The clutch is the weakest link in the transmission, so it often fails. In particular, car owners often face a situation where the clutch pedal does not return to its original position after being pressed. Therefore, we invite you to familiarize yourself with all possible reasons such a problem and how to fix it.

1 We are looking for a reason - we start from a simple breakdown option

If the clutch pedal has fallen to the floor, we begin to search for the cause of the malfunction according to the principle "from simple to complex", since in most cases the breakdown is not serious. Inspect the clutch pedal itself. The reasons for the breakdown can be the following:

• the return spring has burst or jumped off - in this case, you need to install the spring in place or try to at least temporarily connect it in order to reach the nearest auto shop or service station;
• a problem with the pedal axle - over time, it could rust or debris could get into it, as a result of which the pedal simply stuck;
• disconnection of the cable with the pedal - you need to fix the cable on the pedals. Some car models do not have a cable, so you need to pay attention to the rods that could be cottered. If such a malfunction is detected, the disconnected rods must be connected and cottered.

If the pedal is in order and the drives from the passenger compartment are intact, you should open the hood and inspect the drive from the outside. Often the cable just flies off the clutch fork. This problem is especially common on VAZ 2110, Renault Logan, Renault Sandero, etc. cars. In case of such a breakdown, you need to install the cable in place and securely fix it.

In some cases, the cable will get stuck in the casing, as dirt can accumulate in it over time. In such a situation, the pedal does not return back even forcibly. To solve this problem, if you do not have a spare cable at hand, you need to fill the grease into the casing, after dismantling the cable. Then install the cable in place and slowly use the clutch pedal to stir it up to pull it off the "dead center". When the pedal returns to its original position, press it several times so that the cable is completely coated with grease.

If the cable is stuck in the casing, you can pre-inject WD-40. The agent will flow along the entire cable and ensure its normal sliding.

A more serious problem is cable breakage. In this case, without a new cable, repairs on the road will not work. Therefore, you will either have to reach the nearest store on your own without a clutch, or be towed.

2 Problems with hydraulic drive

At domestic cars VAZ 2105-2107, as well as for some foreign cars, for example, Audi A4 and Ford Focus, the clutch drive is hydraulic. It has a main and working cylinders, as well as a pipeline through which fluid flows. The principle of operation of such a system is as follows: the clutch pedal is connected to the master cylinder rod, which drives the cylinder piston.

The piston, when you press the clutch pedal, squeezes out the fluid, which drives the slave cylinder, which, in turn, moves the rod connected to the fork. True, some models, for example, the Ford Focus, do not have a plug. Therefore, the stem is connected directly to release bearing. This somewhat complicates the repair, since it will not work to dismantle the working cylinder on the road.

Regardless of the type of construction hydraulic drive if the pedal does not return to its place, it is quite possible that the system has been aired or depressurized. In such a situation, you first need to open the hood and look at the fluid level in the tank. Add liquid if necessary.

If the liquid from the tank quickly flows out, then the system has been depressurized. It is possible to find out where the leak occurs only by visually inspecting the system. If fluid leaks at the joints, they must be tightened. If fluid leaks from under the rod, the master cylinder needs to be repaired.

To do this, the cylinder must be dismantled. Depending on the model, it can be attached both from the side of the passenger compartment (under the pedal) and from the side engine compartment. Then the cylinder must be disassembled and the cuffs, seals and other wearing parts changed. In car dealerships, there are special repair kits that contain all the necessary parts to be replaced. Of course, such repairs will not work on the road.

Repair may be needed not only for the main, but also for the working cylinder, which drives the clutch fork.

To get rid of the air in the system, which, as we have already said, can also cause the pedal to fail, it must be "pumped". It is advisable to engage in this procedure with a partner, since it is inconvenient to perform all actions at the same time alone. So the procedure is as follows:

1. Remove the cap from the bypass valve of the master cylinder and put a hose on it. The free end of the hose must be lowered into a bottle filled with a third of brake fluid.
2. Then open the bypass valve by unscrewing it one turn.
3. Next, you need to press the pedal. If you are doing the procedure alone, install a stopper that will fix the pedal. In this position, it must be kept until the bubbles stop coming from the hose. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the liquid level in the tank does not fall below normal. If necessary, liquid must be added.
4. When the bubbles stop coming out, close the valve and release the pedal. Then the procedure must be repeated, i.e. open the valve and press the pedal. And so on until the air bubbles stop coming out.

If the pedal is stuck, i.e. it cannot be forced back to its original position, most likely the reason is a malfunction of the cylinder. As in the case of its depressurization, the cylinder must be dismantled and "sorted out".

4 How to reach MOT on your own - a few tips from personal experience

If the clutch pedal fails and you failed to fix the breakdown on the road, it is not necessary to ask someone to tow or call a tow truck. Of course, the lack of clutch is an unpleasant breakdown, but you can continue moving. To do this, turn on the first or second speed and start the car. At the same time, lightly press the gas so that the car does not start to twitch and stall.

Be sure to turn on your emergency lights when driving without a clutch.

Try to lay out your route so that you go along main road and there were a minimum of traffic lights on the way, so you will avoid unnecessary stops. If necessary, stop and turn off the engine, but do not attempt dangerous maneuvers. Also, do not attempt to change gear while driving. Otherwise, you will have to repair not only the clutch, but also the gearbox, and this will cost much more than calling a tow truck.

Symptoms: the clutch pedal became soft and periodically "fails".

Possible reason: Clutch hydraulic got air.

Tools: elastic tube, container, set of keys.

Preface. a sign of air getting into the hydraulic clutch disengagement drive is incomplete disengagement of the clutch with the pedal fully depressed, accompanied by a characteristic grinding of gears. In this case, it is often enough just to pump the hydraulic drive.

In addition to the above, bleeding the hydraulic clutch release drive is required when filling the system with working fluid after replacing it, or when repairing drive units associated with disconnecting hoses and pipelines.

1. Check the level of brake fluid in the reservoir of the main brake cylinder and bring it up to standard, if necessary.

Note. the reservoir of the main brake cylinder is also the supply for the hydraulic clutch release drive system.

2. Remove from the valve of the working cylinder of a hydraulic drive of deenergizing of coupling for removal of air a protective cap.

3. Connect a hose or an elastic tube to the air removal valve, lower the other end of which into a transparent container with a small amount of brake fluid. After that, the assistant should press the clutch pedal four to five times at intervals of two to three seconds, and then keep the pedal depressed. Open valve 75% (three-quarters full turn). After that, brake fluid containing air bubbles will begin to flow out of the hose.

4. Close the valve. After that, the assistant should release the clutch pedal.

5. Repeat the operations described in paragraphs No. 3 and No. 4 of this manual until clean brake fluid that does not contain air bubbles begins to flow out of the hose.

Note. in the process of removing air from the hydraulic clutch release drive, regularly check the level working fluid in the reservoir and do not allow it to fall below the minimum level mark (below twenty-five millimeters from the bottom of the reservoir). Do not forget to add fluid to the system, since draining the bottom of the reservoir of the main brake cylinder will lead to re-entry of air into the system, and, accordingly, pumping the clutch release hydraulic drive will have to be repeated again.

6. Screw on the air outlet valve of the hydraulic clutch release system, put a protective cap on it and add brake fluid into the master cylinder reservoir, if necessary.

Pavel Kurakin Motorist

A car is a complex mechanism in which and break from time to time. Anything can break: from the usual blown fuses to more serious breakdowns associated with a malfunction of the transmission in the car. One of the more serious problems is considered a malfunction associated with the clutch. In what way does it manifest itself? The first signs of impending problems with the clutch in the car are characterized by pedal stiffness, much more effort is required to squeeze it out. The next stage is a direct failure - the clutch pedal has failed, there is no reverse movement.

Clutch pedal failure to the floor is a common problem among car owners.

Causes and troubleshooting methods

One of the fairly common problems is a broken cable. It breaks most often near the tip, much less often - somewhere in the middle.

What to do if the cable breaks? If you don’t have a spare with you, then you won’t be able to solve this problem on the spot. You need to get to the nearest service.

Pedal failure can also cause breakage of the return spring. If the spring has fallen off, then you can install it in place. But if it breaks, then repairs on the road are almost impossible, since the spring will need to be replaced.

Causing the failure of the pedal can also be a breakdown of the power plug, which will have to be changed.

A hydraulic problem is another reason why the clutch pedal fails. For example, one of the tubes that leads is burst or leaking. In order to understand that the malfunction is precisely in this, it is enough to check the level of the brake fluid. If the liquid is low, you can add it and try to start the car. In the case when the liquid only leaks, you can easily get home or to the service station, where you can replace the hose.

The problem of inoperability can also be hidden in the clutch cylinder itself.

To understand that the defect is in it is quite simple. If the pedal is “soft” and it can only be squeezed out hard pressing, then the root cause is precisely in the main cylinder, which will need to be changed.

How to get to a car service with a broken clutch?

If the clutch fails, the easiest and safe way to get to the nearest service station is to call a tow truck or a tug. it’s better not to even try to risk starting and starting to move with such a malfunction. This can lead to a breakdown of the gearbox, and this is already much more serious, and much more expensive in terms of repair costs.

When you are confident in your own abilities, the first thing you need to do is try to start the car. If you feel that the clutch has failed, you can not put the car downhill. It's better that you be on flat road or perfect option- started moving from the hill. Need to start. When turning the ignition, you must simultaneously gently press the gas pedal. In this case, the car will not stall, but will drive jerkily, since the revolutions do not correspond to the speed of movement. After that, you can start moving slowly. It is very important to think over the path so that there are a minimum number of stops along the way. After all, you just won’t be able to stop the car, you have to turn off the engine. And the procedure for starting the engine will need to be repeated. It is also not recommended to switch gears, as this can damage the gearbox.

With the help of a tow truck, you can easily and safely deliver the car to a car service

To stop the car, just turn off the engine or, if the speed is high, pre-squeeze.

In addition, it is extremely important to be very careful when driving with a broken clutch. It is better to drive along the main road so that you have to give way less. It is necessary to avoid pedestrian crossings, unnecessary maneuvers. And one more thing, so that other participants understand that you have a malfunction, it is better to drive with the emergency gang on.

And finally

It is important to remember that the root cause of clutch problems is usually the driver, or rather, his driving style. If he tries to start moving with slipping or does not release the pedal while driving, this will eventually lead to its breakdown, to pedal slipping. In order to diagnose problems with the clutch at the initial stages and eliminate the malfunction in advance, you need to monitor its operation. Unusual noise, deterioration in pedal stiffness, or strange vibration, jerks - all these are signs of a clutch malfunction.

Imagine a situation that you are calmly going about your business and suddenly a click occurs and the clutch pedal falls to the floor or, when pressed, starts to rest against something. The first thought is that you are left without a clutch, and without it you can’t even turn on the gear. It's right. But let's not panic, but let's figure out what could be the matter and how to go further.

Usually, shortly before a breakdown, the clutch pedal becomes more rigid, it takes more effort to press it than before - this is the surest sign of an imminent clutch failure, or rather one of its components.

To determine the breakdown, let's start with what a clutch is. It happens cable and hydraulic. In the first, pressing the pedal activates the cable, in the second, when you press the pedal, energy is transferred to hydraulic system clutch.

Failed clutch pedal - clutch malfunction

1. Hydraulics

- Check the brake fluid level in the clutch master cylinder reservoir. If the level is insufficient, add brake fluid to the correct level and try depressing the pedal. If the clutch has appeared, you are lucky, in this case you need to go to the service or inspect all the hoses yourself, most likely the liquid is leaking somewhere. But in most cases it doesn't help. Then there is a very high probability that burst one of the hoses leading to the master or slave cylinder of the clutch, therefore, the required pressure is not created in the system. To solve this problem, you need to replace the worn hose.

The price of the hose is 300-500 rubles, the price of work in the service is from 500 rubles. When you look for a hose in stores, it is advisable that you have an old one with you - then you can compare the fittings and threads on them. It may turn out that your hose model is not for sale, then it may fit brake hose for other models. Ask the seller to find the part on which the fitting is screwed on and screw on the old and new hose, if they screw on, feel free to buy. Also do not forget to buy brake fluid (it is better to take 1 liter, the price is approximately 150 rub)

2. Clutch cable

- can break off somewhere inside or at the ends. The eyelet on the clutch pedal to which it is attached may also break off. In this case, the cable needs to be replaced. a new cable costs about 300-600 rubles, the price of work in the service is about 500 rubles.

3. Clutch release fork

- located on the gearbox, its resource is approximately 50-70 thousand kilometers. If your meter already has similar numbers, or the fork changed about the same amount of mileage ago, then most likely there is a breakdown in it. To change the clutch fork, on most car models, you need to remove or hang out the gearbox.

For work in the service you will give 1500-3000 rubles. It makes sense to think about replacing the clutch disc if you also haven’t changed it for a long time (replacing the clutch disc is usually every 70-80 thousand km), because the procedure for performing these works involves removing the box. They will charge you a little more for the work, but you will immediately change the clutch at the same time. I also recommend changing the oil in the box at the same time if it has not changed for more than 50 thousand km.

4. Clutch master or slave cylinder

- perhaps one of these cylinders has “punched”, then the non-working clutch cylinder should be replaced with a new one, but it is better to change both at once - both the working and the main one. After work, be sure to bleed the system and check for leaks at the joints. The price of work to replace the GCC or RCC in a car service about 1500-2000 rub.

How to drive without a clutch?

Let's say you roughly or exactly understood what the breakdown occurred, how now to get to the house or to the service? You can drive on your own, but if you do something wrong, it is fraught with a breakdown of the box, failure of synchronizers and other components of the gearbox. If you have money and time, then it is better to find a driver who can take you or call a tow truck. It will be cheaper than if the gearbox breaks down.

If you still decided to go on their own then read on. The easiest option is to drive in first gear. Since there is no clutch, then with the engine turned off, we immediately turn on the first gear (it will turn on even without the clutch), and in this position we start the car. When the ignition key is turned to the “starter” position, the car will immediately move off and start, there will be small jerks. Consider that you have set off and are already on your way.

Be careful, because when you press the brake pedal, the car will continue to pull forward, because the clutch cannot be pressed in any way. Therefore, to stop, you must either first try to turn off the first gear (catch the momentum when it turns off without jamming), then slow down, or simply turn off the car.

Gear shift

To change gear without a clutch, it is important to catch the speed at which it will switch with ease. This method is also called the inclusion of gears "impudently". You can, after some time of holding the gas, abruptly release it and while the speed drops, try to switch. But you should not forcefully press on the lever, if you bring it to a crunch and make the wrong movement with the lever, the box may become unusable.

Therefore, move the lever smoothly, you will feel for yourself when the gears will have the necessary speed for engagement, the lever can even turn on the gear itself if you press it a little towards it. At the same time, sharpness may be needed to switch. If you catch the desired speed and the gear itself does not turn on, you need to sharply, but not strongly, try to switch it. When you get used to it, it will work.

The most important thing here is to reduce the number of gear changes to a minimum, that is, if, for example, you drive very far along the highway, you can accelerate according to the gear scheme 1-3-5 or 1-2-4. And yet - it's better to drive in 2-3 gear than unsuccessfully stick the 4th, thereby damaging the box. If you successfully switch to 4-5 gears, try to calculate the speed based on the traffic situation so that you do not have to slow down or switch hard. Be extremely careful and careful!

Shift Moments

Never turn off the vehicle while in gear high speed! Because without a clutch, this can cause irreversible consequences, such as damage to the gearbox mechanisms, engine, and a very high probability of an accident, skidding or rollover of the car! Therefore, in order to brake at high speed, be sure to in advance disengage gear (catch the revs for a painless disengagement) and put the lever in neutral, then roll as much as you like, the brake pedal will work as it should even with the car running.

The gears are turned off to the neutral position in the same way as they are turned on - it is important to find the speed at which the lever will go into the neutral position without effort.

Well, now you know how to determine the cause of the failure of the pedal, you know what could break and how to get to your destination even without a clutch. The main thing is not to rush, first sit down and think it over. Something tells me that the information I gave you will help you make a quick decision in a seemingly difficult situation. Good luck fixing your car! (And start servicing his nodes on time)