Very difficult to get into any gear

[Kozworth]

Lately my car has the symptom of a bad slave. With the clutch fully depressed I can't get into gear without really jamming it in. It's just been getting worse. The brake fluid level is fine.

Sometimes it works for a shift or two and the majority of the time it doesn't. When it works the clutch engages literally a centimeter from the floor. This seems like the clutch is not being disengaged even with the pedal fully depressed.

Since the brake fluid level is fine, why would this work fine randomly? Is this a clutch fork issue or a misaligned slave? Car drove fine for a year and this came out of the blue. Just fyi the trans fluid has no history so I couldn't even tell you if it was low or good.

[jlevie]

That could easily be a bad clutch master cylinder. If not that, then a worn clutch. But start by replacing the master cylinder.

[DÌEGØ]

A worn clutch disk wouldn't do that.

check the master and slave cyl for leaks

[Kozworth]

Yeah I do not know how a clutch would do that. Fluid level hasn't been dropping and brakes work fine. I do not think its a leak but I am wondering if the 'piston' that pushes out of the slave is at fault. Maybe it's missing the fork or slipping so it isn't pushing on the pressure plate with enough force to disengage?

[jlevie]

A worn clutch can cause that. As the clutch disk wears it becomes thinner, requiring more motion of the pressure plate to release. Thin enough, and you run out of travel of the clutch fork/slave cylinder.

[DÌEGØ]

Sorry but that doesn't make sense. if anything it would become easier to disengage the clutch as it wears out.

[jlevie]

Sorry but that doesn't make sense. if anything it would become easier to disengage the clutch as it wears out.

Carefully read what I said. Then go look at a pressure plate and see how it works. It should then be obvious what can happen.

[Kozworth]

Sorry but that doesn't make sense. if anything it would become easier to disengage the clutch as it wears out.

I've heard this and can imagine this, but I know Jlevie is a very knowledgeable source from past posts I've read. I would just have to look at it I guess.

However I'm not too sure if this is it, I do not have any slipping issues or any other symptoms of a clutch. The clutch pedal used to disengage like 1/3 off the floor or so, and now it hardly disengages with pedal jammed down! On my way home it worked fine a few take offs, yes with less travel then 1/3 but then would go back to not disengaging at all. I feel if it was a clutch this would not have a variable option since the disc would not be able to pack on more 'beef'

[FLG]

If the mc and slave is as old as the car change them regardless then go from there.

And yes as Jim said, could be a worn clutch.

[DÌEGØ]

Carefully read what I said. Then go look at a pressure plate and see how it works. It should then be obvious what can happen.

I keep reviewing it in myhead and everytime im right lol im not trying to be a smart ass. Just want to know what your talking about because this stuff should be cake to me.

The way i see it the clutch system is normally engaged. So when the friction disk becomes thinner the pp fingers would pivot outwards pushing back on the fork and in turn the slave cyl. excess fluid bleeds into reservoir.

[DÌEGØ]

If the mc and slave is as old as the car change them regardless then go from there.

And yes as Jim said, could be a worn clutch.

Amen. Shouldnt be more than $100 and thats some money well spent

[JinormusJ]

I've had the same thing happen
Turns out I had a gash in the plastic nipple on the Clutch MC that was letting air in progressively as I drove: same symptomns too, first 10-15 clutch kicks were fine, then I lost all pressure and clutch refused to engage. Try checking to see if it's properly bled, there aren't any leaks, and the slave cylinder isn't leaking internally. If its not that, replace MC and SC, and go from there; anything after that would be the hydraulic line, clutch, and then the transmission itself.

[Kozworth]

Ouch, heard mc is a pain on these. This is just my beater and just need it to last for another few months

[FLG]

Little bit due to being a small area to work with, but not bad

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Rose E30]

Replacing the master is not that bad of a job, just make sure you have some sort of pump get the brake fluid out of the reservoir (a big syringe would work).