V6 gearbox issues

[ChrisW]

Hi,

Having an issue with my mates V6. It's an S reg coupe and his clutch pedal is sitting a couple inches off the floor.
Seems to change gear fine when the engine is off, however when it's running and the pedal is depressed it will not engage the gears.
I do not have much experiance with these cars as I usually work with jap imports so joined here to get some help off you fine folks.

Sorry if this has been covered on here before but i'm not very good with navigating forums.

Cheers,
Chris.

[jasper5]

You should try bleeding the clutch first of all, checking for any leaks at the slave cylinder on the gearbox as well.

Keep the brake cylinder topped right up whilst bleeding the clutch.

[steve_earwig]

I think S reg makes it a 1998 so it probably has a sealed clutch hydraulic system, if so then unless someone is clever enough to replace this with the later system the whole lot will need replacing

[Ares]

when i had master&slave cylnder problem,i had leakage on the pedal and other thing is that if i pumped clutch would go up and change normal gears until
the pressure fell again if not pumped.
Couldnt change gears while down so if that info helps,try it.

[mjb]

I think S reg makes it a 1998 so it probably has a sealed clutch hydraulic system, if so then unless someone is clever enough to replace this with the later system the whole lot will need replacing

Indeed. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370823979992 is a nice cheap one. Can be swapped over in 30 minutes without much in the way of skill involved:

Kneel down by the driver's door and pop the master cylinder off the clutch pedal.
Open the bonnet
Unclip the black pot near the driver's side bonnet hinge
Reach down about 6 inches and you'll feel the master cylinder which you turn anticlockwise 45 degrees and it'll come out.
Remove the air filter box (big jubilee clip up top, then there's the temperature sensor plug to remove (push in the metal bit), then pull the box upwards and out)
Unclip the clutch pipe from the gearbox, then turn the slave cylinder 45 degrees anticlockwise to remove. It'll put up a fight.
Remove the assembly

Refitting is the opposite of removal, but you'll need some force to get the slave cylinder back into the gearbox. I think I followed the Haynes for my first attempt and ended up needlessly removing a whole load of interior trim... You don't need to do that.

[jasper5]

I think S reg makes it a 1998 so it probably has a sealed clutch hydraulic system, if so then unless someone is clever enough to replace this with the later system the whole lot will need replacing

I stand corrected

I'll re-phrase my reply....

You may have a hydraulic problem

You may also have a problem with the clutch pressure plate, but check the hydraulics first.

[ChrisW]

Cheers folks,
Turns out it is the sealed system and the slave cylinder is goosed. Managed to get a new system (both cylinders, pipework and reservouir) on line for relativly cheap.

How do you bleed the system after fitting?? I can't see any bleed screws/nipples. Is it just a case of filling the pot and pumping the pedal?

[steve_earwig]

Oops, sorry about the delay in approving the post (am I on my own here or what? )

It's a sealed system so it *should* already be full