TD4 Clutch doesn't return?

Hi.

Hopefuly someone might be able to offer me some advice on this. I have a freelander TD4 on 03 plate, 3 weeks after my warrentee ran out this little problem has occured. Sometimes when the clutch is pressed and you go to release it it just stays down, if you give it a gentle pull with your toe it returns and is fine for another hour or two. I had a word with a friend who knows a bit about cars and he suggested bleeding the clutch but warned it may worsen the problem, he also suggested it may be the slave or master cylinder causing the problem, guessing thats a major job? My tempory solution (being a master of bodgeing) was to drill a small hole in the clutch peddle arm and attach a return spring to pull it back up. At the moment this little bodge seems to be working fine but deep down i know that this hasn't fixed the problem, just masked it. So, any suggestions... should i bleed the clutch, is it likely to help or make things worse, is it more likely to be the slave or master cylinder? are they a pain to do? should i just stick with my bodge and see how it goes? (its been doing the trick for a couple of weeks now. hehe)

Any advice would be great.
Thanks, chris.

What you don't say is when the clutch pedal is stuck down, is the clutch itself engaged or released?

ermmmm, engaged. but not properly, its like the bite point moves down just below the bottom of where the clutch peddle can move to when fully pressed. does that make any sense?
As soon as you pull it up with your toe and press it again it returns to normal until next time.

if it's hydraulic it will be either a shagged master or slave cylinder

It is hydralic.

If the engine drive is still passing through to the gearbox with the clutch pedal on the floor then the hydralic system has lost pressure. When you pull the pedal back up manually then you recharge the master cylinder from the resevoir. If this is happening then you are loosing fluid somewhere and more seriously you are going to encounter total clutch release failure.

The first thing to check is that the clutch fluid level the reservoir isn't dropping. If it is then you have a leak for sure. Next check the bleed nipple on the slave cylinder has not started leaking. Its unlikely but it worth a shot. You should spot the problem quickly as there will be obvious wetness in the area. If the nipple is dry then look to the master cylinder and the reservoir to check for leaks there. If not then there is bad news. You have a TD4 and unlike the L series diesel model of the Freelander, the slave cylinder on the TD4 is inside the bell housing. To access this little cookie you have to take the gearbox out, I kid you not.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you find.

Dave

New master cylinder needed .....and renew fluid ......

had same problem it was the slave cylinder
i have just replaced it and it was a very big job
just check under your gearbox if you have fluid leaking from the bottom of the bell housing its your slave
box out time oh and ird box and subframe

Dont bleed it as its a sealed system. Go to dealers and buy new kit and its an easy fix. you will get the cylinder at the back of the peddle and the pipe leading to the cylinder on the box. I have fitted a few now and if your handy its deffo a D.I.Y job

might be worth a look here:
Freelander - DIFFICULT GEAR ENGAGEMENT - CLUTCH PEDAL - Land Rover

p.s where is the clutch fluid level the reservoir located?
im having trouble getting into first gear sometimes and have to put my foot through the floor it seems to get a bit more on the pedal.