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Basically I was driving back from the north east meet last night and went to change gear, couldn't get the gear to go in, as if you'd went to change without pressing the clutch I suppose. So anyways, got to the point where I couldn't free wheel any longer. Phoned my dad and he talked me thru what I needed to do. Killed the engine, put it into first, cranked the car and then rev matched thru the gears. This got me home..... Luckily. So I'm guessing my master cyl has gone, would you all agree? Can't be the box as I rev matched right thru and it was fine. Didn't jump out of gear at all. What would you all say? Car's a 2003 9n 1.2 with 33k on it!

Anyone shed any light onto what this might be? VW specialist quoted me £400 to change the clutch! This was only over the phone though and he said he couldn't be sure what it was without having a look at the car.
When I reversed it up the street, I had a clutch, only in reverse and even then with my foot to the floor, it was still riding on the clutch. I'm starting to think it could be the control arm or the master cylinder. Anyone got any idea? Maybe the bearing's collapsed too? as it was always noisy

I am just guessing here, but it sounds like your garage are playing safe and warning you that the price to fix could reach £400 if the gearbox needs to be removed. I think that the clutch slave cylinder resides inside the bellhousing of the gearbox as will most other parts that might have failed. The days of pedal mounted master cylinders are over (mainly) - so as I've said and your garage have hinted, it looks like gearbox out time. Also you might want to consider replacing the release bearing and clutch plate even if they are okay as this hopefully will be the only time you will need to get the gearbox removed - I am sure that you can trust your garage to make the correct judgement on this based on his experience with these cars.

the 9n actually does have a pedal mounted master cyl, i've checked it for leaks but not alot more I can do from this end. Also checked the slave cyl (mounted outside the bell housing btw) and there are no leaks. I can feel pressure in the hoses when the clutch is pumped so it probably lets the master cyl off the hook. Thinking it might be the control/release arm. The bearing's always been noisy so gonna get him to change the fuckin lot while he's got the box off I think.

Did you notice any creaking or rubbing noises that are were even felt through the pedals before this happened?! normally when the cars been driven for a while.

got the pedal creak
Still got it now actually!

panda wrote:the 9n actually does have a pedal mounted master cyl, i've checked it for leaks but not alot more I can do from this end. Also checked the slave cyl (mounted outside the bell housing btw) and there are no leaks. I can feel pressure in the hoses when the clutch is pumped so it probably lets the master cyl off the hook. Thinking it might be the control/release arm. The bearing's always been noisy so gonna get him to change the fuckin lot while he's got the box off I think.

Sorry for the misinformation, what I meant to say was that most modern hydraulic clutch system are self contained and semi-sealed - ie no seperate reservoir - and tend to get fitted as a "unit". Personally I have not attempted to change the clutch fluid in either of my VWs - reason being that I believe that the bleed screw is plastic which sounds like trouble. I'm glad to hear that you have spotted the slave cylinder and that its external to the bell housing, I don't think that I am so lucky with my Passat 4 Motion. Good luck!

Car went into the garage today. They said they've checked everything without taking the box off, so have ordered a new clutch kit (LUK) but no-where has a clutch in stock for my car! not even the VW dealer can get one any time soon! So i've been told tomorrow afternoon they'll have the clutch and can fit it. Hopefully i'll have my car back thursday.

Got the new clutch fitted today and its a completely different car. The bearing's silent and i've lost the creak/squeek sound! Car's perfect now, I'm really loving it.

panda wrote:Car went into the garage today. They said they've checked everything without taking the box off, so have ordered a new clutch kit (LUK) but no-where has a clutch in stock for my car! not even the VW dealer can get one any time soon! So i've been told tomorrow afternoon they'll have the clutch and can fit it. Hopefully i'll have my car back thursday.

Hummm, being an old cynical ba***rd I tend to get a bit worried when "service items" are not in stock - or maybe even on back order! This usually means that they are flying off the shelves like "snow off a dyke", there must be a lot of it about, my wife's 2003MY 1.4SE still seems to be okay at 46000 miles - maybe the 1.2 was a bit marginal, so fails early. Well at least that is one task that should not need sorting again.