Is the skoda scala slave cylinder concentric and located inside the gearbox for all models, or is it just the 1.5 engine which doesn't have it on the outside of hte gearbox? I'm seeing different reports about whether the gearbox needs to be removed to check or replace it on a 1.0 litre engine.

Had a quick google and the one that came up looks external. You should be able to just see it in car under gear linkage/battery etc

If its external will look like above or similar

Alasdair

So it's not as labour intensive to change both master and slave as it would be if changing one in a concentric system

No I managed to do the slave in my sons fabia mk1 without removing Gbox. Had to remove battery and compartment and think gear linkage to get access. Main problem with one person is holding slave in place to get bolts in as it tends to spring out. If you have problems with clutch and fluid is leaking it could be master or slave. If the slave leaks the actuator on an external one is internal so you dont notice any fluid. Check bottom of bell housing. Theres normally a small gap. If theres fluid there then its the slave leaking. The seals can also go and allow fluid past them but not leak on either. Just done the master on my Octavia. No signs of leaking but pedal went to floor and it was collecting on the undertray. Its more difficult to get to. Its one of those jobs you can see it but cant reach it!! especially with hands like mine.

Alasdair

Thanks for your help Alasdair.

This is actually an extended warranty claim for me but the warranty company are refusing it as there is no external sign of leakage. Strangely, lots of Skoda garages discussed taking the gearbox off to fix it, hence my initial question. So much for going to the experts!

Apparently there is a Skoda "webinar" about this, dated 2024 which states "scala the clutch pedal sinks to the floor, light/hardly any resistance through out pedal travel" and recommends changing both master and slave cylinders.

Does anyone have a reference number for the webinar, or know where I can get it?

Is your clutch/brake reservoir losing fluid. If it is its a leak if not sounds like seals on either have failed and letting fluid past them. Either way it should be covered by warranty as there's a problem with clutch. Check the level and top up to max and monitor it. Sorry havent heard of webinar but someone on will hopefully know. I used Sachs master and slave and they werent expensive. Think it was around £80 for both.

Alasdair

The reservoir is stable, no drops. To me that is consistent with a minor failure where the seals are letting fluid past and should be covered under warranty.

The system was bled thoroughly a while ago in an attempt to fix it

I'm going to pay the bill under protest, changing the cheaper slave first, and pursue the warranty company once the issue is fixed by hardware replacement.

Edited 2 July2 Jul by rivergo1d

Hopefully the slave will cure the problem. Might be worth pressure bleeding system first if it hasnt already been done just in case theres air left in it somewhere . I tried doing mine manually but didnt feel right so used a pressure bleeder and after a while a couple of bubbles appeared.

Alasdair

Well, they changed the slave cylinder, test drove it, parked up and the clutch pedal dropped to the floor permanently - not the gentle loss of resistance I experienced. They've had it up on the ramp and can see nothing wrong with the new fitting.

So my engineering mind is wondering whether they pressure-bled it after fixing the slave and that pushed a dodgy master cylinder over the edge, or whether both cylinders were on the edge, with slight pressure loss in the slave, and the master then gave up the ghost when pushing through against a "fixed" full pressure slave cylinder.

Sounds as though the master has given up as you said maybe extra pressure with new slave. At least you now have evidence that its knackered and it should be covered by waranty. Hope a new master will cure all.

Alasdair