A bad day in Kent.

[pas]

B*gger.

Lovely day in Kent today. Dug my S3 out of the garage and, after a little battery charge, started first time. Thought I'd strap in a video cam and take a drive in the country.

So after about 45 minutes, I got that Lotus-owner 6th sense thing. Things felt wrong. Gear changes were getting clunkier. Was I losing the feeling? Then it happened. End of a long country lane, and I needed to turn on to a busy road.

First gear wouldn't engage, and it was a hill start. I managed to pump the clutch and pull away in second. Then a lovely downhill section, overtook a couple of cars and approached a roundabout. Couldn't downshift, and only found 4th. Things were getting worse.

I suspected clutch fluid leak, so dropped in to a garage at the bottom of the hill. Forgotten my wallet, and have

[USAndretti42]

Are you sure it's not the famous "red hose" syndrome and al the pedal pumping is expanding the hose rather than moving the clutch releas lever?

[pas]

Are you sure it's not the famous "red hose" syndrome and al the pedal pumping is expanding the hose rather than moving the clutch releas lever?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

tell me more-what happens?. There was definately some clutch mvmt , but the pedal had dropped.

[gpz900r]

Thats exactly whats being fixed on my car as we speak (rubber gloves off to type)

No I bet as you can read from what Wayne has said about mine it will be the same problem, find my other posts at

http://www.glcforum.com/ukesprit/forums/in...p?showtopic=878

Marc

Edited July 22, 2005 by gpz900r

[pas]

Thats exactly whats being fixed on my car as we speak (rubber gloves off to type)

No I bet as you can read from what Wayne has said about mine it will be the same problem, find my other posts at

http://www.glcforum.com/ukesprit/forums/in...p?showtopic=878

Marc

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the cross-ref, I think you are absolutely right. The pictures of the work are great aren't they?

[bobsilk]

I have had this problem several times with my 1982 S3 this year when I have been stuck in traffic and the engine bay temperature starts to soar; it reduces the effectives of the clutch fluid.

I think that the solution is to fit a braid clutch pipe (available from SJ Sportcars in Crediton, Devon for abour

[catty s2]

B*gger. 

Lovely day in Kent today.  Dug my S3 out of the garage and, after a little battery charge, started first time.  Thought I'd strap in a video cam and take a drive in the country.

So after about 45 minutes, I got that Lotus-owner 6th sense thing. Things felt wrong. Gear changes were getting clunkier.  Was I losing the feeling?  Then it happened.  End of a long country lane, and I needed to turn on to a busy road.

First gear wouldn't engage, and it was a hill start.  I managed to pump the clutch and pull away in second.  Then a lovely downhill section, overtook a couple of cars and approached a roundabout.  Couldn't downshift, and only found 4th.  Things were getting worse.

I suspected clutch fluid leak, so dropped in to a garage at the bottom of the hill.  Forgotten my wallet, and have