Milano Clutch problem

psc · #1 (**permalink**) 11-29-2003, 05:02 PM

My Milano sat for four months. When I returned it had a puddle underneath, well I checked the oil, power steering, and coolant and they all looked good. Well when I started her the clutch went to the floor. So I refilled the brake/clutch fluid. I could not see where it was leaking from, but the the clutch work but occasionally does not come up from the floor. I can stick my foot under the pedal and return it up and then it wrks fine again. It also has the tendency to sink under hard acceleration. Anyone know what the cause could be or if there is a cure? Also when I now use my left turn signal my rear fog lamps flash also. Is this a flasher relay problem or something else? Thanks in advance!

nizam · #2 (**permalink**) 11-29-2003, 11:36 PM

Re: clutch. You say you found a puddle, and had to refill your brake/clutch fluid reservoir. I'll assume you lost brake fluid and when you filled up the reservoir, you trapped a nice long air bubble somewhere in the clutch line. Chances are, you have air bubbles in your brake system too. I suggest you bleed your hydraulic system soon (clutch and brake).

Re: blinker and rear fog lamps blinks at the same time. Open the trunk carpet covering the rear light cluster, and take off the plastic connector to the light cluster. Clean the connectors on both the light cluster and also the plastic connector. Preferably, use contact cleaner to ensure better connection. What's happening is you have a bad ground, and the electrons are leaking/grounding through your rear fog lights rather than the ground on the blinkers themselves.

psc · #3 (**permalink**) 11-30-2003, 09:58 AM

Awesome! Thanks Nizam! I'll do both in the next few days. I'll let you know on the results. Cheers!

Publio · #4 (**permalink**) 12-01-2003, 03:22 PM

Nizam,

THe blinker problem ended up[ being a bad ground right above the drivers side headlight. It also fixed my next problem I was going to submit to this forum! Lucky me! The clutch problem is worse than I thought. I found the leak and it is the rubber peice on the part I am posting in this response. THe one on the ground is an extra one I have but it alos looks real bad. There is rust coming out of the spare and the one on the car is leaking profusly! Any suggestions?

psc

Publio · #5 (**permalink**) 12-01-2003, 03:23 PM

another picture

AlfaRacer75 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-01-2003, 03:30 PM

That is the rear brake proportioning valve. It has nothing to do with the clutch at all.

EDIT: I agree with Nizam. The fluid probably leaked out of the brake prop valve and the fluid level went below the clutch feed hose (on the side of the resevoir). When you refilled it you probably trapped an air bubble in the clutch master cylinder. So you need to fix your leak and bleed the brakes and clutch.

Hit an Apex · #7 (**permalink**) 12-01-2003, 03:40 PM

is that silicone red brake booster hose?

i hear if you replace the brake booster hose with the OEM hose it'll make your heart rate drop everytime you hit the brakepedal. Ever since i installed those hoses my brake pedals goes farther down than my heartrate allows...I need to order an OEM hose for milano and one for the gtv6

nizam · #8 (**permalink**) 12-01-2003, 05:31 PM

Well, I could advise you to cheap out and just silicone the one in the car ....

BUT

your brakes are VERY important. So, I would sincerely ask that you call up your Alfa shop and request a NEW proportioning valve, and install it in place of your current one.

Once you're done, re-bleed both your clutch and brake lines. You don't want to be messing around with your own safety.

I would then promptly throw away those rusted/leaking proportioning valves out. Dont' even give them to your enemy!

Nizam

Publio · #9 (**permalink**) 12-01-2003, 06:02 PM

Nizam and AlfaRacer75:

I will be ordering it tomorrow from Vicks for the fastest delivery time. I have no intention in risking my life by going the cheap route. THanks again for the great advice. I do have more questions, my Milano was sitting for a few months and some things have cropped up, that or they bother me more! My passenger side front door has the tendency to not latch sometimes. It appears that the lock gets stuck inbetween locked and unlocked and does not allow the claw to grab the nipple. When you close the door sometimes it bounces back. I worry because my wife rides in that seat and I would hate for the door to open during a turn and scare her. I would never, not ever, hear the end of it and thank God she wears her seat belt! Also any suggestions about making the windows and sunroof work faster? I actually get tired holding the switch it takes so long! LOL

XFT: I have had no problem with my hoses. My brakes work very well. THe kit I have was from Greg Gordon and I believe he tested them very thoroughly. If anything the hoses improved the cars drivability and braking. Where did you get your hoses?

One another note. My father is GIVING me his '76 Alfetta that has been autocrossed prepared. I am attaching an image of it and my GTV6.

Hit an Apex · #10 (**permalink**) 12-01-2003, 06:16 PM

i got the same hose kit and an Alfa mechanic told me to change it to OEM because of something to do with silicone compressing (dont exactly remember) and as the car warmed up it would make the brake pedal soft > which happens in the milano but not in the gtv6...

nizam · #11 (**permalink**) 12-01-2003, 06:17 PM

Re: door. Sounds like the STRIKER (not nipple) is not adjusted properly. Locate a 4mm (or 5mm I don't remember) hex key from your toolbox and patiently unscrew the striker from the body. I say patiently because chances are, after 14 years it's frozen solid. If it starts to slip, or deform the hex key notch in striker, STOP. Put on some penetrating oil and let it sit overnight. Try it again the next day.

Once undone, you can move the striker around until you find a good spot where the latch in the door (not claw) will lock onto the striker.

All references to claws, grabbing and nipples should be, er, saved for another forum.

Re: alfetta. Looks nice and clean. You're a lucky man. Looks like it's got the V6 hubs on too.

universible · #12 (**permalink**) 12-01-2003, 06:20 PM

I had the same nipple to claw issue (hahaha)...errr, striker issue on my last Milano...it was fixed by doing exactly as described...except for the waiting part

Ted

Publio · #13 (**permalink**) 12-02-2003, 10:00 AM

Well I ordered the part from Vick's out in Ft Worth. Including shipping it was $77.90. Not to bad I guess. Good thing about Vick's is how close they are to me, I should have the peice in a day or two max! Anyone have any thoughts about putting 164 wheels on a Milano? Reason being I have four wheels with the offset for a 164. I did a fit test without the tires and everything seems ok, but I do have some wheel spacers laying around if nessicary. I bought 205/45R16s. I believe I should ahve no clearence problems but I wanted to get yall's opinion on it. Thanks!