Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:35:51 -0500
Reply-To: greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject: Re: No Clutch....
In-Reply-To: <20100202115730.PSAX3.442925.imail@eastrmwml35>
Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
Hi Dave,
Without asking your mechanic it would be impossible to know for sure if
the clutch was bled at the same time as the brakes were. Chances are that
unless that mechanic works on vanagons often, he probably did not know
that they share the same reservoir.
Best thing to do would be to crack the bleeder valve on the slave cylinder
and have someone press the pedal. If the fluid coming out is clear, then
you have little to worry about. If it's yellowish, then it should be
changed. The best part there is that your helper pressing the pedal just
needs to press another 12-15 times and the old fluid will have been pumped
out, and the job is done. It's the same procedure as bleeding brakes.
Greg
> Thanks. So, I changed the brake fluid in May. I'm assuming from what you
> say that the clutch hydraulic system needs separately changed. Is that
> correct? Nothing in the owner's manual about that, unless I remember
> incorrectly. I'll check it. But regardless of what it says, it sounds
> like you are saying to change the clutch fluid in addition to the brake
> fluid. Or did my mechanic do that as a part of changing the brake fluid?
> Thanks again, David Mc
>
> ---- pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET> wrote:
>> The reservoir is fail-safe for the brakes as the clutch draws fluid from
>> a
>> higher point, i.e. if the clutch circuit completely fails and all the
>> clutch
>> fluid drips out on the pavement, the brakes will still have plenty of
>> fluid
>> left.
>> The clutch and brakes are 2 completely separate hydraulic systems. The
>> fact
>> they share a storage tank doesn't mean much.
>>
>> The biggest factor regarding longevity is replacing the brake fluid in
>> both
>> systems every 2 years. The fluid constantly absorbs moisture which in
>> turn
>> rusts and pits the bores of the cylinders, both clutch and brake.
>> And a big problem on vehicles that haven't had the fluid changed often
>> is
>> this pitting, not necessarily the seals.
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> Of
>> Dave Mcneely
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 10:22 AM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: No Clutch....
>>
>> Thanks. I have been told by a couple of mechanics that it does, but
>> that
>> probably was regarding brakes.
>>
>> BTW, does the fact that brakes and clutch share a reservoir make for
>> shorter
>> life for either system than if each had completely separate hydraulics?
>> Does it mean that if one fails hydraulically, the other will (certainly
>> would in the case of leakage, since if one loses fluid, the other
>> automatically has done so)?
>>
>> Thanks, Dave Mc
>>
>> ---- pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET> wrote:
>> > The piston is aluminum, not rubber.
>> > Also I don't think metal contraction due to temp is relevant here.
>> > The piston has a small rubber seal that I would bet is causing the
>> problem.
>> > Rubber gets hard when cold and doesn't seal that great.
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>> Behalf Of
>> > Dave Mcneely
>> > Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 9:02 AM
>> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> > Subject: Re: No Clutch....
>> >
>> > differential contraction of parts can allow fluid bypass more readily,
>> I
>> > think. Though I have heard it suggested that if bypass is a sometime
>> > problem, cold will make it less likely because the cylinder itself
>> > contracts, while the piston is rubber and doesn't. But I guess my
>> ignorance
>> > is showing. David Mc
>> >
>> > ---- Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>> > > Cold weather has a way of making clutch and brake hydraulics
>> suddenly
>> > fail.
>> > > Especially if the fluid is old and has enough moisture in it to make
>> ice
>> > > crystals.
>> > >
>> > > Dennis
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>> Behalf
>> Of
>> > > Bill Shawley
>> > > Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 6:56 PM
>> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> > > Subject: No Clutch....
>> > >
>> > > Ok gurus, went out to show the van some love, (and to measure
>> something),
>> > > took the key to start it as well. Put my foot on the clutch and
>> straight
>> > to
>> > > the floor, no resistance. It is very cold, dark, and kind of
>> immobilized
>> > in
>> > > some shoveled snow, hardcore diagnostics can wait. No problems last
>> time
>> > I
>> > > drove it, may 4-6 weeks ago. Any guesses to trim the
>> troubleshooting
>> > curve
>> > > for me?
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Ryan
>> > >
>> > > _________________________________________________________________
>> > > Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection.
>> > > http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469226/direct/01/
>
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