300tdi soft clutch?

I drove my brothers Volkswagen van once, and took it from London to Poole. Got to the end of the M3, and no clutch, exactly like you got - pedal to the floor. After a couple of pumps, it started working again. He had not noticed the problem as he rarely drive long distances.

What it was was the seals in the clutch slave cylinder. The fluid wasn't coming out, but was leaking round the piston into the normally "dry" part. Under pressure, it all seemed to correct itself, until the next time.

I have heard of similar symptoms on other cars.

Cheers! Graham Carter

It's the clutch cylinder seal. Believe it or not you can 'cure' it by removing any mats or carpets and really stamping hard on the pedal until it floors maybe a dozen or two times. This is almost guaranteed to work and will give you many more moons of happy clutching. Don't be too gentle with your stamping.

Huw

Engine need not be running and gears in neutral of course. Certainly not while driving.

Huw

"Huw" wrote in news:42t1pfF1kantmU1 @individual.net:

Thanks, Huw and Graham, that's what I suspected though was hoping it wasn't! But I hadn't heard of your cure before so it doesn't sound urgent.

I had a related problem with my last Pug 504. The clutch disappeared at odd times, once at Drmochter on the A9 (miles from anywhere). The worst time was just after I had just been released from hospital and my brain wasn't working properly.

The clutch packed up on the Kessock Bridge outside Inverness and I had no option but to pay £100 to get the truck transported home....by which time the clutch had (of course!) returned. :( That one turned out to be a leaking connector and I finally sorted it by inserting an "O" ring at the joint, then promptly sold it. Of course, it has been perfect ever since.

Derry

But I hadn't heard of your cure before so it doesn't sound

Well it 'cured ' mine for over two years before it had an external leak. Only needed to do it once, maybe twice during that time.

Huw

"Huw" wrote in news:42vbsbF1kk6hoU1 @individual.net:

Been looking at Haynes. I may just change the slave cylinder for peace of mind... I have to pass Dromochter every three weeks or so and do not relish roadside the thought of repairs!

Derry

You don't fancy trying my cure then? It is free! :-)

Huw

"Huw" wrote in news:43058lF1kj0iaU1 @individual.net:

Oh, but I do! The way I procrastinate, it will take me a couple of years to get around to the job anyway!!

What does concern me is a post I found on Google. Something about some push rod or other disappearing into the bell housing (??) when the slave cylinder is removed necessitating splitting engine and gear box to get it out -- or did I get it wrong again?

Derry

This is a different issue altogether. Should this happen then there would be no alternative to drastic action and the only way home would be to change gear without clutching, which is possible as long as you go slowly and don't stop. It is unrelated to the problem you have and may never happen. Certainly my 84 example is still chugging along happily although it did have a new clutch at some point in the dim and distant past. If you worry about such things you will send yourself to an early grave, so don't.

Huw