Do You Know Your Car?

[mrspunkysmom]

Sadly not this one. I used to know them well. I have looked under the hood and really need to do that over the break provided it is nice during the day. The car is almost 4 and now getting to the age where it would be prudent to be aware of the under-the-hood conditions of my ride.

[Lady's Human]

Roops, forgot one.....

And thanks Liz.

It's a hydraulic clutch setup. Have someone bleed the slave.

[Miss Z]

Admittedly I had no idea what 'bleeding the slave' was, but some swift googling has just set me straight on that one...

[Lady's Human]

Admittedly I had no idea what 'bleeding the slave' was, but some swift googling has just set me straight on that one...

Before someone else reads the above and thinks I've completely lost all social awareness....

The clutch is disengaged by a small hydraulic cylinder that is linked to the master cylinder for the brakes. (The brake master cylinder is the larger, hence master, and the one which drives the clutch is smaller and linked mechanically/hydraulically to the larger, hence master/slave nomenclatures)

Over time, hydraulic fluid gets contaminated and can get tiny air bubbles in the fluid for a variety of reasons. Hydraulics work because fluids in classical physics do not compress. Air, however, does compress quite nicely. If the bubble of air is large enough, it will interfere with the movement of fluid in the system due to the movement of the piston, compressing the air rather than moving the fluid.

Removal of the air and other contaminants in the system is referred to as bleeding the system.

In the case of the clutch, the entire hydraulic system doesn't need to be bled, just that tiny part of the system.

Hence the term "bleeding the slave". I'm not referring to using a barbaric medical practice on uncompensated household help.

[RICHARD]

Before someone else reads the above and thinks I've completely lost all social awareness....

The clutch is disengaged by a small hydraulic cylinder that is linked to the master cylinder for the brakes. (The brake master cylinder is the larger, hence master, and the one which drives the clutch is smaller and linked mechanically/hydraulically to the larger, hence master/slave nomenclatures)

Over time, hydraulic fluid gets contaminated and can get tiny air bubbles in the fluid for a variety of reasons. Hydraulics work because fluids in classical physics do not compress. Air, however, does compress quite nicely. If the bubble of air is large enough, it will interfere with the movement of fluid in the system due to the movement of the piston, compressing the air rather than moving the fluid.

Removal of the air and other contaminants in the system is referred to as bleeding the system.

In the case of the clutch, the entire hydraulic system doesn't need to be bled, just that tiny part of the system.

Hence the term "bleeding the slave". I'm not referring to using a barbaric medical practice on uncompensated household help.

Is that like pumping the brakes?

[RICHARD]

I only have two rules concerning transportation.

I refuse to get on ANYTHING that does not have a hand or foot braking system. That includes animals.
They don't want to ride me, so I pay them back by not sitting on them.

Two? I have to be able to get whatever I am using, home.

I have nursed cars and motorcycles home on wings and prayers.
I think that calling for a tow is above me.

If you are creative you can..

Bump start a manual transmission car, by yourself.
Change a tire in 10 minutes.
Use a piece of wire to replace a fuse
(Not recommended for extended use, just to get off the center median of the freeway.)
Make a funnel out of discarded trash.
Figure out that the idiot light on the dash is a loose gas cap.
Change your sparkplugs/air filter/wipers.
Figure out why the door doesn't close correctly.
Get a motorcycle home with a throttle cable.
Find a short in a wiring system. (Too bad newer cars are all computer BS)
Change a hose, flush a radiator or belt.
Program the radio.
Hang an air freshner.........