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Hi All

A very strange thing happened today for the first time, my series 2 4.2 would not go into first gear when i tried to pull away.

I had to crunch into second to move,it was as if the clutch had given up, when driving the car changes gear with no problems, when the engine is switched off it changes trough the gears fine as well.

It does not do it every time only after it has been driven a short while, if the car is switched off and back on the gearbox seems to be fine again, i am baffled.

This has coincided with a gearbox oil change last week where i filled the box with castrol EP80W90 and a bottle off Lucas oil gearbox stop leak (leaking rear seal so thought i would try before attempting to dismantle everything), I drove the car straight after the oil change for over 40 miles and had no problems with pulling away, it is only today it has developed.

Does anyone have any ideas what the problem may be ?


Thanks
Nick

Hello Nick,

it sounds like your clutch hydraulics are starting to play up, first thing is to check the level in the reservoir.

Alec

Black hydraulic fluid is likely to be caused by disintegrating seals within the system.

Mike

All fluid levels are where they should be and I can see no obvious leaks anywhere

Hello Nick,

it has all the symptoms of a hydraulic fault, but I would expect that you would feel that in the clutch pedal? One item to check is the condition of the flexible pipe, (If it's like a MK 2 saloon, the one at the rear of the cylinder head)? If it's old and perished it could be 'ballooning' and so affecting the clutch travel, not common but worth looking at?

Alec

Thanks Alec, will do.

I am also going to bleed the clutch tonight and see if it is air in the system

Found the problem, I bleed the clutch and the first oil to come out of the slave cylinder was as black as treacle, as suggested in the earlier posts the seals may have worn and contaminated the clutch fluid.

After flushing the system through it is now back to normal and the clutch is fine.

New seal kit ordered from SNG so if it happens again I shall remove the slave cylinder and replace them.

thanks