Clutch problems

[Candy]

I have a Ford Escort with very low milage and all of the sudden my brake light came on on my dash board. I figured my light was just messing up so I drove it for a couple af days like that. Then the other day while driving, my clutch just kinda fell to the floor. I was able to get it home but I could hardle get the gears to go in. My hubby checked the brake fluid and it was nearly empty so he filled it up, hoping it would fix the problem. But no luck, the clutch still won't work. Anyone have any ideas what might be wrong?

[jeffescortlx]

Might just need to bleed the system to get the air out.
on the clutch slave cylender there is a bleeder valve.
It sounds like the actual clutch is fine, so it should be a cheap fix as a worst case.

[Candy]

Thanks, I'll try that (or make the hubby) try it.

[anthonymcgrath]

I have a 1989 Greg Escort XR3i with EFI conversion and I was wondering if anyone could help me out here as I'm experiencing a couple of clutch probs and would love a 2nd, 3rd or as many opinions as ppl could spare a couple of minutes to give:

Basically its to do with my clutch and/or changing gears - I've noticed a couple of bits so here goes:

when the car is in 1st gear or Reverse gear the car sometimes makes a slight grating/scrauping sound. It doesn't always do it but a friend says he reckons its the clutch. Whats other ppl's thoughts?

secondly - I've noticed the car is having a spot of bother slipping from 5th to 4th gear and sometimes from 4th to 3rd too! This has just started appearing over the last couple of days. Again I'm thinking clutch probs as I remember me little cinq (why did I bother!!) doing the same thing.

Thirdly - the pedal doesn't feel quite as responsive as I'd like to be honest - feels 'muddy' or like I cant quite find the point where the pedal has activated the clutch? hope that makes sense.

As I said - I'm pretty sure its the clutch and reading this thread about air in the clutch or something is making me wonder if thats affecting it or should I be looking at a new clutch?

please help
cheers
ant

[cricket8302003]

i would say that it would be your pressure plate if its not air in the lines

[mightymoose_22]

Candy-
If your master cylinder was empty you definately need to bleed the system. However, losing that much fluid should tell you that there is a leak somewhere. Be sure to check the whole system, including the brakes, and bleed both the brakes and the clutch. The brakes must be bled in a certain order. Be thorough or you may regret it later.