Clutch Pedal is DEAD - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bmeares · #1 06-25-2008, 09:56 AM

Great minds - please help. I got in my '84 190d 5spd yesterday afternoon to back it out of the driveway where it has sat for several months while being repaired from a minor fender bender, and my clutch pedal was dead. A couple of days before I had the same problem, but after pumping it a few times, was able to get it in gear and get on down the road.

Where is the clutch master cylinder? Can fluid leak out of busted seals? Can fluid be replaced? Could there be a vacuum or power assist problem?

THANKS!!

yellowbenz · #2 06-25-2008, 10:35 AM

To find the clutch master, take off the lower cladding on the dash and pull back the carpet mat. There should be fluid leaking down the hard line and pooling on the floor. Have you checked the brake master reservoir? Will need to look underneath at the slave cylinder if the master looks ok. Any sign of exterior leaks? I'd bet it is the master cylinder. A lousy job to replace if it is.

bmeares · #3 06-25-2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowbenz

To find the clutch master, take off the lower cladding on the dash and pull back the carpet mat. There should be fluid leaking down the hard line and pooling on the floor. Have you checked the brake master reservoir? Will need to look underneath at the slave cylinder if the master looks ok. Any sign of exterior leaks? I'd bet it is the master cylinder. A lousy job to replace if it is.

I'm with you - it's the clutch master cylinder, or maybe both the master and slave. There was definitely a pool of liquid on the driver's side floor mat. I checked the brake master cylinder, which looks okay, but the fluid reservoir was low l so I added added a good deal more fluid. This car is leaky in general, so external leaks could be there as well.

This car is to be sold very shortly. What is the most painless method of dealing with it? Assuming neither the clutch master or slave are cracked or totally FUBAR, and a seal (or seals) or connection is leaking, is there a stop leak type product that will work with hydraulic systems?

Bajaman · #4 06-25-2008, 12:18 PM

A rebuilt master cylinder is not that expensive. It's got to come out of there either way it's leaking.

yellowbenz · #5 06-25-2008, 12:37 PM

The problem with this is not the cost of the clutch master cylinder as much as it is the horrible position you have to get into and the tiny hands required to replace it. Do yourself a favor and remove the seat beforehand. Go over the procedure before charging into it. There should be a thread on here somewhere for this procedure. The nice thing about this car as opposed to the 123 is that the clutch seems to self bleed overnight.

Good Luck