andyfreelandy
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I have started a new thread as there are loads about TD4 clutches and, having just recently gone through the same problem, diagnosed and got some good results that I thought I would share.
In summary I was looking at a £500 + bill for a new clutch with slave and master and worked out (with reading all the threads on this site!) how to diagnose and repair for £55.
So - 2001 TD4 just bought with very low clutch bite (in the carpet). Bled the clutch, well explained elsewhere and, like others, made the situation worse and could not engage any gear.
It had to be the hydraulics and either the master or slave or both. If you are in this situation I would suggest that you undo the self-sealing clutch pipe connector (above gearbox). This does not need a 'special tool' - it is very like a speed plumbing connector, push the sliding ring towards the gearbox end of the pipe and pull out the feed from the master. A pair of long nosed pliers in the recess does the trick and allows gentle leverage.
Having disconnected the master, the connector self seals and, if you push the clutch pedal now it should not move. Pretty much solid is what you are looking for, any drop under pressure (even a few inches) shows that the master is past its best. If all is well here then it is bad news and likely to be the slave or other clutch components, but you then have to take gearbox out to see.
When I did this test, my pedal felt firm, but it dropped a few inches. I thought that this showed that the master was O.K. But - being a cheapskate changed the master anyway as I couldn't come to terms with a larger bill ! I used LR Spares - brilliant. £55 including next day delivery.
With the new master fitted, which really is a 30 min job, don't follow Haynes and remove all sorts of junk, just remove one bolt for the plastic servo tank which sits above the plug in connector to give you space to work, the pedal (with the connector not yet plugged in) was rock solid, I could put my weight on the pedal without it moving.
Plugged in, works perfectly, bite is now a few inches above carpet and no need to bleed clutch.
I wonder how many complete clutch re-fits have been carried out for the sake of a what could have been a simple master cylinder change??
I am not saying that yours will do the same, the slave and master could be faulty, but it is a repeatable easy test to allow you to know for sure whether you need to take the gearbox out !!
Hope this is useful - I can now afford pies at Christmas !
Good luck............. Andrew
I have started a new thread as there are loads about TD4 clutches and, having just recently gone through the same problem, diagnosed and got some good results that I thought I would share.
In summary I was looking at a £500 + bill for a new clutch with slave and master and worked out (with reading all the threads on this site!) how to diagnose and repair for £55.
So - 2001 TD4 just bought with very low clutch bite (in the carpet). Bled the clutch, well explained elsewhere and, like others, made the situation worse and could not engage any gear.
It had to be the hydraulics and either the master or slave or both. If you are in this situation I would suggest that you undo the self-sealing clutch pipe connector (above gearbox). This does not need a 'special tool' - it is very like a speed plumbing connector, push the sliding ring towards the gearbox end of the pipe and pull out the feed from the master. A pair of long nosed pliers in the recess does the trick and allows gentle leverage.
Having disconnected the master, the connector self seals and, if you push the clutch pedal now it should not move. Pretty much solid is what you are looking for, any drop under pressure (even a few inches) shows that the master is past its best. If all is well here then it is bad news and likely to be the slave or other clutch components, but you then have to take gearbox out to see.
When I did this test, my pedal felt firm, but it dropped a few inches. I thought that this showed that the master was O.K. But - being a cheapskate changed the master anyway as I couldn't come to terms with a larger bill ! I used LR Spares - brilliant. £55 including next day delivery.
With the new master fitted, which really is a 30 min job, don't follow Haynes and remove all sorts of junk, just remove one bolt for the plastic servo tank which sits above the plug in connector to give you space to work, the pedal (with the connector not yet plugged in) was rock solid, I could put my weight on the pedal without it moving.
Plugged in, works perfectly, bite is now a few inches above carpet and no need to bleed clutch.
I wonder how many complete clutch re-fits have been carried out for the sake of a what could have been a simple master cylinder change??
I am not saying that yours will do the same, the slave and master could be faulty, but it is a repeatable easy test to allow you to know for sure whether you need to take the gearbox out !!
Hope this is useful - I can now afford pies at Christmas !
Good luck............. Andrew
