1991 320i - Losing clutch pressure

[Grey2k]

I can't find a pattern to this behaviour beyond the fact that it seems to occur more often in stop-start traffic.

All of a sudden I'll not be able to find a gear. No matter how hard I push in the clutch I can't engage a new gear.

If I stop the engine and select a gear I can get going again, but sometimes even this doesn't work. On those occasions I have my foot fully pressed down on the floor and the gear 'engaged' and when I turn the ignition the car lurches forward. In these situations there is no pressure in the clutch pedal it just gets pushed meekly in with no 'springback'

Most often things return to normal after the car has been stopped for a while or after I've 'pumped' the clutch pedal a few times.

This 'situation' occurs once or twice a day. The rest of the time its fine.

What can I check out? What could be the cause ?

[Neuville]

[quote=Grey2k]I can't find a pattern to this behaviour beyond the fact that it seems to occur more often in stop-start traffic.

All of a sudden I'll not be able to find a gear. No matter how hard I push in the clutch I can't engage a new gear.

If I stop the engine and select a gear I can get going again, but sometimes even this doesn't work. On those occasions I have my foot fully pressed down on the floor and the gear 'engaged' and when I turn the ignition the car lurches forward. In these situations there is no pressure in the clutch pedal it just gets pushed meekly in with no 'springback'

Most often things return to normal after the car has been stopped for a while or after I've 'pumped' the clutch pedal a few times.

This 'situation' occurs once or twice a day. The rest of the time its fine.

What can I check out? What could be the cause ?


I assume it has hydraulic clutch.
If so check for signs of leaking from the master cylinder as on my 323i (e30 1985) this happened and fluid leaked from a short plastic pipe on the master cylinder leaked fluid onto the clutch pedal which dripped onto the carpet.
The cure was to replace the plastic pipe with one made out of a piece of metal brake pipe.
Good luck

[jeffreyb4me]

Sounds as though the clutch Master Cylinder is by-passing......if your fluid level is ok, you need a master cyl. from your symptoms...........

[Grey2k]

Originally Posted by jeffreyb4me

if your fluid level is ok, you need a master cyl. from your symptoms...........

Thanks.

Would you know if there's an easy way to check if my fluid level is ok ?

[jeffreyb4me]

Check your brake fluid level, the same reservoir is used by the clutch hydralic system.