Clutch/gear problems

Hi all, my 1998 2.0 diesel Freelander has an issue I'd love help with. Basically in first gear but with clutch pressed it will still try to creep forward, also the bite point is very low. Clutch doesn't seem to be slipping but sometimes selecting gear is very difficult/not possible. Could it just be the clutch needs adjusting? Also any idea how that's done on a Freelander - I'm 190 miles from home but can buy basic tools if needbe... Knowledge in mechanics is rather lacking though!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

If your still moving sounds to me like the clutch isn't engaging properly

As for adjustment I d t think there is any but if I am wrong I'd like to no how aswell to adjust it

First of all spray your clutch arm with 3 in 1 while someone else works the clutch pedal - see if it gets better after lots of lubrication also check the slave cylinder bracket is not bent or broken...plenty of threads about this if you search.

Thanks, I'm a little stuck on the searching - I'm currently 190 miles from home in a travel lodge with awful wifi, will try and do some searching in the morning if I can get better signal somewhere

Ok so take off the air filter box and you will see the slave cylinder and bracket mounted on the side of the gearbox, the slave piston operates the clutch arm (a lever that goes into the gearbox... spray this) - this sometimes stiffens up / seizes and causes problems getting into gear -it also causes the slave bracket to bend or even break then pop goes the slave.

try bleading the air out of it

beerbelly said:

try bleading the air out of it

Click to expand...

Its a 1998 Diesel L series - sealed system....cannot bleed like a TD4

Brack said:

Ok so take off the air filter box and you will see the slave cylinder and bracket mounted on the side of the gearbox, the slave piston operates the clutch arm (a lever that goes into the gearbox... spray this) - this sometimes stiffens up / seizes and causes problems getting into gear -it also causes the slave bracket to bend or even break then pop goes the slave.

Click to expand...

Any idea what size spanner I'll need to take the air filter box off?

jt999 said:

Any idea what size spanner I'll need to take the air filter box off?

Click to expand...

Two small nuts to remove these might just be finger tight if yer lucky or a small pair of pliers would loosen them.. then they will unscrew easily with your fingers

Airbox is off but I can't find anything that moves when clutch is pressed - any pointers?

Found it, that's going to be a pain to get to!

You can see the slave and bracket just below the rubber hose where it bends - feel for the other end of the slave there will be a piston going onto the clutch lever.

The release assembly isn't in that picture. It looks like this.

Many thanks - I found it. I wasn't sure what to lubricate so basically coated everything that moved whilst my partner pumped the clutch, doesn't really seemed to have done anything/much so I guess I'll need to either have another go or drive it home as it is (190 miles will probably not be much fun though) and have the clutch system replaced

It seems better when engine is cool, not sure if that is relevant - probably should have mentioned that earlier in the thread!

jt999 said:

Many thanks - I found it. I wasn't sure what to lubricate so basically coated everything that moved whilst my partner pumped the clutch, doesn't really seemed to have done anything/much so I guess I'll need to either have another go or drive it home as it is (190 miles will probably not be much fun though) and have the clutch system replaced

It seems better when engine is cool, not sure if that is relevant - probably should have mentioned that earlier in the thread!

Click to expand...

I'm almost certain it's the slave cylinder bracket cracked. These are both cheap and easy to replace

Nodge68 said:

I'm almost certain it's the slave cylinder bracket cracked. These are both cheap and easy to replace

Click to expand...

I think you're probably right, it's rather rusty down there and I don't think the cylinder is sitting straight. Does a new clutch cylinder kit come with the bracket? I'm considering just replacing the lot to be sure it's sorted

jt999 said:

I think you're probably right, it's rather rusty down there and I don't think the cylinder is sitting straight. Does a new clutch cylinder kit come with the bracket? I'm considering just replacing the lot to be sure it's sorted

Click to expand...

In a word, no. The bracket generally fails because it's overloaded by a stiff operating lever. This is caused by corrosion on the shaft. If you can see where the lever shaft goes into the box this is where a once a year drop of oil will work wonders.
Once the lever is free, provided the hydraulics have survived you should probably get away with a new bracket.
Like this.
FREELANDER SLAVE CYLINDER CLUTCH BRACKET PETROL DIESEL (NOT TD4) UUU100690 | eBay

Just got back from work ....hope you get home ok

Nodge68 said:

In a word, no. The bracket generally fails because it's overloaded by a stiff operating lever. This is caused by corrosion on the shaft. If you can see where the lever shaft goes into the box this is where a once a year drop of oil will work wonders.
Once the lever is free, provided the hydraulics have survived you should probably get away with a new bracket.
Like this.
FREELANDER SLAVE CYLINDER CLUTCH BRACKET PETROL DIESEL (NOT TD4) UUU100690 | eBay

Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll just give the bracket a go first

Brack said:

Just got back from work ....hope you get home ok

Click to expand...

I've not left yet, tomorrow evening will be the decider! Worst case scenario it dies half way home and I get the recovery people out but it's been difficult for a while (not quite as bad but planned to scrap the car in a few months so didn't get it looked into) so I think we will be ok... I hope!!

Thanks for all your help/knowledge - it's really nice to have some friendly answers in my time of need! I'll update the thread with my findings, I'm secretly hoping it gets stolen during the night so I don't have the hassle of driving it home but doubt an old burgundy 2WD Freelander with a dodgy clutch is very highly sought after in the criminal underworld, they'd just bring it back