vaughan Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 Had a strange 'happening' with the clutch on my 3 litre Ducato. Stopped in layby to fill a water bottle. Started engine and it wouldn't go into any gear with clutch depressed. Turned engine off. Pressed clutch and engaged 1 st gear, wound the starter uo and giggled clutch pedal and away we went. Had to drive without clutch for about 30 minutes and then everything back to normal. Clutch was fine for about 3 or 4 days then it did it again and returned to normal use after a while. Drove all the way back from Spain like that. Clutch fluid was midway in reservoir at the start so I topped it to MAX mark but made no difference. Clutch pedal felt the same whether it was working normally or not; no difference if I pumped the pedal and pedal always returned fully. Stumped, although suspect slave cylinder (concentric type). Anyone had similar experience. Hoping Euroserv is still on here as he helped me a couple of years ago with throttle body problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euroserv Posted February 5, 2020 Share Posted February 5, 2020 Hi, It only takes a small leak to allow an air lock to develop in the clutch hydraulics. The first sign of a problem with the slave cylinder or master cylinder (behind the clutch pedal) is for the pedal to go all the way down with no effect. The pedal can usually be pulled back up and it will work again but you will at best only get this to work a few times before the problem becomes too serious and immobilises the vehicle. Given the expense of removing the gearbox to replace the clutch slave cylinder, i would consider getting the master cylinder changed first. Get the system bled properly and see if that solves the problem. If not; it is clutch time for you. N Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthur49 Posted February 5, 2020 Share Posted February 5, 2020 euroserv - 2020-02-05 12:35 PM Hi, It only takes a small leak to allow an air lock to develop in the clutch hydraulics. The first sign of a problem with the slave cylinder or master cylinder (behind the clutch pedal) is for the pedal to go all the way down with no effect. The pedal can usually be pulled back up and it will work again but you will at best only get this to work a few times before the problem becomes too serious and immobilises the vehicle. Given the expense of removing the gearbox to replace the clutch slave cylinder, i would consider getting the master cylinder changed first. Get the system bled properly and see if that solves the problem. If not; it is clutch time for you. N Not my issue Nick but can I just say I really appreciate you taking the time to continue to share your expertise on here :-D :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanb Posted February 5, 2020 Share Posted February 5, 2020 Vaughan, Please do take note of Nick's recommendations. Many years ago I had a similar experience with a Saab annular slave cylinder failing. One or two bad gear changes, for which I blamed myself during week before going on holiday in Scotland. Days drive there OK, went out next day, stopped to reverse into parking place for lunch..... No clutch. Managed to return about 40 miles to holiday accommodation in Glencoe. Next day transported by AA to specialist garage in Inverness. Luckily although it was an annular slave cylinder, on that Saab it was not a gearbox removal job. If your x250, is similar to my x244 in the pedal area, a leak in the master cylinder could present itself as an oily moistness on the master cylinder piston rod, creeping down onto the pedal. That is what I found perhaps two years ago. Wiped dry, but mostness reappeared. Master cylinder changed (DIY), and then remained dry. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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