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Combo 1.7DI 2002 - Cannot Bleed Clutch?

1.6K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  jrichards106  
#1 ·
I've noticed in the mornings when the van is cold it's a bit crunchy getting into gear. For the rest of the day it shifts fine. So i thought 'i'll bleed the clutch through, probably a bit of air'.

I normally use a gravity bleed system when doing brakes; length of hose filled with fluid, build pressure, open bleed valve and repeat until no air remains. So presumed this would work for the clutch on the combo. It appears i was wrong! And have made the problem worse....

When pressing the pedal, with the bleed valve open the fluid level in the reservoir doesn't drop? I can see the fluid shift up/down in the tube but cannot seem to 'pull it through'. Even with no hose on the bleed valve, and the valve open, when you push the pedal you can hear it sucking & blowing but very little fluid comes out. I've also tried reverse bleeding with a bottle, hose and a bike pump. I'm getting good pressure but cannot seem to push fluid back into the reservoir?

I must be missing something? Is there a one-way valve?

Even after gravity bleeding until no more bubbles come though, and the bleed valve closed, I'm getting no tension on the pedal now at all, so it's currently undriveable. It's driving me up the wall! There's no fluid leaks and the master cylinder look ok from what i can tell. It was working ok yesterday. What the hell have i done wrong?

Thanks for any suggestions :)
 
#3 ·
EeeziBleed kits are about ÂŁ20 in Halfords.
 
#4 ·
Picked up and eezibleed kit today but unfortunately didn't work. I can't seem seem to push fluid through the system, even with the bleed nipple removed. Which i'm guessing means there's either a blockage, or the clutch master cylinder has seized. There's no tension on the pedal at all, other than the return spring.

Any suggestions? Or is it replace master cylinder? Looks like a ballache of a job!
 
#5 ·
If there's zero resistance to pushing the pedal have you checked the rod to the m/cylinder or the clip that holds it to the pedal are ok and not broken ?
 
#6 ·
I have yes. The rod is in-situ and connected to the pedal. Could the piston inside the master cylinder (assuming the rod isn't the actual piston) have become stuck? I put 20psi to it today and nothing has 'popped back out'
 
#7 ·
Try at a higher pressure,the bleeding pressure is supposed to be around 2 bar (29psi) but you may find it's hard to get the eezibleed to seal properly at that pressure
 
#8 ·
Thanks. I've just tried it at 30psi and nothing. There is also a valve (damper?) between the master & slave cylinder. However I've disconnected this and i still get sucking/blowing (when pushing the pedal) when trying to bleed, even at pressure.

So I'm thinking either the master cylinder is borked (was ok 3 days ago!?), or there's air trapped in the cylinder. Strange how it won't clear with pressure though. I've ordered a vacuum bleeder pump so will try pulling air from the top feed tube in the reservoir. If that doesn't work i'll have to get it towed to a garage i guess. Changing the master cylinder sounds like a nightmare!