Topaz330ci

Hi Folks,

This morning on my way to work, the clutch pedal went soft on me and it was very hard to engage any gears... after a few tries, it wouldn't engange in any gears. I got it into 2nd and drove home as I wasn't to far away and switched cars and went in to work. I'm guessing that my clutch is finished. Any suggestions on any other possible item that could be causing this?

Also, I called the Ottawa dealer for a quote on a clutch job, and they said they offer "complete clutch jobs" and they will get back to me on a price... I havent't heard from them as of yet.

How much is a clutch replacement usually?

Thanks,

Alin

sammyf

Alin,

It doesn't sound like clutch is bad… more like hydraulics aren't working right. When you say hard to engage, you mean getting the shifter INTO the gear or when you let out the pedal to get the car moving?

-Sam

Tim Wasmer

I am with Sam, I have had a slave cylinder go bad and cause that.

eagle11401

I'd check the fluid level in the Clutch Master Cylinder, I'm with Sammy, sounds more like something happened with the hydraulics (Clutch MC, Slave Cylinder or line/fittings).

Topaz330ci

Yes, the clutch pedal went to mush, and I was downshifting into 2nd and noticed it had some resistance. Then I pressed the clutch down again to try again to see if it will go in smoothly and then it had even more resistance. I then stopped, got it into first with some resistance and as I was trying the gears at the light I noticed that none would engage. It wouldn't let me go into any, the gates felt closed. I tried putting it in 1st again and it popped out on me. I then put it into 2nd (forced) and took off from 2nd and drove home in second as I was close.

Do you guys have any specific places that I can check. I will be jacking the car up tonight to look... I will of course check the clutch fluid but anything else specifically that I can look at on my end before bringing it into a shop?

Thanks,

Alin

Tim Wasmer

Check the Blinker Fluid while you are in there

Arlandes26

For me it's about the same but the Clutch Master Cylinder is leaking over the pedal.
It seems to be very hard to change by myself.If someone has the DOY ,I'am interested.

alpine003

Also check the clutch slave cylinder mounted to the tranny from underneath for any seapage, especially around the piston area.

Does it react any different if you try pumping your clutch a few times before you engage a gear by chance?

Topaz330ci

I'll be looking into the issue a little more when I get home. I didn't really have time to diagnose anything. I felt the travel of the clutch pedal depreciated by a lot, and it seemed that even tho I was pressing the clutch to the floor, the travel length to the floor seemed much shorter and I don't even think I heard that relay click either. So if the pedal assembly is the problem somehow, then it wouldn't let me get into gears regardless.

I'm planning on checking the following:
1. Pedal assembly, helper spring and everything else going on down there.
2. Fluid.

Anything else I should inspect?

Blinker fluid is topped up! Blinking beautifully! lol

Topaz330ci

Pumping the clutch didn't do anything. It still felt like much and the gears were still impossible to get into it. At first I was able to get into the gears with some force, but around the end they just wouldn't go in at all.

Worst case I would've had to shut the car off, put it into 2nd, start the car and take off in 2nd to avoid a tow, but luckily I was able to get it into 2nd gear and drive home.

Topaz330ci

You have a leak inside the car on your clutch pedal?

Zookie

don't waste you time checking, its your Pressure Plate.
Bent or Broken Fork.

Been there done that... Twice

sammyf

Here's an article with pictures showing where to look:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...Hydraulics.htm

Or you could just get together with the guy who posted about his clutch getting hard after 5 mins ;-)

Topaz330ci

Thanks! I already got 2 tech articles from there in regards to the topic. I'll be looking at everything later today.

Topaz330ci

Same symptoms Zookie?

How much was your repair bill and what other things did you look at or fix etc?