Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Clutch pedal. No resistance.

This is the problem with my 2019 Plus4 (Ford engine, Mazda gearbox, 11000km/7000miles).

When I was driving yesterday, the clutch pedal had about 1cm free play when pressing it down, but I still could change gears normally at a normal pressure. I just made 30 miles home to my garage.
Now the clutch pedal can be pressed with almost no resistance all down to the floor. When pressing it down there is a "pffft" noise, like air coming out somewhere. As usual I still can change gears when the engine is off. But no chance to change gears while engine running. There seems to be no effect from the clutch in the gearbox.

I had a look under the car. The tube in front of the bell housing is moving about 1 cm back and forward when pressing the clutch pedal. Is that normal or should it be more? Might be something loose in bell housing?
There is no lost fluid under the car and break fluid level is normal.

Anyway I will call my Morgan dealer tomorrow.

Did anybody have a similar experience? Any hints?

Regards from Switzerland.

From a 'generic' perspective, it sounds like a master cylinder failure. However, I don't know the specifics of your car.

I would think it is the cylinder.

Please forgive me for asking maybe a silly question but: You say the brake fluid level is ok. Do you actually mean the hydraulic fluid in the clutch reservoir is ok? I only ask because not everyone realises that there are separate reservoirs for brakes and clutch which do not look the same and are not mounted side by side.

Deejay, err fyi, I hate to tell you that my 2018 +4 has one reservoir. It feeds the dual circuit brakes and the clutch. To be fair the clutch take off point is higher than those of the brakes. I don't like it but thats how it is. I assume a 2019 car would be the same.
Cheers
John

I have had a similar problem 2 months ago. Inside the main cylinder is a seal which was damaged. A small part of it was broken apart, so the hydraulic fluid was passing by without no restistance. My dealer had to replace it and therefore he had to disassemble the engine first because the clutch cylinder is hidden inside.

Many thanks John. I didn’t realise that, so am very grateful for the information.

I too do not know the specifics of your car, though if possible remove the cap on the clutch fluid reservoir and have someone push the clutch pedal, you may observe fluid movement which can indicate that a seal has failed within the master cylinder..

Good luck with your investigations.

Swissmogfan, I've just check my car (a 2018 +4) and the slave cylinder has approx 15mm of travel.
Cheers
John

Thank you very much for your valuable inputs. !!

There is an extra fluid reservoir for the clutch and it is filled with break fluid. It sits right beside the brake fluid reservoir (2019 +4). It seems that Morgan changed the layout after 2018.

As Luddite is suggesting, the fluid moves when the clutch pedal is pushed.

I will let you know about the diagnosis by my Morgan garage.

Regards from Switzerland.