Engine judders when engaging 1st gear

[alexdejonghe]

Evening Messiahs,

I've an issue that I hope isn't terminal! Please help!

When the engine is warm & I'm stuck in traffic inching forward slowly I'm having real difficulty engaging first gear....unless I use very high revs when trying to engage first gear the car judders quite violently shaking the car from side to side....

It's only getting worse and the Mrs claims to have seen puddles appearing from the front of my car. With the bonnet up the base plate of the engine is wet with a watery/oily substance.

What's your thoughts? I hope it's just the slave or master cylinder issue as the wiki suggests

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Clutch

Thanks guys,

[Brianmoooore]

You have a leaking clutch slave cylinder by the sounds of it. If you let the reservoir empty completely, then you'll have a clutch that you can't disengage.

[alexdejonghe]

Thanks Brian, appreciated. Relatively cheap fix.

A friend of mine with a 1986 316 has the same juddering on selection of first gear unless he uses very high revs; is that ALWAYS indicative/diagnostic of a failed slave cylinder Brian?

Thanks,

[Brianmoooore]

Not at all. Oil contamination of the clutch plate or bone dry splines on the gearbox input shaft will make a clutch judder, even if the hydraulics are in good condition.
Check the fluid level in the clutch reservoir to confirm that it is going down.

[alexdejonghe]

Not at all. Oil contamination of the clutch plate or bone dry splines on the gearbox input shaft will make a clutch judder, even if the hydraulics are in good condition.
Check the fluid level in the clutch reservoir to confirm that it is going down.

Will do, thanks again.

[alexdejonghe]

You have a leaking clutch slave cylinder by the sounds of it. If you let the reservoir empty completely, then you'll have a clutch that you can't disengage.

Two perhaps related problems are that when I depress the clutch changing between 1st & 2nd often ill end up crunching the gears...also, the clutch pedal takes an eternity to pop back up after being depressed...gear changes in the car are slow full stop! Does this tie in with the problem I described at the start of this thread in "juddering of the car" which you suggest may be due to worn clutch hydraulics?

Should the master & slave always be changed as a pair?

[jmc330i]

Should the master & slave always be changed as a pair?

It's best practice to do them in pairs. Unless youre lucky (or you know one has been recently replaced) it will only be a short time before you're under the car again changing the cylinder you didn't do.

[jimbom30cab]

I had something very similar and one of these sorted it out

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

They work well, I have one on both turds now, m20 also

[G-Bear]

Don't be temped (like I stupidly was) to go to the dealers for these parts. they cost a packet. Having just had a quick graze on Jim's link above; I'd go for that option. Whilst your there get a branded clutch hose as the old rubber one thats likely to be on the car will be tired and stretchy by now.

If by what you say of 'slow gear changes' feels more like vacant gear changes. It could be worn gear linkages. I've not changes these but have read on here what great improvements are gained from doing so. Bit of a fiddly job (as are the clutch cylinders) but might be worth looking into. I've not read it but here's a link for wiki.

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ar_Linkage

[alexdejonghe]

Thanks Jim & G-Bear....food for thought.

Bit of an update....though I doubt it'll leave me or any of you the wiser...

Oil flooding out the car (1993 320i cabrio) onto my driveway, dripping from the top (i.e closest to the engine) of the transmission, flowing to this point from the drivers side of the transmission...though difficult to get a good look, this appears to be where the slave cylinder is on the M20. The oil check light came on shortly afterwards. Perhaps the juddering in 1st gear may be engine oil oil contamination of the clutch plate as Brian suggests.

When you've had oil dripping from this point in the past gents what's been the cause?

[jamlid]

Are e30 clutches meant to be heavy to press? It feels like my old golfs but is have thought it would be easier with it being hydraulic?

[G-Bear]

Are e30 clutches meant to be heavy to press? It feels like my old golfs but is have thought it would be easier with it being hydraulic?

The two E30 that I've owned haven't been that heavy on the clutch..

[jamlid]

Hmm.. My massive history shows a slave replaced in 2008 but shows "Clutch fluid reservoir empty" in 2010..

It's very likely the owner after replaced the master too then as I've not seen the levels go down at all and there's no wetness coming from either cylinder.


Could it be air trapped? It doesn't feel spongey at all.. just hard work.

[alexdejonghe]

Update from mechanic...oil leaking from the front of the head gasket.....balls.

He's going to try and tighten it down next week to arrest the flow of oil and if that fails its gasket replacement time.

££££

[jmc330i]

Update from mechanic...oil leaking from the front of the head gasket.....balls.

He's going to try and tighten it down next week to arrest the flow of oil and if that fails its gasket replacement time.

££££

Headgasket or rocker cover gasket?

[alexdejonghe]

Update from mechanic...oil leaking from the front of the head gasket.....balls.

He's going to try and tighten it down next week to arrest the flow of oil and if that fails its gasket replacement time.

££££

Headgasket or rocker cover gasket?

He told me head gasket....two words that are never ever good to hear!

Roughly roughly, how long does it take to replace a head gasket on an M20 and how much is the replacement kit?....this'll give me an idea on total cost (my chap is excellent and only £25/ph)