Can't select any gears but third :(

[EddySpaghetti]

Hi All,

Was just starting to think that my car was ready for some reliable motoring...

Today I started up and could get all gears, within 5 minutes I could only get 3rd and have had to commit horrible grinding noises in order to get reverse and be able to park it up again.

I've had something similar on another car before and it was the release bearing

has anyone got any other ideas what this could be that may be cheaper to fix? - Gear selector linkage? - Dragging clutch due to not enough travel (biting point is pretty low).

If its either of those two has anyone got on any tips on fixing? I think release bearing may be a job for my local garage unless any club members based near Newbury fancy helping me with a clutch change??

Cheers,

Eddy

 

[robwright]

Collapsed clutch???? Try and get a look through the inspection window.

 

[EddySpaghetti]

What's a collapsed clutch? What collapses?

Thanks,

Eddy

 

[Northern924]

Thanks to Porsche's obssesion with rubber in the 80's and if yours is original the centres were basically a big rubber bung (they had a similar issue with auto's where the rubber damper would disintgrate)

If you can get you finger in and feel around the hole (oo er!) then you may feel rubber plastered to the sides of the bell housing, if so the centre of the clutch could have collapsed.

 

[homesea]

Is it a turbo? Because I dont think turbos had the rubber clutch only the Lux.

Check clutch fluid.

 

[robwright]

I think originally they all had rubber centred clutches even the turbo. If it is the clutch you had better find out soon as there was a shortage of them a few months back. Just to warn you if it is then it won't be cheap £500 - £600. Hope it is something else mate.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Could be gearbox linkage - gearbox end, several nuts can come loose.
But as the others say, there is an inspection cover in the clutch housimg (engine one - bell housing on gearbox has confused some people!)
look for rubber bits.
Mike

 

[sulzeruk]

Also, check to see if your clutch master and slave cylinder has expired. Can you get the gears when the engine is stationary?
Alasdair

 

[EddySpaghetti]

Hi,

Yes, I can get the gears when engien is off.

Tonight I had the car up on stands and although there is some slop in the linkages at the gearbox end its not worse than it has been for a while.

I also got underneath the front and have taken the heatsheild and starter off to get a good look at the inspection hole and the slave cylinder. I measured about 28mm from the dome of the pivot arm inside the inspection hole to the front edge, which looking at Clarks garageadvice is not excessive. i was expecting to be able to see more of the clutch to check the wear, but i can't see much in there (certainly no rubber that i could spot).

The clutch fluid reservoir is at minimum and has definitely lost some fluid recently, and the travel has been getting longer for a while, which I have been meaning to fix because its getting hard to quick smooth gearchanges. So, my guess (my hope?) is that it is the master or slave cylinder. I also noticed potential spillage from the metal to rubber union on the flexi hose above the master cylinder.

Any ideas how I should go about checking which of the cylinders is knackered. And any ideas on prices for good replacements?

I have an Eezibleed kit and bled my brakes recently, I assume its pretty similar for the clutch circuit, but more of a PITA gettin gunder the car the whole time. God, I long for a car lift...

Cheers for the comments!

Eddy

 

[robwright]

I have done both mate. Give me a ring and I'll talk you through them both. Check the carpet around the clutch pedal for clutch fluid.

 

[tref]

I seem to recall some people have had a clutch problem resultant of air being drawn in because the hose between the reservoir and master cylinder has perished. On that basis I would try bleeding the system before condeming either of the cylinders... having recently bled one (with an easy-bleed) I would say don't waste your time trying to do it without taking the starter motor off. It may be possible, but certainly not worth the agrevation!

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Tref - wouldn't that only be a problem if the resevoir breather is blocked?

 

[tref]

You'd think so wouldn't you? I can't remember how it manifested itself as a problem now, other than I would expect all the fluid to disappear, then for the clutch to cease to function.

And actually... why would teh OP still be able to get third? if one gear is still obtainable, it doesn't point to a clutch problem does it? If a gear is sellected with the engine stopped, is it then possible to bring the clutch up to bite as one would expect?

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Mmm....?

Would still check linkage and clutch operation - my gearbox cost me £75 a saturday morning and fresh oil, so not the end of the world.

Mike

 

[tref]

Ironic isn't it... A clutch - three components, very few people would fit a second hand one, and it it will cost several hundred pounds, and a lot of work - yet we think service item, despite the fact the gearbox has to be dropped to get at it. Gearbox - hugely complex, lots of components, secondhand for less than £100 and just a few hours work... yet is probably feared more than the clutch going.

I agree, I think now my money would be on the linkage, so long as it is possible to bring the clutch up to bite on all 6 gears.

 

[EddySpaghetti]

Hi,

Is the reservoir breather a small hole in the cap?

Are you saying that if that was blocked a perished hose would let air in instead as the level of the fluid changes?

On a slightly different point, my fluid has definitely gone down, but I can see any leaks from the inspection I've done so far. if the seals had broken in side the cylinders would that accoutn for a loss of fluid at the reservoir but no signs of leakage outside the cylinders? - Can you get a situation where you have fluid both sides of the pistons?

Rob, I'll give you a shout when I next get a spare minute at a more socialble time!

Cheers,

Eddy

 

[sulzeruk]

Eddy, the cluthc slave cylinder seems to be the one most failure prone. Probably due to the fluid never getting changed and the moisture sitting in the bottom of the cylinder corroding it. Worth having a good look round underneath if you can get it on a ramp. Also, check the flexi beside the master cylinder and inside under the dash where the actuator rod goes into the master cylinder,
Alasdair

 

[robwright]

Check inside the drivers footwell on the carpet for fluid. If you are losing fluid though I would suspect either or cylinder. Was the same on mine no fluid seen at first but that didn't last long.