Clutch Failure? Twice??

[Scrunchee]

So....I picked up the car last night. The clutch worked like a charm. I drove to work this morning and just as I pulled into the parking lot I started having difficulty shifting gears....same problem. So I let the car sit for a couple of hours and went back out. I started the car and the clutch/transmission are working fine.

A couple of thoughts:
This seems to happen when the drive train is warm.
I was looking at TSB's today and found one for 2005 Ford Focus that describes a problem as "difficulty or inability to change gears" and this TSB is related to the transmission, not the clutch.

Anyone know anything about this one? Could this be the problem?

[phantom_smack]

I understand now thanks,just never heard it called that

[tellylgeorge]

Ok Folks, looks like we're getting somewhere.
I spoke to a ford mechanic i know well who is very reputable and he told me about power bleeding through the bleed valve. I've heard about power bleeding before but only when you pressurise the fluid reservoir (not reverse through the bleed nipple). Our clutch causes problems only when engine is warm so i'll definately be warming car up first. I'm gonna be bleeding the system today so i'll keep you posted.

[tellylgeorge]

OK. I was by myself today and I havent bought a pressure bleeding kit YET so I thought I'd try using a length of tube that connects to the bleed nipple, which has a check valve on the end only allowing fluid to be pushed out. Had to use the pedal method. wasn't holding much hope but before I buy an expensive pressure kit wanted to try it. No such luck. Next I'm gonna drain the system and back fill it through the nipple with a pressure bleeding kit. Will keep you posted. The cluth is excellent when it's going ok but this air in the system is a real pain.

[tellylgeorge]

Drained the system today and refilled through the bleed nipple using pressurised container filled with fluid. Used 20 psi of pressure. I then bleed the system under pressure and got clean fluid flowing out of the nipple with no air bubbles whatsoever. Took car for a spin and guess what, hydrolics went again. I'm convinced the wasn't air in the system when it was bled so I think the problem lies elsewhere and air is being let in some how. Any update from anyone else having this problem.

[adrenochrome]

You pretty much replaced everything in the whole clutch system but the hydraulic line right? Replace it! Whats the line look like is it made out of nylon or rubber? It's very doubtful air is getting into the system and it would have to be between the grommets and the reservoir on the master cylinder otherwise elsewhere you would see a leak because everything else in the system is under pressure.

[tellylgeorge]

I managed to sort it now. It was the master cylinder after. It wasn't leaking at all though in the footwell like most people report. Now I have renewed everything in the system (clutch, slave and master cylinder) barr the pipes.

[jonmark1985]

man thats great to hear, I wondered if a component had a problem

[mark v]

If it has the plastic line it can expand under heat and cause a feeling of clutch failure. My 1989 Ranger had issues when hot but worked like a charm when cold.