[V6-12v] Clutch Problem

[Casimiro Izquierdo]

My 1995 model 90s stick shift Audi, non-quattro, V6 engine, has developed some clutch problems.  The pedal will go down and stay down and the car cannot be shifted.  Last night I drove it in first gear for about 1.5 miles to my home from where my wife got stuck in the middle of rush hour.

A friend said that it was probably a master cylinder problem in the transmission assembly.  As suggested, I lifted the pedal and pumped it and the pedal will stay up for a bit, but after a few shifts it goes down and stays down and I have to repeat the maneuver again.  To fix this he said that the transmission had to come off.  Since the car already has close to 131,000 miles he suggested that the clutch should be changed at the same time.  He also said that the active fluid in this transmission master cylinder is the brake fluid.

Am I getting the correct diagnosis for this problem?  Apparently to fix this could cost between $1200 and $1500, so before I hand the car over to have it fixed I would like to know a bit more about this problem.  

By the way, I have not been receiving any e-mails from anyone in trouble for about three months.  Has this board been so inactive?

Thank you,

cai



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com