Clutch cylinder/fluid issue

[AJP]

Got in the car to nip to the shops earlier and noticed the clutch pedal was really limp for the first 6-7" of travel, almost no resistance. The last inch or so of travel feels as heavy as normal, although the biting point is now almost on the floor.

My first thought was either master cylinder or clutch slave.

Then it occurred to me that the clutch often briefly feels like this when the car is getting a thrashing - but has always in the past gone back to its usual heavy pedal through its entire travel. So that made me wonder about the fluid itself. I'm 99% sure it was bled when the current brakes went on a few months ago, but whether that was the clutch too I'm not sure.

It's a Helix Organic. Went in with a new DMF about two years ago. I've done maybe 15k miles on it.

Also - and I'm sure this is entirely unrelated - I found this loose sticking out of the plastic between the pedals and the steering wheel cowel. It's broken in two, and one half was in that cowel area before I managed to retrieve it. Any ideas?!

[doylebros]

Got in the car to nip to the shops earlier and noticed the clutch pedal was really limp for the first 6-7" of travel, almost no resistance. The last inch or so of travel feels as heavy as normal, although the biting point is now almost on the floor.

My first thought was either master cylinder or clutch slave.

Then it occurred to me that the clutch often briefly feels like this when the car is getting a thrashing - but has always in the past gone back to its usual heavy pedal through its entire travel. So that made me wonder about the fluid itself. I'm 99% sure it was bled when the current brakes went on a few months ago, but whether that was the clutch too I'm not sure.

It's a Helix Organic. Went in with a new DMF about two years ago. I've done maybe 15k miles on it.

Also - and I'm sure this is entirely unrelated - I found this loose sticking out of the plastic between the pedals and the steering wheel cowel. It's broken in two, and one half was in that cowel area before I managed to retrieve it. Any ideas?!

Not a part I've seen but may be out of an electrical connector - look at post 74 in this thread looks very similar http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,90500.msg1104113.html#msg1104113

[AJP]

Got in the car to nip to the shops earlier and noticed the clutch pedal was really limp for the first 6-7" of travel, almost no resistance. The last inch or so of travel feels as heavy as normal, although the biting point is now almost on the floor.

My first thought was either master cylinder or clutch slave.

Then it occurred to me that the clutch often briefly feels like this when the car is getting a thrashing - but has always in the past gone back to its usual heavy pedal through its entire travel. So that made me wonder about the fluid itself. I'm 99% sure it was bled when the current brakes went on a few months ago, but whether that was the clutch too I'm not sure.

It's a Helix Organic. Went in with a new DMF about two years ago. I've done maybe 15k miles on it.

Also - and I'm sure this is entirely unrelated - I found this loose sticking out of the plastic between the pedals and the steering wheel cowel. It's broken in two, and one half was in that cowel area before I managed to retrieve it. Any ideas?!

Not a part I've seen but may be out of an electrical connector - look at post 74 in this thread looks very similar http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,90500.msg1104113.html#msg1104113

Cheers for the reply. Yeah I assumed it was something like that. Everything 'seems' to be working so far in terms of the electrics so I'll keep an eye on things.

Clutch wise (just to update the thread for reference) the fluid seemed quite close to min earlier and after topping up to max it temporarily gave the pedal its weight back. A few miles later it was back to how it was before. So fluid is finding its way out somewhere. I'll find out next week hopefully... and do a bit of walking in the meantime!

[doylebros]

Got in the car to nip to the shops earlier and noticed the clutch pedal was really limp for the first 6-7" of travel, almost no resistance. The last inch or so of travel feels as heavy as normal, although the biting point is now almost on the floor.

My first thought was either master cylinder or clutch slave.

Then it occurred to me that the clutch often briefly feels like this when the car is getting a thrashing - but has always in the past gone back to its usual heavy pedal through its entire travel. So that made me wonder about the fluid itself. I'm 99% sure it was bled when the current brakes went on a few months ago, but whether that was the clutch too I'm not sure.

It's a Helix Organic. Went in with a new DMF about two years ago. I've done maybe 15k miles on it.

Also - and I'm sure this is entirely unrelated - I found this loose sticking out of the plastic between the pedals and the steering wheel cowel. It's broken in two, and one half was in that cowel area before I managed to retrieve it. Any ideas?!

Not a part I've seen but may be out of an electrical connector - look at post 74 in this thread looks very similar http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,90500.msg1104113.html#msg1104113

Cheers for the reply. Yeah I assumed it was something like that. Everything 'seems' to be working so far in terms of the electrics so I'll keep an eye on things.

Clutch wise (just to update the thread for reference) the fluid seemed quite close to min earlier and after topping up to max it temporarily gave the pedal its weight back. A few miles later it was back to how it was before. So fluid is finding its way out somewhere. I'll find out next week hopefully... and do a bit of walking in the meantime!

My first port of call would be to check the clutch bleed point, that plastic housing is so easily fractured.

[AJP]

Got in the car to nip to the shops earlier and noticed the clutch pedal was really limp for the first 6-7" of travel, almost no resistance. The last inch or so of travel feels as heavy as normal, although the biting point is now almost on the floor.

My first thought was either master cylinder or clutch slave.

Then it occurred to me that the clutch often briefly feels like this when the car is getting a thrashing - but has always in the past gone back to its usual heavy pedal through its entire travel. So that made me wonder about the fluid itself. I'm 99% sure it was bled when the current brakes went on a few months ago, but whether that was the clutch too I'm not sure.

It's a Helix Organic. Went in with a new DMF about two years ago. I've done maybe 15k miles on it.

Also - and I'm sure this is entirely unrelated - I found this loose sticking out of the plastic between the pedals and the steering wheel cowel. It's broken in two, and one half was in that cowel area before I managed to retrieve it. Any ideas?!

Not a part I've seen but may be out of an electrical connector - look at post 74 in this thread looks very similar http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,90500.msg1104113.html#msg1104113

Cheers for the reply. Yeah I assumed it was something like that. Everything 'seems' to be working so far in terms of the electrics so I'll keep an eye on things.

Clutch wise (just to update the thread for reference) the fluid seemed quite close to min earlier and after topping up to max it temporarily gave the pedal its weight back. A few miles later it was back to how it was before. So fluid is finding its way out somewhere. I'll find out next week hopefully... and do a bit of walking in the meantime!

My first port of call would be to check the clutch bleed point, that plastic housing is so easily fractured.

Thanks mate. I'll mention this when it goes in