There must be a large quantity of air in the system that is circulating between the ABS accumulator and the fluid reservoir.

The brake system can compensate for a pocket of air because it has a separate pump that sucks fluid out of the reservoir and "charges" the accumulator. So if the air is trapped in the accumulator, the pump just compresses it (and it probably partially condens into liquid) until the system registers enough pressure. As the air circulates back to the reservoir it expands again.

The clutch system uses a small quantity of fluid compared to the braking system. Therefore, once the pocket of air is back in the resovoir this pocket takes up enough volume to disable the clutch, which has no auxilliary pump to compensate.

Eventually, the ABS pump sucks all the air back out of the reservoir, replacing it with fluid, and the clutch has fluid to work with again.

First, you need to completely flush and refill the system (brakes and clutch), and then determine where you may be leaking fluid. You have also put a strain on the ABS pump, which is not designed to pump air, and would also have to run far longer in order to compress all that air in the accumulator.

In my opinion, you have been taking a huge risk by running the system like this. You are lucky that your brakes didn't fail.

Seriously, flush and refill the system immediately. Let us know is you have any other questions.

Good Luck!

-Kyle
'91 9000T
151,000mi

posted by 169.152.25...

• 9000 Clutch pedal pressure..., Brian, Tue, 7 Jan 2003 12:47:42
  • Re: 9000 Clutch pedal pressure..., simon, Thu, 9 Jan 2003 16:37:10
  • Re: 9000 Clutch pedal pressure..., Frank W, Wed, 8 Jan 2003 00:10:36
    • Slave..., Brian, Wed, 8 Jan 2003 00:59:28
  • You must have a very large pocket of air>>>, Kyle, Tue, 7 Jan 2003 16:59:18 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: large pocket of air>>>, Brian, Wed, 8 Jan 2003 02:23:26
      • The clutch resovoir isn't separated at all >>>, Kyle, Wed, 8 Jan 2003 10:29:11
        • Re: The clutch resovoir isn't separated at all >>>, Brian, Wed, 8 Jan 2003 23:09:24
        • (Sp: reservoir) n/m, Kyle, Wed, 8 Jan 2003 10:58:53
    • I'm with young Jedi Kyle->, roman, Tue, 7 Jan 2003 18:46:47
  • A thought, Eric Law, Tue, 7 Jan 2003 14:55:07
    • Re: A thought, Brian, Wed, 8 Jan 2003 02:00:37
  • Re: 9000 Clutch pedal pressure..., Yaofeng, Tue, 7 Jan 2003 14:10:30

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