I live in New Hampshire and every winter when the temp stays below 20 F or so, my clutch tends to stick a little. It usually goes back to normal as the vehicle warms up. NOT today, it got worse! I pushed in the pedal this PM and it stays down! The only play is to engage/disengage the clutch's starter switch. I can MANUALLY lift the pedal back to 'normal' but the mechanism (is it cable based or 'hydrolic'?) does not release! I'm HOPING some water has simply gotten into the cable (if it has one) and it needs to thaw out. Anyone know anything about this stuff? *IF* a cable, can I get at it 'easily'?

Thanks!!!

You have a hydraulic clutch release system.Most probably a master cylinder failure.Check your fluid level first.

You have a hydraulic clutch release system. Most probably a master cylinder failure. Check your fluid level first.

Thanks!

I had to take it into the dealer on Friday as I NEEDED the vehicle back and working!

It turned out that I had a broken hose at or near the slave cylinder. They replaced the hose, flushed and filled the system and my clutch is working again! http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/#
Smile

Thanks!

I had to take it into the dealer on Friday as I NEEDED the vehicle back and working!

It turned out that I had a broken hose at or near the slave cylinder. They replaced the hose, flushed and filled the system and my clutch is working again! http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/#
Smile

AND ... that lasted about 4 days!!!

Back to the shop! New slave cylinder! UGH!

AND ... that lasted about 4 days!!!

Back to the shop! New slave cylinder! UGH!

With the new slave cylinder and new hose the clutch worked really well for about a week. It was very weird getting used to a properly functioning clutch! Then ... it started to stick again!

When I get into the vehicle when cold (physically and not driven for a while) the clutch 'feels' like it is just about to fail as before, but if I pump the clutch fully up to down to the floor several times, it returns to the 'just repaired' state.

It feels like there is just something that needs some grease where the shaft goes into the master cylinder ... Thoughts? THANKS!

with next post, give info,
clutch mileage, stock or replaced?
is it drinking fluid. do you ever have to add any.
lift your floor mat and check for oily spots.
is nissan charging you everytime for the slave, if so get out, they may be ripping you off, the nissan near me tried to rip me off. its not unheard of even for a corporate garage. the part should have a warranty. Either way, as you can see it doesnt seem to be your slave cylinder, and why nissan wouldnt recognized this and try for other solutions is beyond me. If it didnt work the first time, it wasnt the right fix. The usually gets better when it got warm seems like a clutch thing to me though.

with next post, give info,
clutch mileage, stock or replaced?
is it drinking fluid. do you ever have to add any.
lift your floor mat and check for oily spots.
is nissan charging you everytime for the slave, if so get out, they may be ripping you off, the nissan near me tried to rip me off. its not unheard of even for a corporate garage. the part should have a warranty. Either way, as you can see it doesnt seem to be your slave cylinder, and why nissan wouldnt recognized this and try for other solutions is beyond me. If it didnt work the first time, it wasnt the right fix. The usually gets better when it got warm seems like a clutch thing to me though.

This is the first time anything to do with the clutch has been replaced or even worked on - besides scheduled maint. - the pathfinder has approx 95k on it.

The first repair I was charged for a new hose, fluid and labor.
The second repair I was charged for a new slave, fluid and labor - with a 1/2 hour credit towards labor.

The mechanic's theory is that due to the breakage of the hose near or at the slave, water got in and contaminated it. They showed it to me and it was nasty!

I'm pretty sure the slave was bad as the clutch feels very different now. I have never had to add any and don't know if they do when it's in for service. The night it originally failed, the reservoir looked full!!!