How do, a question if anybody out there can help educate me?

I looked at a Skoda Octavia I was thinking about buying and when I got in for a test drive I found the clutch just sat there depressed all the way. I toed it up and it seemed to work fine but is this a sign of a problem waiting to happen with the clutch?

I've never experienced finding a clutch like that on any other car and it made me a bit wary etc. Any advice and answers most appreciated.

Cheers!

have a look at the clutch cable under the bonnet. It's possible it's popped off a clip.

Pretty sure Octavias have hydraulic clutch operation. My vrs definately did

when you say you found the clutch depressed , was the pedal on the floor?

If so,is a master cylinder failure

Yes fully to the floor. It worked OK during test drive and remained where it should etc.

You mean you drove it?!

If it is hydraulic, there's a problem (I guess there is if its cable too)

Yes I drove it. Felt like an idiot when I got in to start it up because my foot could find no clutch where it should be! Then when I had a look it was just sat there already fully depressed. Pulled it up with my toe and it worked fine.

Seller said "it just happens sometimes when they're sat there" but I've never experienced or heard of that before so thought I'd try find out a bit more before I decide whether or not to buy etc

The clutch is hydraulic, no cable anywhere.

 

The clutch master cylinder is dying and will need to be replaced in the very near future, symptoms initially appear worse when its cold outside but it will get worse and eventually stay down every time its pressed.

Thanks Mannyo & everyone else, most appreciated.

Reckon I'll leave this one then if it got a problem waiting to happen. Few other Octavias to see so hopefully I'll be joining the owners club soon!

Thanks again. Case closed!

Probably clutch pipe leaking where it joins onto slave cylinder on top of gearbox,

 

Common problem on these cars apparently altho id never heard of it until mine started to do same,

 

New pipes about 60 quid but they take abit of patience to fit

When I owned a 2002 Octavia 1.8T 4X4 I had the clutch master cylinder changed for a later modified version under warranty.

Yes fully to the floor. It worked OK during test drive and remained where it should etc.

 

 

so the clutch wasn't depressed....was just the pedal on the floor due the master cilinder failure

Mine did this 2 years ago /20k miles ago. 

 

Did it once, never did it again. Wonder if an incredibly sudden change in temperature caused it that was out of the ordinary.

This "sticking" has happened to mine three times in the 20,000 miles of my 18 month ownership. Fairly evenly spread out throughout that period. No other symptoms.

Edited 20 January, 201412 yr by Rik Cortez

It happened to mine at around 6000 miles from new, just in very cold weather (below zero) , and only in the first mile or so. I'd just hook it back up and it would be fine for the rest of the trip. The dealer replaced the master cylinder during its first service a few month later. It was odd that it was so intermittent, but fortunately never failed at a critical point.

The longer they sit, the more likely you will notice the issue. Definitely sounds like a master cylinder issue. Mine was the same when I got it.

Reckon I'll leave this one then if it got a problem waiting to happen.

Alternatively, it's got a known problem that is not going to cost the earth to fix, why not return to the dealer equipped with the knowledge that it'll need a new master cylinder and/or pipe and use that to haggle a good discount, and get it repaired with the money saved?

Mine used to do this when I first brought it, I caused it by resting my foot on the clutch pedal ^_^ as soon as I changed the bad habit it hasn't done it since.

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Alternatively, it's got a known problem that is not going to cost the earth to fix, why not return to the dealer equipped with the knowledge that it'll need a new master cylinder and/or pipe and use that to haggle a good discount, and get it repaired with the money saved?

I agree with Steve's outlook. If you're confident of the problem and the cost to repair, I wouldn't dismiss the car (based on solely that problem).

Edited 21 January, 201412 yr by Rik Cortez

Mine used to do this when I first brought it, I caused it by resting my foot on the clutch pedal ^_^ as soon as I changed the bad habit it hasn't done it since.

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Should not happen whether resting your foot on it or not. In fact, if it does happen by resting your foot on it, then it is potentially an unsafe condition should it catch anybody unawares, and is clearly in a bad way.

Pretty cheap and simple to replace though. The only slight ballache is the clip.

Should not happen whether resting your foot on it or not. In fact, if it does happen by resting your foot on it, then it is potentially an unsafe condition should it catch anybody unawares, and is clearly in a bad way.

Pretty cheap and simple to replace though. The only slight ballache is the clip.

Hasn't done it for around 4 years now

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Mine has done this for about 6 years but only once or twice a year when the weather has been on the freezing side and the cars been stood for a couple of days.

Lift it up and that's it. Been over the whole system with no faults found.