Boxster S Clutch Sticking

[colinpbarrett]

Hi there,

I've got a 2001 986 Boxster S - 32,800 mls (see profile photo with my Cayman Zeintop!). As any UK & Ireland members would have noticed, it's been pretty bloody cold the last week! The temperature has been as low as minus 6 locally the last few nights and I began to notice a very slight 'sticking' in the clutch yesterday evening.

This morning (after an exceptionally cold night), the problem was a lot more pronounced. The clutch isn't slipping and was catching most of the way as usual. However the pedal felt like it was 'sticking' when I pressed it and was delayed in returning immediately to the upright position. The clutch also felt 'semi-engaged' when it was in gear even when the pedal was in the fully upright position. This caused the engine to rev highly when gas applied and the car to feel like it had inadequate power. The sticking got progressively worse after a 40 minute city drive.

The brake fluid reservoir is full (I believe this is also the source for clutch fluid - it this correct?) although I can't get a hold of my mechanic for another five days and I don't have the technical savvy to bleed the system myself. I read a similar previous year+ old post from a member (Perleman) saying that he was told it was probably a case of a cylinder leak and that the master or the slave cylinder may have to be changed although there was no follow up reply with the definitive resolution taken. I also saw another post that says the viscosity of the clutch fluid can be too high when cold, preventing the clutch diaphragm spring pushing the fluid back up to the master cylinder.

Anybody else out there encounter this problem and if so any suggestions?????

Cheers!

Colin

Edited January 8, 2009 by colinpbarrett

[catmanluge]

Bleed the Clutch!

[colinpbarrett]

Apologies folks - accidentally posted that top twice, please reply to this one while I figure out how the removed the duplicate!

Edited January 8, 2009 by colinpbarrett

[PJsSCW]

I had a similar problem . . . even after changing the clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing; the pedal had a low bite and was sticking halfway . . . bleeding the brakes and clutch with the help of the instructions on here on renntech, solved my problem . . . for now at least . . .

happy driving!!!

JP

[perleman]

Hi, I did have this problem in exceptionally cold weather in 2007, however before I could take any remedial action it went away and never came back. I can only assume that it was due to too high viscosity of hydralic fluid in the unusually cold weather. Have since traded up to a 987 which is far more reliable. Am only posting this so others who may experience this issue might not immediatly start changing parts uneccesarily

[N41EF]

The brake fluid resevoir is the source for the brake and the cluth fluid. The resevoir has a small divider in the bottom, if there is more than 3/4 inch or so of fluid there should be fluid for both. If you have a leak, the fluid drops to the divider, and makes sure you either have front or rear brakes, so a leak can't cause loss of both brakes.

Bleeding the clutch is a pain, up on the left side of the transmission, might be easier to see if you pull the alluminum pan with the car on a lift. It's one of those see it or touch it things, but hard to do both.

[mattatk]

Had a similar problem with my clutch, changed out the clutch components (it was slipping) but still had problems with sticking clutch on & off over a month or so.

Eventually bit the bullet & replaced the clutch master cylinder as I suspected that it was leaking internally. Now it works a treat & I pulled old cylinder apart (about 90000kms life I think, unless it was changed by a previous owner). One of the seals looked like a dog had been chewing on it, my guess is that fluid was sneaking past the seal & equalising the pressure both sides of the cylinder & therefore sticking the pedal around half way.

Below is a link to an exploded view & explanation of a similar clutch master cylinder, which may help with the diagnosis?

http://www.4g63turbo.com/tech/eclips...djustment.html

Good luck!