My clutch seemed to fail yesterday. Couldn't engage/disengage gears and I had to get recovered. Amazingly all seems ok this morning, but clearly something is wrong somewhere. My 2014 Fabia 1.6 tdi has done almost 100, 000  miles, so problems are expected now. I'm thinking it's a master/slave cylinder problem and therefore would like to get both replaced. Any ideas of the approximate cost?

I just replaced my slave and it was around £30-00 from parts in motion https://www.partsinmotion.co.uk Think the master is about £40-00 That was on a 1.2 06 plate fabia mk1. I used Sachs if I remember correctly. Not sure of your engine/gearbox . Is there any fluid leaking. The slave on mine is external mounted but operates inside gearbox housing. I took mine out to check and the rubber gator was split inside box and as I was replacing clutch did it as well. It may not be master/slave but perhaps sticking release bearing etc. At 100,000 I reckon the clutch must be pretty worn if its the original. Check around drivers footwell and also back of engine on mine below brake reservoir for leaks from the master. Had an octavia that leaked there and pedal would randomly go straight to floor and not return Fluid was landing on undertray so didn't notice leak until it got winched onto recovery truck. On a rare occcasion the flexi hose that connects to the slave can colapse internally. I reckon aroud £80-00 in parts if you do it yourself, Not sure what garage labour would be. Slave is fairly easy but master takes a bit more time and if its like the Octavia requires pedal removal etc. I used a gunson pressure bleeder on mine.

Alasdair

Very useful, thank you. That bit about going randomly to the floor and not returning sounds like mine, so I'll check for leaks. The reservoir level doesn't seemed to have dropped though.

Is it not a split reservoir for the brakes as well? It may be the brake fluid you are seeing.

1 hour ago, Salopshire said:

Very useful, thank you. That bit about going randomly to the floor and not returning sounds like mine, so I'll check for leaks. The reservoir level doesn't seemed to have dropped though.

When mine went to the floor I used to raise it back up with my foot a couple of times and it seemed to cure itself. Lasted for a good few weeks then failed completely. In my case it was the Master that leaked. When it went completely every time the clutch was pressed it pumped fluid out. If I remember the pipe from the reservoir or the pipe from the master clips into the cylinder. On my octavia there is a small rubber grommet that goes into the master cylinder with the pipe. Its not that obvious and can get left stuck in the old one. Make sure its fitted if not theres no seal. 

Alasdair

21 minutes ago, Jocko said:

Is it not a split reservoir for the brakes as well? It may be the brake fluid you are seeing.

Thats correct the one reservoir does both and must be split somehow as I still had brakes when the clutch failed. Think the level warning is for brakes only. Its a nightmare to check the fluid level by eye as the tanks are not that clear. 

Taken it to a garage this morning, and they say that there was nothing obvious to be seen. The mechanic said it could be the master or slave cylinder, but it could equally be with the clutch itself - the release bearing sticking, or something like that. Might try the master cylinder first if the price isn't too bad.

31 minutes ago, Salopshire said:

Taken it to a garage this morning, and they say that there was nothing obvious to be seen. The mechanic said it could be the master or slave cylinder, but it could equally be with the clutch itself - the release bearing sticking, or something like that. Might try the master cylinder first if the price isn't too bad.

I would get a slave as well. For all the cost plus you then know they are both new plus your going to be bleeding it anyway. If its the original clutch at 100000 then I would replace the slave as well anyway as a matter of course. When my master went I reckon the fluid was getting past the seals a while before it started leaking. It does say if I remember corrrectly to get new bolts when fitting master cylinder. I didn't bother and its been fine for over a year. I took them off and got the part number from them to make sure I got the correct ones as my car had an option of two different ones. Like said try parts in motion. Its free delivery and for an extra few quid you can get next day. Been using them for a while now as they are about 1/3 cheaper than my local motorfactors and so far service has been excellent.

5 minutes ago, Alasdair1 said:

I would get a slave as well. For all the cost plus you then know they are both new plus your going to be bleeding it anyway. If its the original clutch at 100000 then I would replace the slave as well anyway as a matter of course. When my master went I reckon the fluid was getting past the seals a while before it started leaking. It does say if I remember corrrectly to get new bolts when fitting master cylinder. I didn't bother and its been fine for over a year. I took them off and got the part number from them to make sure I got the correct ones as my car had an option of two different ones. Like said try parts in motion. Its free delivery and for an extra few quid you can get next day. Been using them for a while now as they are about 1/3 cheaper than my local motorfactors and so far service has been excellent.

That makes a great deal of sense - I will get both replaced. I'll leave it to the garage, don't fancy doing it myself, so they will get the parts. 

It does sound like one of them has failed and fluid is getting past the seals or there is air getting into the system somehow. Every car I have had that clutch pedal went to floor and didn't return was either the master or slave. I think its happened around 5 times now over the years. Most were Master but I just replaced both. Some were easy like Volvo 940 others not. To do the master on my Octavia was tricky. You could see the part but getting to it was damn near impossible as it was behind the engine and low down without a garage ramp plus pedal assembly had to be removed plus part of lower dash etc Shouldn't take them too long to do it as they will have ramps and hope it solves the problem. 

Alasdair

13 minutes ago, Alasdair1 said:

It does sound like one of them has failed and fluid is getting past the seals or there is air getting into the system somehow. Every car I have had that clutch pedal went to floor and didn't return was either the master or slave. I think its happened around 5 times now over the years. Most were Master but I just replaced both. Some were easy like Volvo 940 others not. To do the master on my Octavia was tricky. You could see the part but getting to it was damn near impossible as it was behind the engine and low down without a garage ramp plus pedal assembly had to be removed plus part of lower dash etc Shouldn't take them too long to do it as they will have ramps and hope it solves the problem. 

Alasdair

Thanks again for that very helpful reply. I'll let you know how it turns out.

On 30/11/2024 at 14:01, Alasdair1 said:

It does sound like one of them has failed and fluid is getting past the seals or there is air getting into the system somehow. Every car I have had that clutch pedal went to floor and didn't return was either the master or slave. I think its happened around 5 times now over the years. Most were Master but I just replaced both. Some were easy like Volvo 940 others not. To do the master on my Octavia was tricky. You could see the part but getting to it was damn near impossible as it was behind the engine and low down without a garage ramp plus pedal assembly had to be removed plus part of lower dash etc Shouldn't take them too long to do it as they will have ramps and hope it solves the problem. 

Alasdair

Saw the chap at the garage again this morning. He said a new master cylinder would be about £150, but he said that although it was very possible he didn't think that would be the problem. When I asked about changing the slave at the same time he said the gearbox would have to be removed for that - and therefore he recommended replacing the clutch at the same time - which he thought the more likely problem, total cost £500. I'm leaning towards that option, what would be the advice here?

At 100k I'd get the clutch and slave done, they're worn out.

17 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

At 100k I'd get the clutch and slave done, they're worn out.

I think that makes perfect sense.

4 hours ago, Salopshire said:

Saw the chap at the garage again this morning. He said a new master cylinder would be about £150, but he said that although it was very possible he didn't think that would be the problem. When I asked about changing the slave at the same time he said the gearbox would have to be removed for that - and therefore he recommended replacing the clutch at the same time - which he thought the more likely problem, total cost £500. I'm leaning towards that option, what would be the advice here?

If the pedal is gong to the floor its either air or a bad master/slave cylinder but at 100,000 the clutch will be pretty near past it. I changed my slave on a 1.2 without removing box. I removed gear selector to get more room. Its only two bolts on mine. Main problem was pushing and holding slave in to get the bolts back in but if he is offering a new clutch etc for £500 all in then I would go for it. I ended up changing my sons clutch and it was not that easy without garage lift. If he is doing the clutch make sure he uses LUK / Sachs. They are about £30-40 more expensive but they are decent and I find they last. The LUK kit I got had a new pressure plate,clutch disk,release bearing and fork. It was £86-00 from parts in motion. Slave was around £30. I was quoted £600 from a mobile mechanic. Most garages are a good bit more. I did mine for aprox £160 when changing my sons. I wouldn't have gone for it at £600 but after doing it myself I reckon its a pretty good price plus if there are any problems he will have to sort it.

Alasdair

6 minutes ago, Alasdair1 said:

If the pedal is gong to the floor its either air or a bad master/slave cylinder but at 100,000 the clutch will be pretty near past it. I changed my slave on a 1.2 without removing box. I removed gear selector to get more room. Its only two bolts on mine. Main problem was pushing and holding slave in to get the bolts back in but if he is offering a new clutch etc for £500 all in then I would go for it. I ended up changing my sons clutch and it was not that easy without garage lift. If he is doing the clutch make sure he uses LUK / Sachs. They are about £30-40 more expensive but they are decent and I find they last. The LUK kit I got had a new pressure plate,clutch disk,release bearing and fork. It was £86-00 from parts in motion. Slave was around £30. I was quoted £600 from a mobile mechanic. Most garages are a good bit more. I did mine for aprox £160 when changing my sons. I wouldn't have gone for it at £600 but after doing it myself I reckon its a pretty good price plus if there are any problems he will have to sort it.

Alasdair

Thanks. Yes, I think I will go for it. The £500 is for the clutch and slave cylinder, doesn't include the master cylinder of course.

3 hours ago, sepulchrave said:

At 100k I'd get the clutch and slave done, they're worn out.

I did 325000 miles on the original clutch, I have known others do more than half a million, I have alsoknown other people wear out clutches on all their vehicles in less than 3 years, it all depends on the driver.

 

Years ago few clutches were capable of the mileages that most modern ones are in the right hands.

5 hours ago, Salopshire said:

When I asked about changing the slave at the same time he said the gearbox would have to be removed for that - and therefore he recommended replacing the clutch at the same time

 

Sounds like a concentric slave cylinder and it will be that at fault, your symptoms described it drawing in air though the O ring joint between the two plastic parts but I did not know if Fabias used a concentric one or not.

 

Definitely wise to replace the clutch at the same time given the labour involved despite my comments on them being capable of doing very high mileages.

30 minutes ago, Salopshire said:

Thanks. Yes, I think I will go for it. The £500 is for the clutch and slave cylinder, doesn't include the master cylinder of course.

Even if he has to replace master cylinder its an extra £150 which would't cover an hours labour in fraanchise garage. Friends pay £200 per hour labour!! See if he could do the whole lot at the same time for £600? I reckon thats a good price.

Alasdair

2 hours ago, J.R. said:

I did 325000 miles on the original clutch, I have known others do more than half a million, I have alsoknown other people wear out clutches on all their vehicles in less than 3 years, it all depends on the driver.

 

Years ago few clutches were capable of the mileages that most modern ones are in the right hands.

Apart from, and until, this issue - which is unlikely to be the clutch itself - it feels pretty solid, and there has never been any problem with gear changes, etc.

1 hour ago, Alasdair1 said:

Even if he has to replace master cylinder its an extra £150 which would't cover an hours labour in fraanchise garage. Friends pay £200 per hour labour!! See if he could do the whole lot at the same time for £600? I reckon thats a good price.

Alasdair

I'll suggest that to him. Shouldn't be that much extra work if he's doing the other things.

I like your username, do you know what  une salope means in French 😀

7 minutes ago, J.R. said:

I like your username, do you know what  une salope means in French 😀

I didn't, but I just asked my French speaking daughter. It's certainly not a compliment! People from Shropshire are called 'Salopians', so, after knowing what the French expression means, we must be careful where we use it! For those wondering what it means, apparently it means a 'whore or 'slut'.

On 02/12/2024 at 19:20, Salopshire said:

I'll suggest that to him. Shouldn't be that much extra work if he's doing the other things.

Just had a word with the garage that are going to replace my clutch, etc, and it's booked in for some time next week. They did say that first they needed to find out if the car has single or dual mass flywheel - does anyone here know?

I put my reg into parts in motion website and found that my 1.2 was solid. I think the DMF clutch discs have no springs in them .  Not sure of the 1.6td. I know the 1.9tdi had a DMF. Your garage will need one or perhaps two new hub nuts as well. The ones on my MK1 can only be used once. I also had to cut the bottom ball joint off mine as the retaining nuts were turning when trying to remove them from the wishbone. 

Alasdair