VW California 2013 CLUTCH - No pedal ?

[Azteccamper]

Clutch slave cylinder will have failed, you may see a drop in the brake fluid reservoir as they share the same fluid. Sub frame off and gearbox out job I’m afraid. May as well fit a new clutch and check condition of the DMF whilst it’s being done. A fairly common problem.

@Ian Reynolds exactly this unfortunately. Mine went last year (2012 Cali) in exactly the same way. I had dmf and clutch all done the same time as slave cylinder, £1200. Had to wait a week or so to get it in to be done tho.

 

[Ian Reynolds]

@Ian Reynolds exactly this unfortunately. Mine went last year (2012 Cali) in exactly the same way. I had dmf and clutch all done the same time as slave cylinder, £1200. Had to wait a week or so to get it in to be done tho.

OK thanks for the info, mines a 2012 California too. It gets used but only done 45k miles, we even went to the south coast in it yesterday, no sign of any issue. Went to move it on the drive tonight, and bang, straight to the floor.
No idea how to even begin to get it to the garage to get it fixed?!!?

 

[flying banana]

If its a manual box it is possible to drive with no clutch but it's tricky. Go into first before you start up . Start the van when your ready to drive and give it some revs. Go fairly high up the revs and let the power drop. At this time attempt 2nd. When the road wheels and revs match it will slot in. Going up the gears is easier than going down. Go steady and pick a time when traffic will be light. Maybe night time.
It's probably best to practise this on some one else's van. I used to do it with work vans

 

[kurienp]

If its a manual box it is possible to drive with no clutch but it's tricky. Go into first before you start up . Start the van when your ready to drive and give it some revs. Go fairly high up the revs and let the power drop. At this time attempt 2nd. When the road wheels and revs match it will slot in. Going up the gears is easier than going down. Go steady and pick a time when traffic will be light. Maybe night time.
It's probably best to practise this on some one else's van. I used to do it with work vans

Ha ha! Can visualise that so well ... Have done that with a Leyland bus ... Sitting here grinning ear to ear remembering those fun days.

Needs some coordination though ...

 

[flying banana]

Ha ha! Can visualise that so well ... Have done that with a Leyland bus ... Sitting here grinning ear to ear remembering those fun days.

Needs some coordination though ...

Yed mate. Its a good skill to have

 

[Steve1]

OK thanks for the info, mines a 2012 California too. It gets used but only done 45k miles, we even went to the south coast in it yesterday, no sign of any issue. Went to move it on the drive tonight, and bang, straight to the floor.
No idea how to even begin to get it to the garage to get it fixed?!!?

If it is only a small fluid leak from the cylinder seals you might be able to bleed it up for long enough to last a journey. (Assuming it can be bled from outside the gearbox). To see if this might work, you could try "pumping" the clutch.
So if you get down with your hand and pull it all the way back up then down to floor and back up. Does it eventually, maybe after 5-10 pumps feel like it's building up pressure and moving the clutch plate again ?

 

[Wesel]

If its a manual box it is possible to drive with no clutch but it's tricky. Go into first before you start up . Start the van when your ready to drive and give it some revs. Go fairly high up the revs and let the power drop. At this time attempt 2nd. When the road wheels and revs match it will slot in. Going up the gears is easier than going down. Go steady and pick a time when traffic will be light. Maybe night time.
It's probably best to practise this on some one else's van. I used to do it with work vans

This reminds me of good memories with my old Volvo 122S in the 70s
And to downshift, double-clutch (I don't know if it's said like that in English) but without the clutch. Shift to neutral, kick the throttle to get the engine up to speed, and then shift down. If done right, it goes away on its own.
Like in the good old times .

 

[B J G]

To give an insight into labour cost have a watch

 

[Wesel]

To give an insight into labour cost have a watch

When we see the complexity of current vehicles, and the costs associated with maintenance operations and spare parts, I'm not sure that we are winners.

 

[B J G]

When we see the complexity of current vehicles, and the costs associated with maintenance operations and spare parts, I'm not sure that we are winners.

Access to parts isn't part of the design process as I found when replacing the DSG oil filter on my 204.

 

[Astronomy]

Same things just happened to me, 2016 T5 calli TDI 4 motion. Pedal straight to floor and no fluid loss that i can see, in or outside.
Scratch head time.

 

[Astronomy]

Update… it also does seem the white plastic clip is push/ pulling the rod ok.
However still doesn’t rule out master or slave.

 

[vmaxkiddy]

Same things just happened to me, 2016 T5 calli TDI 4 motion. Pedal straight to floor and no fluid loss that i can see, in or outside.
Scratch head time.

It’ll be the slave cylinder, the oil will most likely be contained within the bell housing, with maybe some sitting on the undertrays. The clutch uses the same oil reservoir as the brakes, see if that level has dropped.

 

[Astronomy]

Thanks for reply.
The reservoir looks ok really although I am on a steepish incline at home.
Will have a look again today , if it is slave then it’s going to be expensive tow job as im in south Kerry Ireland .
This is when i miss blighty.

 

[Astronomy]

Thanks for reply.
The reservoir looks ok really although I am on a steepish incline at home.
Will have a look again today , if it is slave then it’s going to be expensive tow job as im in south Kerry Ireland .
This is when i miss blighty.

Update again, bought some brake fluid to day just to see on a hunch if this collapsed pedal was due to low fluid. When i checked prior it looked lowish and because im on the incline whether i was getting wrong reading. I topped up the brake fluid and gave it a few pumps and the clutch came back, question being is this just a case of low fluid and secondly would this be a simple as that and not have to bleed?
Im leaving it 24 hrs to see if the pressure still holds. If not then at least i might be able to get her to the garage. Here’s hoping but im not holding my breath. Im also thinking if the muppets at the garage a few weeks back when i had brake pads all round may have haf the cap off and lost fluid?. Just a guess though.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

When ours went, the AA said that if the fluid level drops below the small rubber tube that comes off midway off the brake fluid reservoir that you will lose clutch. If you are lucky you should be able to top up, pump the pedal…otherwise will need the garage +£1200.

(We were unlucky)

 

[KP01]

Can be a simple clip part or can be more serious like the master cylinder, or mass flywheel, hard to predict sadly.

Clutch problems

Hi everyone, So I went out to my cali yesterday, having used briefly earlier that day, and the clutch pedal was flat on the floor. AA suspect master cylinder issue as some fluid around pedal linkage but fluid levels are fine. I have not had a chance to investigate myself but wondering if...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

My 2014 Cali suffered this earlier in the year. Clutch hitting the floor and a wee puddle of fluid under the van. An expensive repair. Had to be towed to the garage.

 

[Astronomy]

When ours went, the AA said that if the fluid level drops below the small rubber tube that comes off midway off the brake fluid reservoir that you will lose clutch. If you are lucky you should be able to top up, pump the pedal…otherwise will need the garage +£1200.

(We were unlucky)

When ours went, the AA said that if the fluid level drops below the small rubber tube that comes off midway off the brake fluid reservoir that you will lose clutch. If you are lucky you should be able to top up, pump the pedal…otherwise will need the garage +£1200.

(We were unlucky)

Well we will just have to see. I had no leaks at the pedal and the master cylinder clip looked ok and piston rod back and forth fine. What i cant get my head around is just after filling with fluid and pressure came straight back after a few hand pumps, i was immediately expecting a bleed needed.
If there is a drip somewhere then obviously the pedal will go again. But big bonus at the moment as i may be able to get her to the garage if it goes again tomorrow.

 

[vmaxkiddy]

Update again, bought some brake fluid to day just to see on a hunch if this collapsed pedal was due to low fluid. When i checked prior it looked lowish and because im on the incline whether i was getting wrong reading. I topped up the brake fluid and gave it a few pumps and the clutch came back, question being is this just a case of low fluid and secondly would this be a simple as that and not have to bleed?
Im leaving it 24 hrs to see if the pressure still holds. If not then at least i might be able to get her to the garage. Here’s hoping but im not holding my breath. Im also thinking if the muppets at the garage a few weeks back when i had brake pads all round may have haf the cap off and lost fluid?. Just a guess though.

Hopefully you’ll get to the garage ok, no need for VW to do the change, £800-900 for an independent, £1200+ for VW. I’ve had two fail, the original was a plastic bodied cylinder as was the first replacement, the second one had a metal body despite being the same VW part number. You’ll most likely need a wheel alignment check afterwards too as the subframe comes off to access the bell housing.