Clutch problem Help needed.

[sixdogs]

Nothing good ever lasts! I was on the way home yesterday from the Malvern Classic car show, having had a very good day. Just pulling out of a junction when the clutch pedal suddenly gave in and sank almost to the floor. Not with a bang I might say, but it sank within a second or two.

I managed to limp home by a certain cunning developed by half a life time of driving old bangers. This morning, having had a good look at the linkage, it is clear that the lost motion is within the clutch housing itself and not the linkage. The pedal does not go right to the floor, but the clutch cannot be disengaged.

Can anyone tell me the likely cause of the problem ? I realise that the box or engine will have to come out, but it is nice to be prepared for whatever. It looks as though it might be easier to remove the engine rather than ther gearbox. I would appreciate any views and comments please.

Regards, Clive.

[bmcecosse]

Yes - if you want in there then lift the engine. Try to look into the bellhousing by removing the rubber seals around the clutch fork and on the other side - and see if the carbon thrust has disintegrated - or maybe has somehow come out of the fork. Otherwise I guess the pressure plate mechanism has collapsed - although normally reliable.

[sixdogs]

Otherwise I guess the pressure plate mechanism has collapsed - although normally reliable.

Hmm, I think this is probably the case. What I did not mention for fear of sounding silly, was that the pedal went soft as I was changing from 1st to 2nd, as i had just moved off, having sat with the car in 1st with my foot on the clutch longer than I would normally do, waiting for the idiot in the Range Rover Vogue in front to come to some decision. I had no drive from the clutch at this point and was almost back to a standstill before the drive came back, I came to the conclusion that maybe the car was not in second gear after all, as the clutch surely could not recover it's drive. It happened so quickly that it is hard to be certain, but it certainly seemed that the clutch regained it's drive.

Well thanks for the comments, the engine will have to come out anyway, so all will be revealed I guess.

Thanks, Clive.

[bmcecosse]

Foot on clutch for any length of time is a death sentence to the carbon thrust !