Please help! Bleeding the clutch master cylinder

[hawes99]

I need some urgent help. Can anyone please give a detailed explination of how to bleed the clutch master cylinder? I think I got air in mine but I don't know how to bleed it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,

Nate

[1.2gees]

Here's an "urgent" reply:

If you know how to bleed brakes, do exactly the same!

Do you have ANY shop manuals for the Porsche? Everyone I've seen gives detailed explanations of flusing/bleeding the system...

BTW, why do you think you have air in the system? Are you sure it's not leaking anywhere?
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...

[hoff944]

I bled mine when I was changing out my down pipe. It was easier that way. Its right around the starter and is somewhat hard to get to but you can do it. Its just like bleeding the brakes.

[hawes99]

This is why I think I got air in my master cylinder. I was driving today and all was going well. At a light, as I began to pull away, my RPM's reved pretty high but I accelerated very slowly. This followed for all the gears. I determined that the clutch is severly slipping. I don't think its the actual clutch components because I just got done putting a new one in about 2 weeks ago. Also, it was working perfectly this morning, then all of a sudden it started slipping. This leades me to believe that maybe there is air somewhere in the system. I bleed the slave cylinder but now it will not "pop" up. Sooo, I think that there may be air in the master. What do you guys think? Is my assesment a good one? If so, please help me with this. I don't even know where the bleeder screw is on the master cylinder. I looked but can't really tell. All I see is the line that comes from the fluid resivour and the pressure line that comes out the end of the master and goes to the slave. Also, I have the Haynes manual. It does not explain how to bleed the master but it does the slave. Thanks,

Nate

[This message has been edited by hawes99 (edited 08-21-2000).]

[1.2gees]

That does kinda sound like you got air in the system...

However, if you don't have enough pressure in the system, then the clutch will NOT slip, rather it will stay engaged, thus making you undable to shift gears...

So this might just be an adjustment, or the bad news...

BTW, are you familiar with bleeding the brakes? it's the same way, however you're supposed to pull the pedal up, after your partner closes the valve, by hand. Sounds like the last time you "bled" the system you didn't do this, meaning you did it improperly.

You also state that you replaced clutch parts a short while ago. Again, not trying to start something here, but how do you not know bleeding the clutch, but can actually change the thing? The latter is MUCH harder.

If you did get air in the system, (at the reservoir, meaning you ran it dry, while bleeding), then you simply need to keep bleeding for A WHILE!

However, the pedal just staying at the bottom of it's travel will not usually happen just by a little air in the system, unless you did the bleeding REALLY wrong, that must mean a leak somewhere in the system.

Have you checked the general area for leaks?
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...

[rayz]

When there is air in the clutch hydraulics, you will not be able to disengage the clutch when you press on the pedal. It will not cause your clutch to slip, the Pressure Plate maintains pressure on the clutch disk while driving. It sounds like you may have a different problem.
BTW, the problem you describe where the clutch pedal drops to floor and does not return is a common problem when you bleed the clutch incorrectly. You probably let the fluid level drop and sucked air into the master cylinder. The only bleeding of this system is at the slave cylinder. To correct your problem, continue bleeding the system, pulling the pedal up by hand after each pump. Eventually, you will purge the air and regain the pedal rebound. Be sure to keep your fluid above the clutch feed line.