No, I can't remember the brand, but it was a decent brand, from memory. It worked fine before, but now I've changed the fluid, it doesn't.If the fluid has gone black it suggests the seals are deteriorating. The R380 gearbox doesn't like changing gear unless the clutch plates are completely separate. This is good usually, because it means you don't grind the gears, but if there's any rotary motion creeping through from the flywheel it won't go.
I'm sorry to hear they haven't lasted long, but the discolouration suggests a seal problem. Britpart by any chance?
Hello,Did you try that, and did it solve the problem?
No, it’s in the middle of the travel, it was fine before I stupidly decided to change the fluid and now I can’t get smooth gear changes!Is the clutch biting point right at the bottom of the pedal travel?
As Brown said if the fluid was going black the seals are deteriorating. The rubber particles may have been built up around the seal enough to just keep it working and you've flushed them out with new fluid. New cylinders are not expensive. I suspect my slave cylinder is leaking slightly as I'm having to top my fluid up. Going to take it off to have a look this afternoon. IIRC it was a cheap one and I'm paying the price for buying cheap, cos it hasn't been on very long!
EDIT
300Tdi not TD5
New last year isn't new now.He says the master and slave cylinders are new.
lf the biting point is halfway up and it's still dragging l'd suspect a fault with the clutch. Had exactly the same with our 300tdi.
Yes but they should last longer than new! Anyway, it turned out to be a the pipe going to the slave had a kink in it which wasn’t allowing the appropriate amount of pressure to get through, straightened the pipe and adjusting everything, now changes gears like a Mercedes!!New last year isn't new now.
Thank you for your help!!!! Turned out to be a kink in the pipe going to the slave cylinder! Straightened it and now changes gear perfectly! The wood method over night was obviously building up enough pressure for it to work on my brief commute to work and then would die down again!He says the master and slave cylinders are new.
lf the biting point is halfway up and it's still dragging l'd suspect a fault with the clutch. Had exactly the same with our 300tdi.
No, I can't remember the brand, but it was a decent brand, from memory. It worked fine before, but now I've changed the fluid, it doesn't.
I agree they should last longer than that, but you can get rogue ones that let you down. How did bleeding it put a kink in the pipe?Yes but they should last longer than new! Anyway, it turned out to be a the pipe going to the slave had a kink in it which wasn’t allowing the appropriate amount of pressure to get through, straightened the pipe and adjusting everything, now changes gears like a Mercedes!!
Well I've learned something new there cos I didn't know the water absorbed by the hygroscopic fluid turned the fluid black. You've got it fixed that's the main thing.It will be air in the system. I normally find gravity bleed works fine, but if not try what lightning suggests.
The fluid will have gone black because it has not been changed regularly. All brake fluid should be changed every year. because it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere.
I agree they should last longer than that, but you can get rogue ones that let you down. How did bleeding it put a kink in the pipe?
Well I've learned something new there cos I didn't know the water absorbed by the hygroscopic fluid turned the fluid black. You've got it fixed that's the main thing.