Author Topic: Clutch pedal dont work (Read 7180 times)

Mopar44o · « **on:** July 10, 2008, 03:13:22 am »

So I was driving home from work and around 2:30 am less than a KM a way I press the clutch to upshift and It goes straight to the floor with a thud and stops working. With the pedal to the floor it doesn't depress the clutch. Just the pedal moves.

Anyone got a diagram of the pedal assembly? Is it just a spring or something simple broken?

Thanks
Vic

jtanguay · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2008, 05:54:23 am »

you more than likely have the self adjusting cable. it could either be broken, or just in need of adjusting :lol: :roll:

mine wasn't as bad as yours, but was releasing at a different point on the pedal travel. get someone to depress the clutch for you to release the self adjusting mechanism, and pull down on the clutch control arm. it kind of 'resets' the cable.

Mopar44o · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2008, 10:01:47 am »

Any pictures? Where is the clutch control arm?

Mopar44o · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2008, 05:09:59 pm »

nevermind my last question.

So I ordered another self adjusting cable and its different from the one I got. So I assume it had a manual from the looks of things. put the new cable in and push the pedal down and nothing happens. Stays to the floor. Put the car in gear and start it and it lurches forward as if the clutch is out. So from the looks of things I'm guessing my clutch is pooched or something is binding in my tranny....

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2008, 05:32:56 pm »

www.brokevw.com

jtanguay · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2008, 05:36:44 pm »

well if the clutch arm has little to no resistance on it, then the arm inside the tranny could be busted... that is no fun

it takes considerable force to move that clutch arm!

DCC · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2008, 06:54:27 pm »

Ok, take a look at this:

Probably the plate (14 in the diagram) has been pierced by the clutch push rod (24). It happens from time to time, I have replaced a couple of those in mk 2 golfs. It's a cheap part, but it's a real pain to replace it, as you have to take the gearbox out. This may be a good chance to take a look at the clutch and replace it if necessary.

You can take the VW "window" (13) out and look through the hole to see if the clutch arm mechanism is working.

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2008, 07:26:37 pm »

Thanks for posting the diagram.

Common failure modes (in approximate order it seems to get reported) include:

- clutch cable breaks... sound like you've replaced this

- throwout bearing 16 seizes... 24 no longer rotates and drills a hole thru 14.. might be able to see this after removing 13, 17, 16 and 24 but don't quote me

- 20 cracks or splits and rotates freely on 19... can see this if you remove 13 and the checking procedure is documented on Broke's site

- pressure plate (not shown) diaphragm spring fails... sometimes rivets pop loose

burn_your_money · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2008, 08:53:25 pm »

Grab the clutch arm by hand and try to lift it. If you can lift it, 14 is probably broken. If you can't lift it, everything in the tranny is fine so don't bother taking it apart. If your manual clutch cable is in fine working order put it back on and throw the stupid self adjusting one at your neighbor, it's useless and a horrible design.

Have someone step on the clutch pedal and look at it in the engine bay. Sometimes the tube that comes through the firewall splits open and renders the clutch useless because it no longer lifts the arm.

You can also use a strong screwdriver or pry bar on the starter to lift the clutch arm

jtanguay · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2008, 11:39:54 pm »

i haven't had any issues with my self adjusting clutch cable... except the one time where it decided to loosen up for some reason. maybe it was me taking the clutch to the floor a few times? apparently thats the magic word to get the clutch cable mechanism to release. i just screwed around a bit with mine trying different things... like actuating the clutch with a pair of vice grips on the clutch cable end while my bro pressed the clutch in and out. :lol: whatever works :wink:

but ever since then i've been having a weird growl at idle sometimes... i think its because i drove the car a few km's with the clutch possibly not fully engaged... so like riding the clutch :shock: but its not that bad. hopefully the bearing is alright!

Mopar44o · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2008, 11:47:46 pm »

Well thank god I cant lift it. Maybe its a problem with the pedal assembly itself? Or could it be cause I got the wrong cable? I heard all the ones in 96 were automatic so I ordered it and when I looked under the hood it was manual...

Also I'm having a hard time finding where the cable clips on the pedal side in the car. Any pics of the pedal assembly?

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2008, 11:58:36 pm »

Quote from: "Mopar44o"

Also I'm having a hard time finding where the cable clips on the pedal side in the car. Any pics of the pedal assembly?

Hmmmmm.... how did you install your new cable if you don't know where it clips in on the other side ??!!

It would also help if we knew what year car... the clutch pedal assemblies differ.

Mopar44o · « **Reply #12 on:** July 11, 2008, 12:03:23 am »

its a 96

I think I got it right. I just wana see to make sure. Its really cramped and I'm not a contorinist...

I thought removing the pedal to see was 1 nut and simple. But after getting that 1 nut off it still wouldnt come loose.

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #13 on:** July 11, 2008, 09:24:38 am »

Quote from: "Mopar44o"

its a 96

I think I got it right. I just wana see to make sure. Its really cramped and I'm not a contorinist... I thought removing the pedal to see was 1 nut and simple. But after getting that 1 nut off it still wouldnt come loose.

Yup.. that's why the year is important... the MK3s are horrific unless you're a circus performer. :roll:

Having said that... if you're really not sure you got it right (there are in fact two holes for the cable to connect to) if you take a few minutes and pull the cluster the cable end of the clutch pedal will be right in front of you... no bending required.

I personally might have sold the car rather than continue until I read you could see everything with the cluster removed.... 10 minutes later... done!

If you think you've got it right I'd just suggest you get a friend to pump the pedal as you watch in the engine compartment... if you can confirm that the cable moves in and out you're fine from that angle. Pulling the cluster is not the most fun in the world either. :wink:

Mopar44o · « **Reply #14 on:** July 11, 2008, 11:07:42 am »

If I do have it right. What would cause the pedal to stay to the floor after pushing it?