Clutch reservoir

[Lisa Curwood]

Hi guys! I bought my Ranger 2 yrs ago, my clutch has been high and strong. One day, it's on the floor. I take it for oil changes regular and ask all fluids be checked and filled with the best. So, I open the cap, and its empty. I fill it, and we try bleeding it, but nothing. I found out later about the bladder...at the shop they found no leaks. But also was informed what PIA Rangers are to bleed. After the shops first day bleeding the clutch, the peddle was back and reservoir full. Without driving, it sat overnight, the next day , peddle gone, so they needed to bleed it some more. Does anyone have a theory?

 

[franklin2]

Open the reservoir and check the fluid again. Is it still full or empty? If it's empty, you have a leak.

 

[RonD]

+1 ^^^

The "bladder" is to protect the brake fluid(clutch fluid) from absorbing moisture from the air, the cap is vented
So it can be left out when refilling or testing, reservoir is not a sealed container, and no fluid should exit the reservoir if you pump the clutch pedal

If reservoir ran dry then you could have air in the master, very hard to clear out
The master sits at a 45deg angle up so air likes to go in and NOT come out

Best way to get it out is to pull out master with reservoir hold it pointed down, the master, then have someone open bleeder on slave while you push the piston in forcing in air in the master into the hose repeat a few time

Other thing you can do is by a pre-bleed Master/reservoir

 

[scotts90ranger]

As for where the fluid went, could have a seep somewhere and as the clutch is wearing the slave cylinder took up the extra...

One stupid pet trick to try is put the pedal to the floor (with trans in neutral or engine off) then slip your foot off letting it slam home, repeat ~5 times... I've had reasonable luck over the years but I hear mixed results from others...