Clutch problem

davidjennytravel · Mar 19, 2023

I am currently in Trabzon, Turkey, with a clutch problem. I pressed the clutch pedal to start the engine, and it sank to the floor and stayed there. Has anybody had this problem and, if so, does $400 sound a reasonable price for fixing it?

Azteccamper · Mar 19, 2023

davidjennytravel said:
I am currently in Trabzon, Turkey, with a clutch problem. I pressed the clutch pedal to start the engine, and it sank to the floor and stayed there. Has anybody had this problem and, if so, does $400 sound a reasonable price for fixing it?

What has the mechanic said he is fixing? This sounds like slave/master cylinder problem?

davidjennytravel · Mar 19, 2023

davidjennytravel said:
I am currently in Trabzon, Turkey, with a clutch problem. I pressed the clutch pedal to start the engine, and it sank to the floor and stayed there. Has anybody had this problem and, if so, does $400 sound a reasonable price for fixing it?

Just seen that other people have had the same problem and someone was very happy with a cost of £700. Just hoping that the bloke at the side of the road doesn't fix it with a bit of string.

davidjennytravel · Mar 19, 2023

Azteccamper said:
What has the mechanic said he is fixing? This sounds like slave/master cylinder problem?

He doesn't know what the problem is exactly and, in any case, I don't speak Turkish and no-one seems to speak English in this part of Turkey. Anyhoo, thanks for your suggestion.

WelshGas · Mar 19, 2023

davidjennytravel said:
He doesn't know what the problem is exactly and, in any case, I don't speak Turkish and no-one seems to speak English in this part of Turkey. Anyhoo, thanks for your suggestion.

If it is a Master Cylinder fa ilure - fairly straightforward.

If it is the clutch slave cylinder - much, much more involved as I believe gearbox out and a possibility of a clutch replacement due to contamination with hydraulic fluid.

Do you not have Travel Insurance?

B J G · Mar 19, 2023

I thought that 204's had DSG only so no clutch pedal. Says T6 204 as model

Probably wrong assumption.

WelshGas · Mar 21, 2023

davidjennytravel said:
I am currently in Trabzon, Turkey, with a clutch problem. I pressed the clutch pedal to start the engine, and it sank to the floor and stayed there. Has anybody had this problem and, if so, does $400 sound a reasonable price for fixing it?

Are you any further forward?

Corradobrit · Apr 30, 2023

WelshGas said:
Are you any further forward?

Amman Jordan, apparently
I guess the clutch issue was fixed.

davidjennytravel · Apr 30, 2023

Corradobrit said:
Amman Jordan, apparently
I guess the clutch issue was fixed.

Thank you everyone for your comments. It was fixed in Trabzon for £700 including a clutch replacement. How did you know we are in Amman? The van has a new problem. The adblue pump feeding the injector has died and we got a second-hand pump for a Caddy but the computer didn't recognise it. So waiting for a new pump from Germany while we tour Egypt by public transport: buses, hotel rooms, lugging bags around. Grrrr!!!

WelshGas · Apr 30, 2023

davidjennytravel said:
Thank you everyone for your comments. It was fixed in Trabzon for £700 including a clutch replacement. How did you know we are in Amman? The van has a new problem. The adblue pump feeding the injector has died and we got a second-hand pump for a Caddy but the computer didn't recognise it. So waiting for a new pump from Germany while we tour Egypt by public transport: buses, hotel rooms, lugging bags around. Grrrr!!!

Post in thread 'Adblue pump failure'
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/adblue-pump-failure.48666/post-637362

Ch1pbutty · Nov 3, 2023

Clutch dropped to the floor last Friday. AA dropped it at the garage who looked at it yesterday.

Unfortunately the Slave Cylinder needs replacing, so gearbox out, New clutch and will also replace master cylinder…£800.

37k miles is the lowest mileage that I have had to replace a clutch; Cambelt, water pump were replaced at 25k miles…then factor in roof corrosion…at least the roof doesn't leak though. Never had these issues at such an early age with our +20yr old T4.

Residual value is still good and repair costs will be covered by increase in value…but still a pain up the backside.

sidepod · Nov 3, 2023

I can understand wear of the clutch plate but a slave cyl/master cyl should last for donkeys years.

vmaxkiddy · Nov 4, 2023

Ch1pbutty said:
Clutch dropped to the floor last Friday. AA dropped it at the garage who looked at it yesterday.

Unfortunately the Slave Cylinder needs replacing, so gearbox out, New clutch and will also replace master cylinder…£800.

37k miles is the lowest mileage that I have had to replace a clutch; Cambelt, water pump were replaced at 25k miles…then factor in roof corrosion…at least the roof doesn't leak though. Never had these issues at such an early age with our +20yr old T4.

Residual value is still good and repair costs will be covered by increase in value…but still a pain up the backside.

I’ve had two slave cylinders fail, the first did as yours has done, pedal to the floor, one day fine, next day stra to the floor, no warning. The second failed differently in that the pedal returned but only half way and needed flicking up, but only sometime, other times depressing the clutch pedal disengaged the clutch but after a second or so it would re engage with no pedal movement, which made life interesting.
The original slave cylinder had a plastic body, the second was the same, fortunately (?) it failed after 2 months and 1500 miles, (so under warranty) and its replacement was metal bodied despite the kit having the same part number.
It would be worth getting the DMF checked to see if that needs replacement at the same time.

Ch1pbutty · Nov 4, 2023

vmaxkiddy said:
I’ve had two slave cylinders fail, the first did as yours has done, pedal to the floor, one day fine, next day stra to the floor, no warning. The second failed differently in that the pedal returned but only half way and needed flicking up, but only sometime, other times depressing the clutch pedal disengaged the clutch but after a second or so it would re engage with no pedal movement, which made life interesting.
The original slave cylinder had a plastic body, the second was the same, fortunately (?) it failed after 2 months and 1500 miles, (so under warranty) and its replacement was metal bodied despite the kit having the same part number.
It would be worth getting the DMF checked to see if that needs replacement at the same time.

Same - failed with no prior warning, luckily was sat on our driveway at the time. AA man drove the Cali to the garage in 3rd gear, followed by me in AA van.

Garage also checking the DMF, but said unlikely it would need replacing due to low mileage.

Ch1pbutty · Nov 9, 2023

+ Update +

New DMF also required.

All fixed, £1100 later

MarkRichardson · Oct 9, 2024

Thought I'd update this thread as had the same issue, went to start the van on the drive, pressed clutch down to start and it didn't return from the floor. Some self investigation, was pretty sure it was the slave cylinder as others have mentioned, was losing hydraulic fluid as well. Managed to get it to a local vw specialist garage and was £1,400 for new slave, flywheel and a couple of other bits. As others commented, quite a big job due to the removal of the gear box. Have a 15 plate Cali with 55k, not ideal but can't control these things!