[scorpydude]

Hey guys... i'll try and keep this as to the point as I can. Car is a Grand Vitara 2002, SQ625 V6.

I've always had a low clutch point that has been dropping over the last years. It's moved from 70% depressed to 90%. I've already adjusted the nut behind the pedle etc to max.

Recently the clutch point has dropped to the point i need to press the clutch pedal into the soft rubber behind it and apply the absolute highest pressure I can when changing gears. Very occasionally I grinded a gear, usually reverse or first. A second press of the pedal would fix this though so just took my time.

I thought I would try and tackle this issue by first checking for bad fluid/air. So I bled the clutch fluid. Put 5-7 new reservoirs of fluid through here. When I started the car and pumped up the pressure in the line again the clutch didnt engage at all not. I was patent with it, tried many times pumping pedal, check reservoirs etc, all OK. Flushed 2 more through it, same problem.

At this stage I thought I better check the slave cylinder, so i dumped the fluid and pulled her out. Cleaned her up and took her all apart. Everything was a-OK. Seal was great. No fluid past seel or in boot. Air compressor lightly with a blower on the in hole for fluid moved piston great.

At this stage I'm really hoping for some experienced advice here.

Some things to know:
- I replaced the master cylinder with a 4wd_products one about four years ago as it was leaking, but I havent had that apart - Should I pull the master apart as well?
- The boot around where the slave cylinder makes contact with the leaver that enters the bellhousing was completly gone. This would have allowed water, mud, engine oil (from a leak up front) and dirt into the bellhousing
- The leaver that enters the bell-housing, when i touched it it moved around heaps and had about 2-3cm of play in almost every direction - Is this normal?

It's probably going to be the clutch/throw out bearing right? I'm just trying to understand the situation better as i dont have a good understanding why this problem exists as im not familiar with how the leaver inside the bellhousing works exactly and why when a clutch goes it would cause loss of clutch point and not just slipping?

Any advice and info as to whats going on and anything else I should look at before pulling the plug and towing to a clutch place would be most welcome.

[henno]

Some GVs had an issue with the clutch fork. Perhaps inspect that for cracks as some have pushed the ball right through. Particularly if you have movement there, as you say.

I'd find a pic, but I'm on my phone at the moment.

[watermouse]

This is from a SQ420 (2l). Not sure if the V6 is susceptible to the same problem but this was the cause of all the symptoms you describe I had in my car.

Its a box out job.

[henno]

That exactly what I was trying to describe; thanks watermouse.

[scorpydude]

Thanks for that info and diagram! Explains alot!

[jono165]

#goodtech
This is why forums are so much better than facebook pages

[Gwagensteve]

jono165 wrote:

#goodtech
This is why forums are so much better than facebook pages

This wouldn't have been a problem if this car had a blowthrough carby turbo- FB spec.