Clutch Fluid: Service and Repair
Bleeding the clutch system
Notes
Information
^ The clutch system and brake system share a common reservoir.
^ The clutch slave cylinder is located to the left of the transmission, at the top of the clutch bell-housing.
^ Observe brake fluid quality. Use only new DOT 4 brake fluid.
^ The brake fluid change interval is 2 years for Super DOT 4 brake fluid.
^ This brake fluid is available under the following part numbers: Container quantity: 1 liter = 000.043.203.66. 30 liters = 000.043.203.67.
Tools
Bleeder tool 9724
Procedure for bleeding
The shared reservoir for the brake and clutch systems is located in the engine compartment, on the left under the cowl panel cover -arrow- in the plenum panel.
1. Open the reservoir and connect the bleeding device. Switch on the bleeding device and set the bleeding pressure to approx. -> Pressure: +1.3 bar.
2. Remove engine guard.
3. Use a transparent hose and a collecting bottle to accurately check that the escaping brake fluid is clean and has no air bubbles, and to determine the amount of brake fluid used. Attach the hose of the collecting bottle to the bleeder valve so that a siphon of at least 25 cm high is formed.
Bleeding the clutch (siphon)
4. Open the bleeder valve (approx. three turns!) -arrow- until brake fluid emerges. When no air bubbles have been flushed out for at least 10 seconds, press down very quickly on the clutch pedal and then pull it back up again very slowly. Wait for about 10 seconds and then repeat the whole procedure again several times until no more air bubbles are flushed out (the help of a second person is required).
5. Press the clutch pedal down by approx. 20 to 25 mm. Then press the clutch pedal slowly several times by approx. 10 to 15 mm and pull it back up until no more air bubbles emerge here either. If there are no more air bubbles, slowly pull the clutch pedal back up. Close the bleeder valve on the slave cylinder, depressurize the bleeding device and remove it.
6. Tighten the bleeder valve to the specified tightening torque (5 ± 1 Nm/3.5 ± 0.5 ftlb.) and remove the bleeder hose from the clutch slave cylinder. Fit dust cap and remove bleeder hose from reservoir.
7. Screw lid onto the reservoir. The brake fluid level in the reservoir must be between the MIN and MAX markings once the vehicle has been filled and bled. Correct the brake fluid level if necessary.
8. Fit the engine guard.
Checking clutch function
The clutch must disengage perfectly following bleeding. This means that there must be at least 30 mm pedal travel remaining (as far as the lower pedal stop) when you press the clutch pedal and after the clutch has disengaged fully.
The actuating force must be felt to increase after 20 mm pedal travel at the latest (replenishing bore on master cylinder closed). If the actuating force only increases after significantly greater pedal travel, generally there is still some air in the clutch hydraulic system.