URGENT HELP: CLUTCH!!!

dmad_dood · Postby **dmad_dood** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 4:56 pm

Hi there everyone, i got into my car this morning to go to work and litterally overnight i noticed my clutch had gone! pedal has gone very soft and is only disengaging when it gets close to the floor, i drove to work (didn't have a choice) and now its getting worse, i need my car for tomorrow but i cant use it like this!

Could it be just the case of a clutch bleed or something simple?

Cheers!

Jono.

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:02 pm

Is there fluid in the reservoir? It's the small one to the right of the brake fluid.

dmad_dood · Postby **dmad_dood** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:06 pm

Hjt wrote:Is there fluid in the reservoir? It's the small one to the right of the brake fluid.

It dosent look like there is :S

koop21 · Postby **koop21** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:13 pm

1) Check for your clutch slave for leaks
2) Check your clutch Master for leaks
3) Check your clutch line for leaks
4) Replace what is leaking and bleed your clutch.

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:14 pm

clutch slave probably died.
Very easy to fix, repco usually stock that sort of thing, if not mx5 mania will.

Jack up drivers side, and remove wheel.
Its on the side of the gearbox.

Free it from the clutch hardline with a 10mm spanner.
Unbolts with 2x 12mm bolts.

fit new one in place, reconnect hardline, then bleed with new fluid.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:21 pm

Emily, I'm giving you superhero status.

Henceforth, you shall be known as...Awesome Chick (yes, sexist I know, but hey we're talking superherocomicbook stuff).

...now to come up with avatar, costume, cape...

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:32 pm

haha oh bryan you are funny.

dmad_dood, also check your dead pedal inside the car, if there is fluid dripping on it, that means your master has gone.
Thats a bit more involved to change, and alot more expensive. I got my genuine mazda one from mx5parts.uk on sale for $130+ i think.

dmad_dood · Postby **dmad_dood** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:35 pm

I had a feeling my slave cylinder was on its way out for a while now, when i was under my car the other day it looked like it was leaking quite badly but it didn't seem to ever "go" until now. Fluid wise it says on the reservoir only use dot 3 but in desperate times i just topped up with some dot 4 and the clutch is a hell of a lot better - well at least enough to keep me out of trouble until i replace the slave cylinder.

Is it really bad to top up with dot 4?

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:37 pm

No, I use Dot 4. I bleed it every time I do my brakes...just did it again on the weekend.

dmad_dood · Postby **dmad_dood** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:49 pm

Apu wrote:No, I use Dot 4. I bleed it every time I do my brakes...just did it again on the weekend.

Sweet.

For the record how hard it it to bleed the clutch?

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:51 pm

^the spoon feeding stops now, do a search.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 6:36 pm

Tip: gravity bleed or get someone to pump the pedal.

dmad_dood · Postby **dmad_dood** » Tue Jul 23, 2013 6:58 pm

Apu wrote:Tip: gravity bleed or get someone to pump the pedal.

Cheers! Thanks for the help. Much appreciated!

And thanks for the speedy replies everyone, a great help.

Jono.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 6:22 am

dmad_dood wrote:I had a feeling my slave cylinder was on its way out for a while now, when i was under my car the other day it looked like it was leaking quite badly .....

Now you know when would have been a good time to get it sorted.