Clutch Problem
01-07-2004, 11:43 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: S.w. Florida boring ass ft myers to be exact. where the old people come to die
Posts: 1,176
well its wierd.... i am driving along just crusing home from work.. and then i go to push the clutch and it goes right to floor. i pump it a bunch and it stiffens up, and i am able to get home...(about a mile away from my house when it happenned) so i figure it must be low on fluid.
nope its topped off and good to go. color isnt black. or discolored.
so then i start thinking maybe its the clutch line...i bought a stainless one and never installed it so i figure wth check that out maybe the oem line burst....
nope as far as i can tell its in pretty darn good shape. no residue on the line at all.
so i figure maybe the slave cylinder is leaking... jack the car up put it on stands and take a peak...
as far as i can tell no leaking fluid at all... no fluid residue..nothing.
so then i thought maybe its the clutch master cylinder. so i go take a look at that and..
once again now fluid residue.. and i the paint below it is still painted so i guess no leaking fluid from there either.
the only part that looked kinda iffie was where the rubber oem clutch line connects to the lower hard line going towards the slave. it had some oily residue and gunk all over that connection. the thing that makes me wonder is the fact that the oil lines and filter are right above this connection... also i just changed my oil like 4 days ago so its highly possible that the oily residue is from my recent oil change...infact i spilt some oil when i removed the filter. anywhoo...i am totally stumped as to what the problem could be. is it possible that the SC or the CMC is leaking internally? i thought that if it did leak internally though it would make the fluid turn blackish. i even put a peice of cardboard under the car and pumped the clutch a bunch trying make it leak. but once again that showed no signs of a leak.any input is appreciated.
john
nope its topped off and good to go. color isnt black. or discolored.
so then i start thinking maybe its the clutch line...i bought a stainless one and never installed it so i figure wth check that out maybe the oem line burst....
nope as far as i can tell its in pretty darn good shape. no residue on the line at all.
so i figure maybe the slave cylinder is leaking... jack the car up put it on stands and take a peak...
as far as i can tell no leaking fluid at all... no fluid residue..nothing.
so then i thought maybe its the clutch master cylinder. so i go take a look at that and..
once again now fluid residue.. and i the paint below it is still painted so i guess no leaking fluid from there either.
the only part that looked kinda iffie was where the rubber oem clutch line connects to the lower hard line going towards the slave. it had some oily residue and gunk all over that connection. the thing that makes me wonder is the fact that the oil lines and filter are right above this connection... also i just changed my oil like 4 days ago so its highly possible that the oily residue is from my recent oil change...infact i spilt some oil when i removed the filter. anywhoo...i am totally stumped as to what the problem could be. is it possible that the SC or the CMC is leaking internally? i thought that if it did leak internally though it would make the fluid turn blackish. i even put a peice of cardboard under the car and pumped the clutch a bunch trying make it leak. but once again that showed no signs of a leak.any input is appreciated.
john
01-08-2004, 12:46 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,342
so what is it doing now?
Air bleed it and see again. VERY easily you can have a SUCKING leak.
Slaves dont ALWAYS LEAK when they are bad.
Overhaul kits im sure are closed to whats here $8. so that wouldnt hurt anyway.
Any noises? To suggest the bearing? Yeah I know usually if you pump it and it works its FLUID, but might as well ask..
Air bleed it and see again. VERY easily you can have a SUCKING leak.
Slaves dont ALWAYS LEAK when they are bad.
Overhaul kits im sure are closed to whats here $8. so that wouldnt hurt anyway.
Any noises? To suggest the bearing? Yeah I know usually if you pump it and it works its FLUID, but might as well ask..
01-08-2004, 08:51 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 267
Could still be the master cylinder leaking fluid OR sucking air from the pedal side. Get a torch up in your footwell and have a look. Mine was leaking fluid into the carpet.... and then my flexible line went.
01-08-2004, 10:32 AM
#5
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: S.w. Florida boring ass ft myers to be exact. where the old people come to die
Posts: 1,176
andy
yea i checked inside the car also...no leaks there. i am leaning towards a bad slave or a bad master.
Jason
no noise and i replaced the bearing like 2000 miles ago when i did my clutch. lubed it up good.
justin
if it was leaking internally wouldnt it make the fluid turn blackish? also if there was air in the lines would it make bubbles in the resevoir? i didnt check for bubbles and i dont even know if its a possibility.
is there any way i can give the slave and master a an inspection? the service manual is oh so really helpful....and i qoute (inspect...and replace if needed) inspect what???? damn you book writer guy!!!
hmmmmm FEED slave is looking nice jason... maybe that will be january's part
yea i checked inside the car also...no leaks there. i am leaning towards a bad slave or a bad master.
Jason
no noise and i replaced the bearing like 2000 miles ago when i did my clutch. lubed it up good.
justin
if it was leaking internally wouldnt it make the fluid turn blackish? also if there was air in the lines would it make bubbles in the resevoir? i didnt check for bubbles and i dont even know if its a possibility.
is there any way i can give the slave and master a an inspection? the service manual is oh so really helpful....and i qoute (inspect...and replace if needed) inspect what???? damn you book writer guy!!!
hmmmmm FEED slave is looking nice jason... maybe that will be january's part
01-08-2004, 08:06 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,342
tampaFD--very true. One goes bad, you replace it, the other *****, its sucks...
However the slave is cheaper so thats why I would start there.
I did this with my FD, at a signal I pressed in the clutch when it turned green, clutch went down and never came up hehe, I had to pull it up. Long story short, replaced the slave, everything was fine for about 2-3 weeks master *****...
Black and bubbles, maybe if its a big problem. Bubbles I think it would take a LOT to make that happen. Ever seen bubbles in clutch fluid? besides when bleeding the system...
However the slave is cheaper so thats why I would start there.
I did this with my FD, at a signal I pressed in the clutch when it turned green, clutch went down and never came up hehe, I had to pull it up. Long story short, replaced the slave, everything was fine for about 2-3 weeks master *****...
Black and bubbles, maybe if its a big problem. Bubbles I think it would take a LOT to make that happen. Ever seen bubbles in clutch fluid? besides when bleeding the system...