Hi,

My octavia has been running perfect with no issues until yesterday. 

I started the car with the clutch down no problems but I could not get into any gear.

When I checked the fluid [yes I should have checked before this] and it was very low so I topped it back up. After pumping the pedal several times it  went into gear with no issues.

This morning after starting it I had the same problem, after pumping the pedal a few times it went into gear again with no noise or issues.

After driving a few miles the gear changes are smooth bit my pedal is not rising back up as far as it used to and I've had to flick it back up with my foot, there doesn't seem to be any issues when using the clutch apart from this, and there is no sign of fluid leaking and the level seems the same as when I filled it, so I am wondering if there is air in the system ? Or if this could be an issue with the master/slave cylinder? The gear change feels the same and there is no other issue apart from this.

I will be taking it into the garage as soon as I can, and I'm not planning on using it till then.  Obviously being new years eve it's going to be a few days til I can arrange that, I was just wondering if anyone had a similar experience or an idea what could be the problem so I can get an idea of the cost 🤔 

Thanks in advance

 

First of all the low fluid level could well be a brake system leak so do not disregard it.

 

When the level falls the feed pipe for the clutch is starved of fluid well before the brakes giving you early warning, it sounds like the low fluid warning is not working but the fluid levels should be something you check regularly (weekly) anyway.

 

The clutch master cylinder will likely have drawn in air before you topped up the reservoir, pumping the pedal will not have removed it, air in the upper part of the clutch circuit will make its way up into the reservoir overnight with the pedal in the upper position unlike traditional master cylinders (its a very simple basic design) but air from the slave cylinder is trapped by design in the void beneath the bleed nipple.

 

Like may posters you have given no information on your engine or transmission type, if you have a 6 speed gearbox then air is likely to be being drawn in to the concentric slave cylinder without any fluid leak hence the warning to check the brake system, it could be that the level was always low anyway if you have never checked it, where was the level compared to the fill markings?

Hi

 Cheers for getting g back to me.

The car is the 2l diesel  6 speed version, it's currently sitting at 140k hence the fear of the clutch being away. 

The level was on the minimum  and it had been several months since I checked it which is stupid  I know, lesson learned.

I am the first to admit I am not mechanically  minded and I hadn't even considered  the brakes as they seem fine and had new pads and discs all round in July,  but  I never thought about the hydraulics of it.

I can't get my head around the fact that having pumped the pedal several times it returned to changing gear without any issues which is why I thought there may be air in the system, and I hoped maybe it would need bled rather than new parts?

I won't be using it again until it goes to the garage as soon as I can get it booked in, especially if it  might be a brake issue. Its due its service in January anyway. I was just looking to see what issues it might be to get an idea of cost as there's nothing I can do about it til after  the new year, nothing worse than not being able to get a problem solved.

Lesson definitely  learned in regards to checking levels though.

17 minutes ago, waspsandwich said:

I thought there may be air in the system, and I hoped maybe it would need bled rather than new parts?

 

I think there is air in the system, bleeding will bring temporary relief but its likely to recur and become more frequent, in the end I was having to bleed mine at the side of the road every 5 miles in urban driving before I bit the bullet.

 

A garage will likely change the master cylinder first as it it easier and cheaper but the air ingress is likely to be from the slave cylinder.

 

However if you have a fluid leak from the brake system that lowered the reservoir level allowing air into the clutch that is a good thing as long as that is repaired as an absolute priority, in that case bleeding the clutch will likely be a permanent fix.

The level being at the minimum would not have starved the clutch of fluid, also the clutch would have had to be leaking, I would say you have the increasingly common problem of air ingress into the two part plastic concentric slave cylinder.

Ah OK, thanks for the information.

I will get it in to the garage as soon as they can fit me in