Clutch froze in car....audi a4 b5 tdi

[Keithsri]

So it was -18 last night, and now the clutch is froze in the car ***..... you can put it gear when the car is off and start it in gear and it will move,but when the car is going,you cannot put it in gear..... and the clutch feels lighter than useual.. Have left it running for an hour now,and tried lightly tapping around some bits but to no avail...

Anyone same issue or any remedies?

 

[Bradderz_1988]

ive seen it were if you are moving it wont go in gear as though the syncro isnt lined up but will go in if the car is stationary or moving at very slow speed and this has been the pressure plate at failure the riveted spring arms break off causing the clutch to have pressure applied at a certain point therefore input shaft is still driven by the engine even though clutch is engaged. its a possibillity. hope you sort it.

 

[aragorn]

I dont think brake fluid would freeze at -18c...

Something else has broken.

 

[Keithsri]

Poured some boiling water all over,gearbox and surrounding areas,hopped in and with bita of ignorance,it let a clunk and it back to normal now ...

.. great lol!! Thanks for the help!


But still dont know what was froze? lol

 

[pjw]

Friction plate will have been frozen to the flywheel.

 

[Audi2ptzero]

Yeah sounds like the disk was frozen against the flywheel or pressure plate. You could have also tried blowing hot air thru the holes in the bottom of the transmissin.

What could have happened is that snow or water got splashed up inside of the housing and onto the clutch, then that water froze it in place while the car sat.

 

[pjw]

To be honest it was probably just good old condensation. You certainly shouldnt be having liquid and crud 'splashing' up inside the bell housing, your clutch and bearing would be written off in a matter of miles!

 

[AudiS3-Turbo]

water forms in brake fluid just as it does clutch fluid,this will drastically reduce the boiling point and i have seen fluid freeze.....

 

[aragorn]

^^ good point, someone doing a brake fluid change is unlikely to also flush the fluid thats in the clutch hydraulics, so its entirely possibly its very old, full of water and has frozen due to that!