Yep. Right track.

That started to happen to my 1989 Syncro. Similar set-up. Have an 1.9TD AAZ at 50 degrees. It's a Syncro. Which makes it a 5-speed as well. The telltale puddle of brake fluid appeared on the ground upon the catastrophic failure. Recent slave but had been left sitting for months.

BenT
sent from my electronic leash

On Nov 19, 2011, at 7:37 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>  84 van, inline gas VW 4, diesel 5sp, diesel engine 50deg. mounts..
> 
>  Recently (over the past several days) I've been thinking my clutch pedal
> feels a bit easier to push down.   Too easy....  The engagement from the
> clutch seems to now take place at the bottom of the pedal stroke...mostly
> in the first inch or two,  near the firewall. The clutch seems to be
> functioning ok still, maybe  just slightly notchy selecting gears.   Since
> it recently started snowing here (Pac NW USA) and we're beginning to think
> "winter time trip to the Southwest"...this figures. (grin)   This is my
> first 'issue' with the van in many months.
> 
>  Brake fluid is good, clutch is one year old.  No slippage from the
> clutch.  Slave is recent as is the MC...
> 
> I am thinking first, I'll go under and inspect the clutch slave, after
> looking for leakage inside under the clutch pedal.  I'll do a quick bleed
> of the slave and see if that fixes the low and soft-feeling pedal.   If so,
> and then the pedal action again migrates down the pedal stroke....another
> clutch slave will be installed...
> 
>  Sound like I am on the right track here?
> 
>  Why does the snow have to fall before these any problems develop with
> vehicles?
> 
>  Don Hanson