I had a pretty akward experience, for 3 times now. On short, clutch in, first gear, clutch out and a bit of gas (2500-3000rpm) .. the engine was moaning, but the car wasn't moving (or moving very slow).  

Something tells me it's the hydraulic cylinder, which for some reasons is not going all the way back. It happened 3 times now (in about 1 year), 2 times when trying to pull from a red light and one time when trying to do a 3 point turn. Sometimes, when trying to put it into reverse, after pushing the stick down, I cannot find the spot so I have to clutch again. I don't feel it's the clutch is slipping though.

Have you encountered this situation so far? How did you fix it ?

 

P.S.: I will replace the brake fluid and come back with an update about this. Maybe it's just too old. Do you know what type of break fluid and how much will I need ?

Edited 30 September, 201411 yr by Alexandru

I've experienced (and worked on) cars with failing hydraulic clutch actuators. In most cases it's the slave cylinder (gearbox end) that goes, and the symptoms tend to be that the clutch ttravel gets very long, then it drags slightly even with the pedal on the floor, then if you sit with the pedal on the floor and the car in gear you become aware of it starting to pull after a few minutes. Does that sound like your car?

 

If not, you might need to bleed it.

Regarding the sympthomes that you described, I never keep my foot on the clutch more than a few seconds to change gears or to start moving the car, so I never noticed the car trying to pull with the clutch fully pressed. Sometimes it feels like it's trying to pull with just a little lift of the pedal (fully pressed and lifting it like 1 cm or 2 max) and not close to it's middle range, but I've never sorted that out. 

I noticed that after I leave my car parked uphill, in gear, when trying to put it in neutral to start the engine, it feels like the clutch is not fully working, in the meaning that the gear level feels a bit hard, and it's making a noise when forcing it into neutral. This doesn't happen very often though, once in a few months I believe. 

 

P.S.: my car has a little over 106000 miles and only 6200 in the past 9 months since I've got it. I really don't know if it ever had a brake fluid replacement in it's 14 years of glory.

Edited 30 September, 201411 yr by Alexandru

Try the clutch down test I suggested for about 5 minutes. That will probably show up a worn slave if you have one. There's no real point in changing fluid before eliminating the slave, because you'll lose fluid doing the change if you need one.

 

Having said which, mine's on ~120_000 miles and still on the original master and slave.

 

The issue with getting a smooth change on uphills does suggest an air bubble though.

Try a gear linkage re align.

When pulling off it might not be engaging the gear you want if at all hence the need to re select.

Takes a few minutes so worth a shot. Also check condition of the gearbox ends as the rubber perishes.

Also a good bleed with an eezibleed might help

billy2981 - what do you mean by a gear linkage realign ?

billy2981 - what do you mean by a gear linkage realign ?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeOoDJuhSx8#t=53

Whoo.. nice ! I'm taking my car to adjust it today !

I had a similar issue on a nissan sunny. Now and then the clutch wouldnt really disengage, eventually it just stuck engaged with the clutch cable completely loose.

 

This was due to the springs on the clutch plate breaking apart and finally sticking in the whole clutch assembly. Happened pretty near expected milage for second clutch change (dont know if it was ever changed before).

 

But i wouldnt recommend taking the gearbox off without having a new (complete, including little metal clip things and bearing) clutch plate and 10hrs on hand.

Just got a call from my mechanic. It looks like I will need a new clutch kit. The hydraulics are working ok, but since the clutch is worn, it doesn't have enough power to push the cylinder from the gearbox. I might go with Sachs, since I couldn't find Valeo parts. 

Edited 6 October, 201411 yr by Alexandru

So its the pressure plate thats buggered then?

Should have car back on the road soon thn

I think so.