clutch?

Sorry,you have a leak somewhere

Coupe.jpg

unfortunately,that means you have to change Slave and Master (to be sure)

And while all will be dismantled,replace mecanism and check DMF

But if handy with spanners , DIY.....

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...ad.php?t=45125

Mike

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by Mark P.

Also do I have to reassemble the whole thing before I see if it has worked or can I check the gear change with the cap and rubber thingy still off or will the fluid just shoot out the top of the resevoir when I press the clutch?

Put some newspaper on the carpet , to catch spillage.

It will seem low, due to your taking out the rubber nipple, that displaces quite a bit of fluid. Top it up right to the top and cut most of the rubber away, just leaving the bit which forms a seal in the cap - that will improve the capacity.

I would also suggest bleeding it - the nipple is on top of the gearbox, on the end of a pipe, if you look down between engine and battery box. Slack it off, press the pedal, tighten, then lift the pedal back up. Repeat a few times, but make sure the cylinder is kept topped up in between.

All you can do then, is keep an eye on the situation and carry what you need in the boot, to be able to top it up.

[Mark P.]

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

All you can do then, is keep an eye on the situation and carry what you need in the boot, to be able to top it up.

Well a top up seems to have worked for now, its parked on concrete with no undertray fitted so I will keep an eye out for leaks and I've left the internal trim off for now so I can check in the footwell as well.

Its done 195,000 miles so that may be a contributing factor.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

[Wayned]

Just for info what is the best way to get the fluid in the resevoir please.

[Kiltman]

Originally Posted by Wayned

Just for info what is the best way to get the fluid in the resevoir please.

I did mine this weekend using a syringe (bought from a pet shop) and some silicone tubing!

[FrenchMike]

Originally Posted by Mark P.

Well a top up seems to have worked for now, its parked on concrete with no undertray fitted so I will keep an eye out for leaks and I've left the internal trim off for now so I can check in the footwell as well.

Its done 195,000 miles so that may be a contributing factor.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

195,000 mile ? you are lucky ,mine went at 60,000 !!!

[steveharvey2001]

Originally Posted by Mark P.

Well a top up seems to have worked for now, its parked on concrete with no undertray fitted so I will keep an eye out for leaks and I've left the internal trim off for now so I can check in the footwell as well.

Its done 195,000 miles so that may be a contributing factor.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

My 04 CDT Tourer was at about 195,000 miles earlier this year when Terry (of TS Autos) told me he had needed to top up my clutch master reservoir. Last Friday, with nearly 203,000, the pedal hit the floor and I suspect a catastrophic slave failure because topping up and bleeding will not recover the clutch function.

[FrenchMike]

Originally Posted by steveharvey2001

My 04 CDT Tourer was at about 195,000 miles earlier this year when Terry (of TS Autos) told me he had needed to top up my clutch master reservoir. Last Friday, with nearly 203,000, the pedal hit the floor and I suspect a catastrophic slave failure because topping up and bleeding will not recover the clutch function.

I'm afraid it was a temporary repair...