Lou 23

New Member
Hello all first post in here,I’m really confused at the moment...

my defender 90 200tdi has started leaking fluid all around the power steering pump but my power steering reservoir is full and power steering working fine but I have no clutch fluid and clutch isn’t working, prior to this it wouldn’t start which I thought was starter motor but now convinced it’s a loose earth as it started fine,after 30 mins of trying to turn the key, then cut out on way home,tried for 10 mins and fired up perfect again, carried on going home then the clutch felt really loose as I changed gear for it to completely stop engaging soon after luckily on my drive, any help? Appreciate it thanks lou
 
Hello all first post in here,I’m really confused at the moment...

my defender 90 200tdi has started leaking fluid all around the power steering pump but my power steering reservoir is full and power steering working fine but I have no clutch fluid and clutch isn’t working, prior to this it wouldn’t start which I thought was starter motor but now convinced it’s a loose earth as it started fine,after 30 mins of trying to turn the key, then cut out on way home,tried for 10 mins and fired up perfect again, carried on going home then the clutch felt really loose as I changed gear for it to completely stop engaging soon after luckily on my drive, any help? Appreciate it thanks lou
 
With a bit of luck you have a leak in the clutch pipe, clean everything up and top up the fluid and have a good look to see where/if you have a leak.
When you say the engine wouldn't start do you mean it wouldn't turn over? or did turn over and just wouldn't fire up? In any case it is always worth checking earths, and by that I mean taking them off and cleaning the connections with some sandpaper or wire brush, then protecting with copper coat or vaseline to replace.

Or you could just burn it.
 
Check the rubber flexi between the clutch pipe and the slave cyclinder on the back
Of the engine.

To establish if you have poor earths etc, run a jumper cable from the NEGATIVE of the battery to any metal part of the engine, and see how it starts
 
Thanks a lot ,I’ve had a good look this morning and can’t see where any clutch fluid has leaked out anywhere only fluid around power steering pump I really don’t understand the problem
 
Thanks a lot ,I’ve had a good look this morning and can’t see where any clutch fluid has leaked out anywhere only fluid around power steering pump I really don’t understand the problem
Do you know when the clutch fluid was last up to the level?

A leak on the flexible pipe could be quite small, and the lost fluid could be carried away in the air flow, or just lost in the general oil and muck in the area behind the engine.
As soon as the fluid falls to the level of the master cylinder intake, you will have no clutch.

Driving a Landrover is old school motoring. Check oil, water, and brake fluid levels every day.
 
Do you know when the clutch fluid was last up to the level?

A leak on the flexible pipe could be quite small, and the lost fluid could be carried away in the air flow, or just lost in the general oil and muck in the area behind the engine.
As soon as the fluid falls to the level of the master cylinder intake, you will have no clutch.

Driving a Landrover is old school motoring. Check oil, water, and brake fluid levels every day.
Not too sure to be honest might be worth a go cheers mate
 
If its a genuine 200 90, then there is really nothing above the pas pump that can leak, clutch pipes other end of engine.
The pas 90 degree suction rubber hose into the pas pump itself is a fail point.

Park on the flat/uphill or downhill?

Take some pics of the leak and post them up.

Colour of the oil/fluid is also a good indicator of where it came from.
 
If its a genuine 200 90, then there is really nothing above the pas pump that can leak, clutch pipes other end of engine.
The pas 90 degree suction rubber hose into the pas pump itself is a fail point.

Park on the flat/uphill or downhill?

Take some pics of the leak and post them up.

Colour of the oil/fluid is also a good indicator of where it came from.
 
So the power steering pump leak could cause the clutch to stop? I didn’t think they had anything to do with each other?
 
No clutch fluid will be why the clutch isn't working. Top it up, bleed it and see what happens. Check for leaks along the whole clutch hydraulic system it's all very easy to visualise. Is there fluid down the back of the peddle? The Master cylinder often leaks. Replace with a Delphi one if thats the issue.

The electric issue won't be anything to do with the clutch. What happens when you turn the key? Nothing or the starter turns over but doesn't catch? Do lights come on the dash?
 
So the power steering pump leak could cause the clutch to stop? I didn’t think they had anything to do with each other?

no it couldn’t, you have 2, possibly 3 seperate issues.

1. Pas fluid leak - probably box or pump or hose connections

2. poor starting - starter motor, or solenoid or your earths or possibly your ignition switch

3. clutch fluid - probably the slave leaking, or the flexi pipe to the slave.

first things I would do is:

1. Fill up the clutch master cylinder with fluid and throughly bleed it to see if it makes it work again, you will also be able to see if fluid is p1ssing out anywhere

2. negative wire to the engine to assess starting performance

3. pas fluid - top up and monitor levels.

A cardboard ‘ tell tale’ under the car can help identify colour and volume of a leak
 
So the power steering pump leak could cause the clutch to stop? I didn’t think they had anything to do with each other?

@lynall's confirming two different faults

  1. PAS - check colour of PAS fluid/leaks around the PAS pump...look for RED fluid/marks/traces. It's quite common for the PAS hoses to fail around the hydraulic fittings after years of use
  2. Clutch - logically, the clutch is completely separate to a PAS system - if your low on clutch fluid, drain system and change the clutch flexible, refill and bleed...then check all joint and steel/copper/kunifer pipes + the integrity of the clutch master cylinder [note - a good tell tale sign of brake/clutch fluid leaking is mullered/bubbled paintwork near the leak - paint doesn't like clutch fluid]
eta: beaten to it by @flat :)
 

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