Hello:

I believe I may have a clutch slave problem but I just want to be sure. I got in the car last night and the clutch had very little resistance and the take up was pretty much half an inch off the floor. I could still shift without issue. I had to use my foot to pull the clutch all the way back up after engaging it to shift. I drove it for a bit and the clutch seemed to build pressure and return almost to normal. I checked the car today and the clutch is totally soft again.

I recall that I noticed a leak under the car on the ground in line with where the passenger seat is. I checked the clutch reservoir under the front hood and it is empty. I assume the leak and the lack of fluid are related.

What is most likely my problem and what am I looking at to fix it? I appreciate all of the help.

 

I am curious about the fluid level in your steering reservoir in the engine compartment. Also I have to mention, to me you are the first with an empty clutch fluid reservoir. Normally the failure we see is reservoir overfilled due to a failed slave actuator. You must have a heavy fluid leak somewhere. The slave is located in the middle part of the car left side of the transmission....

 

I just checked the PS fluid. Car is cold and it is showing normal on the cold side of the dipstick.

 

that could well be a fully failed slave that has expunged ALL fluid unbeknownst to you. rare but i think it happens. you usually have some failure warnings it is about to go out, but NO fluid means it ALL let go SOMEwhere.

 

Sounds like a failing/failed slave cylinder


Fill it up and drive around the neighborhood. Then park it immediately and check the reservoir. The following morning check the leak with a clean paper towel just to make sure the leak isn't from the A/C. Check the reservoir also in the morning.

 

I think you should found the origin of the leak first. Jack the car refill the reservoir and have someone to operate the clutch several times and try to found exactly where this fluid is coming from....There are two hydraulic lines going to the slave and the one going towards the front of the car should be looked at to see if it is wet....

 

i agree with jp's advice. much safer to fill with pentosin and see where its leaking from with the car stationary. i wouldn't drive it unless i knew it would hold enough fluid for me to to get to my tech if you dont DIY. it's not a level one leak, its more like level 3 !

also, feel under the dash/steering column. with a leak like yours, it should be WET it not at least moist. it will migrate there from the master in the frunk when your master or slave is bad.

not a good one to drive with.

 

Great feedback, thank-you. I will try and get under the car this weekend and see what's wet under there. I know I spotted a leak under the car in the spring when I took it out of hibernation. That leak was closer to the front of the car than the back.
I looked around the front trunk and could not see any signs of moisture. There is also no sign of moisture inside the car around the steering column and under the dash, dry as a bone.
I do DIY, so when I figure out what this is I am hoping to repair it myself.

 

first thing i'd check is the full operability of the slave. to do that you'll need to lower the trans a bit. it's nearly impossible to reach fully otherwise. good luck with it. the slave fails with far greater frequency than the master..

also ( of course ) there is that silly toilet bowl plunger of an "accumulator" which fails like clockwork lol again GL!

 

I am just sourcing some Pentosin, I'm assuming the power steering fluid pentosin is the same as the clutch pentosin, correct?

 

Yes it is Pentosin CHF202 and used to be CHF11 both are compatible....

 

Thank-you! Picking some up now.

 

when in immediate need benz dealers and maybe even bmw dealers always have it. but you'll "pay"

 

 

A spongy feel to the clutch pedal, grinding of gears when shifting, long pedal travel, and hydraulic leaks under the car are all signs that one or more components of the system have failed. The first place I like to start is the clutch slave cylinder, as it is easy and inexpensive to replace. Here is a good DIY with information and the process for replacement if that indeed turns out to be your issue.

-Luccia