Was doing a bit of offroading today in the Baja and all of a sudden the clutch pretty much went. I didn't think it was the cable and when I crawled under it the bowden tube was all straight. I fixed as best I could so I could get home, but I'm not sure what the problem is. Can the tunnel end of the bowden tube go into the tunnel further? I'm not sure if I rattled something loose or what happened. Any advice would be most appreciated.

Any information that anyone has could you please share it? I need to try and get it fixed today so I have something to drive to work in tomorrow.

No I don't carry a spare, probably should start too I guess. I pulled the rear cage and engine out. It seems that when I pull the bowden tube towards the rear of the car that it pulls the other tube that it is slotted over out of the tunnel. Does this mean the clutch tube has broken free inside the tunnel? That would explain why the bowden tube can go further in because the metal tube would be moving right up against the hook near the pedals. Any ideas?

check this out http://www.vwdcqinc.org.au/insidea71bug.html 

Hey thanks Ian.

That is brilliant. But it also means that I am now fairly sure that the tabs that hold the clutch tube in place have broken away. Does anyone know the best way to reattach the clutch tube? Can you just weld it both ends or clamp it somehow?

thanks Ian I have never seen this site, but as they say if you don't learn something every day you have wasted it. cheers les

There aint much on tv lately and we dont have fox tel so i like to look for VW stuff on the net

What if I don't want to cut the tunnel up?

Can you get through where the gearstick or handbrake is?

only the rear one is accessable, you will find that under the back seat..........

doubt its possible through existing holes, never tried it.

sorry, but it aint an easy or fun job

we dont have a clutch tube in roses vw , just a short bit of pipe where the flex tube goes on at the rear Its just a bit hard to feed cable in with no tube.

Yeah, I was thinking that I might be able to get at it through the plate under the rear seat. Well I had better start making some decisions soon, the baja is my daily driver.

That or put the engine back in my semi-auto bug. But that car normally decides to develop a problem or 10. I'm not sure that I can rely on her.

cmon dude get the semi auto going again!!

I got most of the engine back together this weekend. Did a tappet adjustment, now it's pretty much right to go back in. I need to get some new torque converter bolts cause i think I rounded one or two getting it out. Then I supposed I'll have to check everything cause she's been sitting so long, brakes etc. Have you ever re welded a clutch tube Andrew? You might have to help me. That or I could just go hydraulic.

get a hole saw, weld the tube back in place, and add some extra tabs if you off road this car.
weld the tunnel holes back up, and then its back like it was, not hacked up (as long as you can weld and grind!!)
Make sure you go easy when welding the tabs on the tube, if you blow through, or get wire/slag inside the tube, the cable will be hard to get through, or impossible, or wear out in no time at all.
Grease the cable when putting back through too

Might be worth checking the clutch hook on the pedal, and the cable before starting this, unless you can feel the tube moving.


I dont think going hydraulic is an easier fix at all!!! Welding it up should be an arvo of work...