Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 19:30:45 -0800 From: Justin VanAbrahams <jvanabranopsam.com> Subject: Re: Need advice
Kevin Rogers wrote: > > I've got a 1988 9000 Turbo Hatchback with 138,000 miles. Problem is, my > clutch hydrolic fluid seems to be leaking and occasionally about once a > week I'll put my foot to the floor and the clutch will stay on the floor > and I'll have to literally pick the pedal up off the floor. After > several minutes in neutral I'll usually have a strong pedal again. I'm > told that it may either be the slave cylinder or the much easier to get > to, master cylinder. Any suggestions? Anybody else had the same > problem? What do I do next? > > Thanks, > > Kevin It may be neither of them. It could be the hydraulic line that runs between the two. It happened to my roommate one afternoon - clutch the floor and no action. Upon seeing the line after it was removed, there was a huge bubble in it that looked like it finally gave way. If yours sprung a pinhole leak somewhere, it could leak fluid and end up with exactly the same symptoms. Your best bet it to get the car up in the air, and have one person pump the pedal while another watches underneath. Try and spot where the fluid is going. If you don't see any fluid loss, it's probably not the line and one of the cylinders - the seals internal to them fail leading to these symptoms. Short of this, it's really, really tough to tell which is leaking externally. I say replace the master first. It's easier and cheaper to replace. If that solves your problem, you're in luck. If it doesn't, start saving... the slave is tough (and therefore expensive) to replace. -Justin