Clutch gave out

Star · 12-11-2007, 16:39

This morning I was taking my daughter to hospital for an operation at approx 7.00am, weather freezing. The gears became difficult to engage and finally gave out at junction 3 on the M53. I was happily recovered and daughter whisked off to hospital in a taxi (still waiting to hear about op!).

Recovered to usual service garage. Loss of clutch fluid (I understand that the brakes operate from the same reservoir but clutch take off is higher so goes first) diagnosed and a bit of ribbing about being able to drive without the clutch! Clutch fluid replaced, bled, whathaveyou and for the moment fine.

Garage Guru said there had been similar problems with Galaxies and Focuses (Focii?) and that after topping up, etc, had been fine. However, I am of a nervous disposition and don't fancy this happening again.

Advice from you wonderful people would really be appreciated.

(02 Octy 1.8T 4x4 Estate)

daverapid · 12-11-2007, 21:22

The fluid must have gone somewhere mate, I would get it back in the garage to get the leak diagnosed before the clutch fails again.

Star · 12-11-2007, 21:24

I am sure you are right and will request Garage Guru orders the parts for repair - don't like living on the edge!

fordfan · 13-11-2007, 07:37

Cold weather is when the master cylinder usually goes, the pedal will go to the floor and stay there, usually OK for a little while if you pull it back up.

jlsarmk · 13-11-2007, 17:39

That has happened to me last week
i had parked the car at work went to zstart it in the evening and could not select a gear but it seemed ok the day before is that normal for no signs to show before

Star · 14-11-2007, 07:34

Hi Fordfan - the clutch pedal didn't stick at all, I tried pumping it to see if I could build up some pressure but it would seem modern cars don't respond to ancient tactics. A couple of days later after garage topping up of clutch fluid it has been fine. Still, as Daverapid says, the fluid went somewhere so it needs sorting.

Having read around the subject it would seem that in some cases, in cold weather (freezing), a rubber gasket (grommit?????) manages to turn inside out. Is it so cold that it is stiff and cannot move in the appropriate way and takes the line of least resistance? On warming up does the rubber perform and elastic operation and return to its normal position.

In the meantime fluid has escaped and needs replacing under pressure.

Seeing as this happens why haven't the boffins sorted it out?

The vehicle has 43k on the clock.

big o · 27-12-2007, 17:57

hi there - I also have a problem with my clutch ( 2002 octavia 1.9tdi ) at the minute .

Driving along today , the clutch pedal dropped straight to floor. Managed to drtive home in one gear - any ideas what this could be or what I can check? The Pedal does now return to the normnal position but there is no resistance & still no clutch. Could it be a sticking cylinder or flywheel?

Any thoughts much appreciated

Kandy · 27-12-2007, 18:15

My brother's one did this - something snapped and needed welding back together - the lever on the gearbox that the clutch cable acts on I think? - check the attachment points at the pedal and under the bonnet before anything else - I think this breakage is quite common.

big o · 27-12-2007, 18:23

thanks for that - i checked in and around the pedal - nothing seems to have snapped off and linkakages are all ok- i'll check under the bonnet tomorrow . My clutch didn't show any signs of wear - it just happened out of the blue today

Oimsi · 08-01-2008, 22:10

Hi

I recently bought a 2003 octavia 1.9sdi from a family member who has had the car from new. Only 55k on the clock. A friend borrowed the car and has described how the clutch went.
The clutch pedal went straight to the floor and stayed there. He then used his foot to force the pedal back up where it stayed jammed. A local garage sais that it was the master cylinder and changed it. The garage then told me that this had not cured the probem. The pedal now moves but does not engage the clutch. He has now taken out the clutch and is going to fit a new clutch kit but he says that he cannot see what was causing the problem! With each new stage of the attempted repair the bill is going up and I am getting a bit worried. Has anyone got any ideas?

12-11-2007, 16:39	#1
Star Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: North West UK Posts: 35 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Clutch gave out This morning I was taking my daughter to hospital for an operation at approx 7.00am, weather freezing. The gears became difficult to engage and finally gave out at junction 3 on the M53. I was happily recovered and daughter whisked off to hospital in a taxi (still waiting to hear about op!). Recovered to usual service garage. Loss of clutch fluid (I understand that the brakes operate from the same reservoir but clutch take off is higher so goes first) diagnosed and a bit of ribbing about being able to drive without the clutch! Clutch fluid replaced, bled, whathaveyou and for the moment fine. Garage Guru said there had been similar problems with Galaxies and Focuses (Focii?) and that after topping up, etc, had been fine. However, I am of a nervous disposition and don't fancy this happening again. Advice from you wonderful people would really be appreciated. (02 Octy 1.8T 4x4 Estate)

12-11-2007, 21:22	#2
daverapid Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sawston, Cambridgeshire Posts: 788 Thanks: 19 Thanked 83 Times in 76 Posts	Re: Clutch gave out The fluid must have gone somewhere mate, I would get it back in the garage to get the leak diagnosed before the clutch fails again. __________________ David McKinney TREASURER OF SKODA OWNERS CLUB GREAT BRITAIN www.skoda-owners-club.org.uk

12-11-2007, 21:24	#3
Star Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: North West UK Posts: 35 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Clutch gave out I am sure you are right and will request Garage Guru orders the parts for repair - don't like living on the edge!

13-11-2007, 07:37	#4
fordfan ECUless Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,952 Thanks: 28 Thanked 224 Times in 195 Posts	Re: Clutch gave out Cold weather is when the master cylinder usually goes, the pedal will go to the floor and stay there, usually OK for a little while if you pull it back up.

13-11-2007, 17:39	#5
jlsarmk Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 17 Thanks: 7 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Clutch gave out That has happened to me last week i had parked the car at work went to zstart it in the evening and could not select a gear but it seemed ok the day before is that normal for no signs to show before

14-11-2007, 07:34	#6
Star Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: North West UK Posts: 35 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Clutch gave out Hi Fordfan - the clutch pedal didn't stick at all, I tried pumping it to see if I could build up some pressure but it would seem modern cars don't respond to ancient tactics. A couple of days later after garage topping up of clutch fluid it has been fine. Still, as Daverapid says, the fluid went somewhere so it needs sorting. Having read around the subject it would seem that in some cases, in cold weather (freezing), a rubber gasket (grommit?????) manages to turn inside out. Is it so cold that it is stiff and cannot move in the appropriate way and takes the line of least resistance? On warming up does the rubber perform and elastic operation and return to its normal position. In the meantime fluid has escaped and needs replacing under pressure. Seeing as this happens why haven't the boffins sorted it out? The vehicle has 43k on the clock.

27-12-2007, 17:57	#7
big o Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Clutch gave out hi there - I also have a problem with my clutch ( 2002 octavia 1.9tdi ) at the minute . Driving along today , the clutch pedal dropped straight to floor. Managed to drtive home in one gear - any ideas what this could be or what I can check? The Pedal does now return to the normnal position but there is no resistance & still no clutch. Could it be a sticking cylinder or flywheel? Any thoughts much appreciated

27-12-2007, 18:15	#8
Kandy Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 546 Thanks: 0 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Clutch gave out My brother's one did this - something snapped and needed welding back together - the lever on the gearbox that the clutch cable acts on I think? - check the attachment points at the pedal and under the bonnet before anything else - I think this breakage is quite common.

27-12-2007, 18:23	#9
big o Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Clutch gave out thanks for that - i checked in and around the pedal - nothing seems to have snapped off and linkakages are all ok- i'll check under the bonnet tomorrow . My clutch didn't show any signs of wear - it just happened out of the blue today

08-01-2008, 22:10	#10
Oimsi Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Clutch gave out Hi I recently bought a 2003 octavia 1.9sdi from a family member who has had the car from new. Only 55k on the clock. A friend borrowed the car and has described how the clutch went. The clutch pedal went straight to the floor and stayed there. He then used his foot to force the pedal back up where it stayed jammed. A local garage sais that it was the master cylinder and changed it. The garage then told me that this had not cured the probem. The pedal now moves but does not engage the clutch. He has now taken out the clutch and is going to fit a new clutch kit but he says that he cannot see what was causing the problem! With each new stage of the attempted repair the bill is going up and I am getting a bit worried. Has anyone got any ideas?

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