What have you been doing today?

[securespark]

Sounds like you might have something broken and floating about in there like Stivino's one - possibly a clutch plate finger or spring?

Update.

Got it back this morning. The guy said the brake (clutch) fluid was watery.

He's changed it for fresh.

Clutch operating correctly now.

He said he would run it until the clutch dies.

He also said he would swap it for something newer. He says the tax is going to go up on Diesels and the Clean Air Charge in Greater Manchester (while free for our Honda at the moment) may well increase. Injectors (which the car might need one of) can be a pig to get out (Honda rent out a tool for this!) and the timing chain may need doing sometime.

Doesn't look like Honda ever replaced the hydraulic fluids during their 5 years of servicing.

Would you soldier on with it or get shot?

FWIW, WBAC value it at £775!

Current mileage: 156541.

 

[securespark]

.

 

[Mottie]

Got it back this morning. The guy said the brake (clutch) fluid was watery.

He's changed it for fresh.

Clutch operating correctly now.

What symptoms did you get? Loss of drive? Loss of pressure at pedal? Wouldn't disengage?...

 

[securespark]

The pedal was a bit stiffer and very noisy.

Then the gearbox wouldn't go into any gear.

 

[Mottie]

I've seen that a few times. That's normally an indication of something broken, floating about and occasionally jamming in between the clutch plate and pressure plate diaphragm preventing complete disengagement of the clutch. Clutch drag, it's called. 'Watery' clutch fluid is about as valid as 'stinky' air in the tyres causing handling problems! There is absolutely no way 'watery' clutch fluid would cause the problem you had. I wouldn't be surprised if it happened again, so be prepared.

 

[securespark]

Guy said that because the fluid was contaminated, it wasn't offering the same compression performance, so it wasn't operating the mechanism. Plus, the level was slightly lower than the MAX.

It was later discovered that pumping the pedal improved performance.

 

[Mottie]

That could be true of brake fluid - the fluid could get very hot, turning any moisture to steam which is not compressible. What you would have then is a spongy pedal and no braking effort, not a noisy, stiff pedal. Never heard of it happening on a clutch though, especially as you say it happened when you were just starting a journey. Time will tell I suppose.

 

[Trazor]

That could be true of brake fluid - the fluid could get very hot, turning any moisture to steam which is not compressible. What you would have then is a spongy pedal and no braking effort, not a noisy, stiff pedal. Never heard of it happening on a clutch though, especially as you say it happened when you were just starting a journey. Time will tell I suppose.

I always thought that steam was compressible, which is why if your fluid boils, your braking force compresses the steam, thus not transferring any force to the pads.

 

[Stivino]

Steam IS compressible, that it why we don’t want it in a hydraulic system.
I’m sure you know that though and just chose the wrong word.

 

[Mottie]

I always thought that steam was compressible, which is why if your fluid boils, your braking force compresses the steam, thus not transferring any force to the pads.

Whoops, my bad. Of course I meant to type that steam is compressible. I've only been teaching that as well as testing brake fluid moisture content for the last 25 years!

 

[Dork Lard]

I own a few acres of woodland which I check on almost everyday. There is no public footpath, yet still they come & trash my paradise.

I don't mind so much if they follow the unwritten rules, but some folk don't seem to understand the principle of "take nothing away & leave nothing behind".

Today I couldn't park in front of the gate 'cos there's this Pug estate blocking it, yet another few hours of my life wasted as I always block them in & leave it for a few hours, just to inconvenience them you understand . . . .

The dogs found her first, or at least they found her dog, poor thing must've been terrified as they took turns in mobbing it & running back to me excitedly to tell me they just found breakfast. She was carrying one of them litter pickers with the trigger on the handle that works the jaws so's you don't have to bend or touch what you picking up.

After a 20'ish min chat we came to the mutual agreement that she & her dog can come & go as she pleases.

 

[Mottie]

Took the dog on a shoot today. She performed exceptionally well when she went deep into a thicket and for the first time ever, retrieved a shot bird, brought it to me, dropped it right at my feet and gave me a look that said 'Like that?' Its only taken her 7 years to pick one up and run with it as she doesn't like the feel of feathers in her mouth. She's come straight in and gone to bed - absolutely cream crackered!

 

[crystal ball]

Planning our trip to the kingdom of Essex next week, stocking up with Kendal Mint Cake to distribute to the locals.

 

[Mottie]

Planning our trip to the kingdom of Essex next week, stocking up with Kendal Mint Cake to distribute to the locals.

Keep a weapon with you at all times and don't look anyone directly in the eye.

 

[crystal ball]

Hit the ton in my van today for the first time, £100 to fill up