Quilleron

Thanks for your prompt reply and help BlueWagon. Checking the clutch travel and pressure; it seems fairly normal, about 1/3 quite soft and then harder for the remaining distance. I have tried pumping the pedal but that doesn't make any difference either with or without the engine running. After having changed gear while moving the pedal softens and feels as though it is dropping away. As mentioned, the problem is intermittent, disengaging from the gears not a problem but re-engaging into either a forward or reverse gear is. Just now, with the engine running and while stationery I can change into any gear. All somewhat mysterious...

I have a 04 reg 1.9ltr Octavia Elegance TDI with 182k miles on the clock and have recently started to experience an intermittent gearbox fault - occasionally difficult to change gear even when the clutch pedal has been fully depressed. Clutch pedal drops after having changed gear. Clutch travel is soft for first 1/3 to half of distance and then is firmer for the remainder. With the car imobilised in this state I restarted the engine and the problem cleared. I'm being told that clutch, dual mass flywheel and master cylinder need replaced with an estimated cost of £1,200. This is more than the car is worth and I wonder whether there's any chance is might merely be the master cylinder that has gone or a clutch fluid leak. Linkages to gearbox all appear to be sound and move smoothly. The engine itself runs very smoothly and I haven't noticed any clutch slippage. Loath to scrap what might be a perfectly good car on the basis of an incorrect diagnosis. I have watched a number of YouTube videos about clutch problems and what I'm experiencing doesn't seem to tally with what they say one should be experiencing. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I might determine the true source of the problem or alternatively is there a Skoda gearbox/clutch expert close to GU15 that someone could recommend.