Stuck clutch... now low bite HELP!

Hello guys,

I went to take the old girl (S3 petrol) out for a drive yesterday but found that i couldn't select any gears with the engine running,

anyway so I have read up that this is likely a sticking clutch, so on to axel stands she went and after warming her up (in gear with rear wheels spinning) i made progress to a point where i can now select gears whilst the engine is running,

The problem now is that the clutch bite is practically on the floor! very slight movement of the pedal is like dropping the clutch, after much cheering from my tyres, I decided that this is not quite right!

Do i have a hydraulic problem do you think? where is best to start? try bleeding the system? (should i be using DOT4?) or is a full resto required? new slave and master?

Your help would be appreciated!!

Sounds like a hydraulic problem as you already know...........worth trying to bleed it first

OK thanks,

is it a big job to switch out the MC and Slave?

or can they be reconditioned?

cheers
Tim

Cheap and easy to change slave and master cylinders, should sort it as it sounds as though one has failed.
Do both though not just one.

As said, try and bleed it first.
Is the level too low in the master? And let in air?
Also check the free play on the master cylinder push rod isn't excessive. Pop the tin cover off next to the cap and have a look while someone takes up the slack on the pedal. You only want a mill or two pedal movement before the pushrod moves.

Ok so the symptoms have altered slightly,

After warming her up to split the clutch/flywheel yesterday, then being able to select gears as normal (all be it with a low biting point) i went to give her a run today only to find now that its cooled down i can no longer select gears with the engine running!!

how annoying! so I'm assuming the clutch has reattached its self to the fly wheel? or was never freed off in the first place?

any ideas?

Yes, the same ideas as above. Any fluid? Is slave or master leaking?
These seem more likely than reattaching clutches (what ever that means)

So after bleeding a lot of murky looking fluid out (partly because the nipple was full of gunk i think) I'm back on the road!

thanks for your help guys!

Tim_AM said:

So after bleeding a lot of murky looking fluid out (partly because the nipple was full of gunk i think) I'm back on the road!

thanks for your help guys!

Click to expand...

You may find that the clutch pedal travel will start to go again. 'Murky' fluid is often due to the seals starting to degrade and the tiny particles of rubber suspended in the fluid.

Ok thanks, I will keep an eye on it and maybe get a new MC /slave on order!