Sudden spongy clutch pedal-tough to engage first or reverse

[Squadrone Rosso]

I don't drive my Spider that often but took it out for a blast last Sunday, in the week and again this morning.

The clutch pedal feels spongy and it's hard to selct first or reverse with the engine running

All other gears are as sweet as and I can pull off in second or utilise the new fangled stop start technology to pull off in first (or reverse) if needed - ie, turn the engine off, select first or reverse and start the car up with the clutch depressed & move off.

Any suggestions as to what the problem might be & how I can fix it

Suggestions so far are the clutch system needs a bleed (the reservoir is full) or the slave cylinder needs changing......

Cheers,

I'd start by bleeding and see if there's any improvement.
Have you checked the slave to see if there are any leaks?....that's if it can be checked on your car, depending on it's location??

[spiderserie4]

Squadrone, do you notice the clutch pedal is suddenly hanging a little bit lower than the brake pedal?
If so there is a common alfa problem: the clutch pivot is a known weakpoint, the weld suddenly gives up the ghost and when you depress the clutch, the pivot weld bends (so to speak).
If it is hanging lower, can you pull it up so that it is level with the brake? If so that is a sure sign.
If you can confirm this, there are loads of links to replace this, including a remanufatured much stronger pivot, you can get from the States.

If this is not the case, then perhaps the clutch flexible pipe near the slave cylinder is contaminated and "expands" when you depress the clutch (which affects the clutch, and makes it feel as though you are only pushing it half way down......hence the crunch!)
Failing that then a clutch fluid bleed, but if you haven't worked on the clutch, then I don't see why it suddenly has air in it.
This is the pivot (moving in the video!)
Clutch Pivot Arm 1988 Spider - YouTube

[Squadrone Rosso]

Thanks

Pedal seems fine

What do you mean by contaminated?

I see classic Alfa do a braided steel version on the flexi pipe. Worth getting ahead of garage diagnostics on Friday?

Cheers,

[spiderserie4]

....by contaminated, I merely mean it has become porous, ie. that the fluid is seeping through the rubber, or that the rubber has lost its original consistency, so that when you press the clutch the rubber expands, not allowing full movement of the clutch, as intended)
I personally wouldn't bother about the braided steel type for the clutch, replace it with an original rubber flex hose and it should last many years..........and is a good tenner cheaper than the aeroequip type (the original is to be had for less than 9 quid at EB spares, for instance, and they want 19 for the aeroequip steel braided type)

[disgusted]

Exactly the same symptoms that my S4 displayed last year.

A new slave cylinder fixed it. Compared to my 166 bills, this cost mere pennies.

[Squadrone Rosso]

Diagnosed as slave cylinder

New one on order from Classic Alfa (£37 for a pattern part instead of £58 for an original) and a new flexi hose

Picking up the hard top this weekend so at least it's drivable, unlike our GT which is currently sans-engine

[Squadrone Rosso]

Car's been in all day

Slave was knackered, as was the metal pipe that runs from the back of the master. The master wouldn't pamp the new fluid was stripped and was full of gunk.

It was stripped but the bore was badly corroded.

New slave, flexi hose, metal hose & master fitted but it still won't pump fluid

Car left there tonight

Didn't get around to changing the scuttle drain hoses so any tips for me / the garage welcome

With the GT still having its' Busso rebuilt we're now a one Alfa family.....

[disgusted]

It strikes me that you've had everything done! Your only remaining option is uncontrolled sobbing.

[Squadrone Rosso]

Clutch sorted & the scuttle drain hoses fitted (they were as porous as a T bag).

£529 though on top of the £3k we spent on the GT on Thursday

[disgusted]

Multiple Alfa ownership is a lot like self-flagellation.

Why don't we drive HyaKeeWoo cars with 5 year warranties like normal, sane people?

Just when my Alfas seem to be behaving, the LooserCruiser (Multipla - family hack/truck) shouted "new clutch please!".

I'm sure that will cost £400, about what the car is worth.