Hello, I bought my car about 8 months ago with a bad motor because the previous owner drove it too long with a bad tensioner. I am just wrapping up installing a new engine in my 2001 A4 with the 2.8, 5 speed. I have the engine bolted up and I'm hooking up the wiring and other things. I went in the car to shift it into neutral so that I could hand turn the engine and when I pushed the clutch it went straight to the floor. I know the clutch it tied in with the brakes so does it need to build up pressure if it hasn't been run in a while? The clutch worked fine before I pulled the engine. The reservoir is full and it doesn't appear to be leaking. Do I have a problem or will it pressurize the first time I start my car? I'm putting the rest of the repair on hold until I get this figured out. I'd hate to get it all back together only to have to tear it apart again.

P.S. I did install a new clutch and pressure plate while I had the engine out.

 

Did you disconnect any of the lines in the clutch system, like the slave cylinder? Sounds like air in the system. If you unhooked the slave rather than pulling it out connected, air is jn there and has to be bled (bleeding it is the first step at this point anyhow since it definitely sounds like air in the system).

 

No, didn't open any clutch (or brake) lines at all. The slave cylinder wasn't touched at all. Shouldn't have been any way for air to get there. I'll try bleeding it.