Clutch drag ?

2004 Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI PD130 engine code avb
Car: Volkswagen Passat
Year: 2004
Variant: 1.9 TDI PD130 engine code avb
Categories: Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
Hi all ,SORRY this is a long one to explain Have this prob that some days is worse than others !! It's hard ( sometimes ) to select 1St and reverse gears !! spoken to a few garages who say it will need a new clutch ( it has one of these duel mass flywheels that has to be changed @ same time or apparently it will rapidly knock out the new friction plate etc. ?? ) ( £ 700 odd so yeah that ain't gona happen !! ) !!! thing is there is no clutch slip as it will stall test in 4th with quite a bit of revs and boy it has some torque! it's like say you put your foot down on clutch pedal and keep it down ( whilst stationary put it in 1st but then try to bring it back into neutral and back to first a few times the gears will start to sort of grind as if the pressure is being lost or you haven't got your foot down enough on the pedal making it seem like the clutch is starting to disengage or drag from the hydraulic slave / master cylinders losing pressure But the fluid reservoir level never drops ( shared with brakes )so no obv leaks ( on the outside that is ) I did start to bleed the clutch but as I had just started and got the first bit off fluid to flow I had to stop the job put things back etc... and pick up my son who had gone sick @ work . I must say just that little attempt DID improve the situation but other commitments have prevented me from doing the whole job properly since and its starting to go back to before I first intervened !! so anyone had the same problem and saved themselves £6/700 and cured it with a new bottle of brake/clutch fluid ( wich is what i was hoping to do ) ??? regards to all and thanks in advance Tony
Problem added: May 14, 2012 (11 years ago)
Most likely seals in the masre cylinder allowing fluid past the piston back to the reservoir. Try a seal kit, much cheaper than your other suggested option.
Answered May 14, 2012 (11 years ago)
Up front on this one,not 100%.
But most VW Iv'e done have a slighty unusual clutch operating system,the slave operates a lever that bears onto the release bearing that is located under the embossed steel end cap,about as far away from the clutch as you can get,this bearing then transmits through a push rod that goes through the entire length of the gearbox before bearing on the clutch.
~Both the release bearing and the rod can fail.the bearing is seldom renewed when a clutch is replaced,over the years I've come across over twenty or so collapsed bearings and a similar number of worn push rods,one was worn down 15 mm or so.
All of which give symptoms of failing slave/masters.
But I repeat,I've never done a dmf clutch on one of these so...
DMF symptoms are knocking,vibration,poor gear selection or take up.
Removing the release bearing to check is a simple job the push rod could need the box to come out,they usually mushroom inside the bell housing.
Answered May 15, 2012 (11 years ago)
possibly the dual mass flywheel breaking up so it may be moving instead of the clutch when you press it
Answered May 16, 2012 (11 years ago)
Thanks for all suggestions !! IF I get a spare hour over the weekend I'm going to replace the fluid and if I feel an an improvement in selecting 1St/rev I think I'll go with the new seal kit as no clutch slip and all other changes perfect so thanks to all for taking the time for your ideas regards Tony
Answered May 18, 2012 (11 years ago)
I think Avantime4mike has hit the nail on the hed cheers m8
Answered May 27, 2012 (11 years ago)

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