So went for an ATC assessment today, took the red car to Southampton with no problems. Finished the day, walked to the car, started it, foot on clutch, won't go into gear! Tried and swore for 15 mins, then checked clutch fluid and it's on minimum so I'm guessing it's got a leak. Nearest halfords is 7.8 miles away and it's raining badly. Do I walk 14 miles to take a chance more fluid will get it home or wait for the AA who will tell me the clutch has gone,then wait for a flatbed who will tell me they can't put the car on because the front bumper is too low? No how I planned my Friday afternoon/evening/night :lol:

A recovery service will likely come and fill up the clutch fluid. A flatbed tends to be for when they can't do a roadside repair

A recovery service will likely come and fill up the clutch fluid. A flatbed tends to be for when they can't do a roadside repair

 

Lets hope the leak isnt too bad to get me home then!

So went for an ATC assessment today, took the red car to Southampton with no problems. Finished the day, walked to the car, started it, foot on clutch, won't go into gear! Tried and swore for 15 mins, then checked clutch fluid and it's on minimum so I'm guessing it's got a leak. Nearest halfords is 7.8 miles away and it's raining badly. Do I walk 14 miles to take a chance more fluid will get it home or wait for the AA who will tell me the clutch has gone,then wait for a flatbed who will tell me they can't put the car on because the front bumper is too low? No how I planned my Friday afternoon/evening/night :lol:

 

Bugger! I was working in Southampton the other day and could have picked you up but I’m around Chichester today. (Totally useless post I guess. Sorry) I hope it’s nothing to serious and gets sorted.

Bugger! I was working in Southampton the other day and could have picked you up but I’m around Chichester today. (Totally useless post I guess. Sorry) I hope it’s nothing to serious and gets sorted.

 

Always the way! I have a friend driving from Eastbourne with some clutch fluid, see if that will get it home. The AA is on the way, but the app is saying 21:12 arrival time :lol:

Hope it gets you home mate.

Feel for you pal, this type of experience tends to go hand in hand with Z ownership. Hopefully an easy fix:thumbup1:

Nightmare, hope you get it sorted dude.

Can you not nick a bit of fluid out the brake resivoir temporary to get you to Halfords?

So after adding fluid, AA man couldn't get it to move. We think the release bearing is stuck with the clutch engaged hench can change gear. It's a tow job, but having to wait for a special truck as the front is too low. Thank god I have AA cover! :Lol:

Still not home mate :no: The AA need to get there finger out.

I'd Definately try fluid. It could have been running low for a while maybe

Fyi for a clutch that wont disenage you simply put in first gear start her up and drive home using rev matching to select the next gear, after a bit of practice you will drive it fine.

 

I have driven 44 tonne artics this way on many occasions.

 

Its all about being smooth and timing at junctions etc.

Fyi for a clutch that wont disenage you simply put in first gear start her up and drive home using rev matching to select the next gear, after a bit of practice you will drive it fine.

 

I have driven 44 tonne artics this way on many occasions.

 

Its all about being smooth and timing at junctions etc.

 

I’d have had a crack at doing it that way myself. However that route is horrendous especially at peak times, it’s mostly A road dual carriageway with a round about every half a mile and long ques to each. Stop start. From mine that journey takes between 2.5 hours and 4 on average depending on traffic. It’s in my opinion the worse journey on the south coast.

Im home now, carless, but the AA are bringing it at some point. There was no way of driving it home because with the engine started you couldn't put it in gear. No matter how hard I tried, I physically couldn't force it into a gear. The fluid looked to be low, I couldn't get the cap off, but when the AA got a tool on the lid, it was full, so that wasn't the issue. The guy thinks the clutch release bearing is jammed in a position that wont let a gear be selected! Odd I know! I can drive without a clutch (have a couple of buses at work from the 1950's that have no clutch) and would have tried if I could have selected a gear. The traffic on the M27/A27 as Stephen said is so bad I couldn't have done it anyway. turns out, good thing I didn't because most of the A27 around littlehampton and Arundel was under 2ft of water due to a thunderstorm!

 

I've looked at clutches and Exedy is £255 which I guess isn't too bad and Ill change a few seals like the gearbox/engine one so at least I know they are done (previous owner couldn't say when everything had/hadn't been done) so its another thing to tick off the list.

I suspect the pivot ball is damaged or the fork is bent/misaligned. You won’t need a new clutch plate in that scenario.