Clutch problems... HELP!

When i engage, or try to engege my clutch, it just drops to the floor. There isnt any tension like there was before. I can turn the car on while it is in nutral and it wouldnt let me shift into the gears... So i think it is the shift cable, if their is such a thing on this car, or the master cylinder maybe. I need some help fast.... i have to drive to richmond tomarow. Doesnt look like that will be happening. My clutch wasnt slipping or anything before. Should i just have it towed to a clutch place and have them go at it? I really dont have th emoney for that crap... get back to me thanks.

I don't know much about clutches or trannys(my weak point) but perhaps a bad/leaking clutch slave or master cylinder?

You said you can turn it on when in neutral...do you have pressure when the car is off, and then lose it when you start it...how is it different? Can you shift into gears without the car being on? The more info the better.

I have the same problem, my clutch will go down and stay down, I have a minor leak so it happens when all the clutch fluid leaks out. I just refill it once every two months and that does it. its a realy small leak I guess. tell us how it all works out cause it could help out alot of people here in the future.

I am willing to bet that your slave cylinder is leaking out your clutch fluid. It will probably need to be replaced. It's a simple job, and shouldn't be that expensive.

I wish i would of read that its a simple job before i took it into the shop... i replaced my slave and master cylinder and my entire clutch... stupid AAMCO!!! I do have almost 70 thousand on the old clutch tho so it would have to be replaced sometime anyway... Total cost: 1600$

Well something is defenetly wrong with my clutch! first of all I have to refill the resivour every month, and if I dont drive the car for a couple of days then the fulid all leaks out all at once. also after I fill up the resivour the pedal dosent engage, I have to pump it to get preassure back but then I drive down the road and loose preassure and have to pump it again. Could it be the slave or could it be a line or something else?

Try bleeding your clutch, you might have air inside the system, as well as you probably have a leak.

How do you bleed a clutch, I know how to bleed brakes....is it the same? does the master cylinder or the slave cylinder have a bleeder? do I just pump the clutch like you would pump a brake?

The hydraulic system that operates your clutch does not share clutch fluid with the transmission. The hydraulic system is self contained, and if it is loosing fluid, it does not indicate a problem with the clutch or transmission. There is a leak somewhere in your hydraulic system, find it. They usually leak when an old slave cylinder wears out, or when an old master cylinder wears out. The master cylinder is the thing that you fill with clutch fluid, there will be a small tube connected to it that leads to the slave cylinder which is usually mounted on the side of the transmission housing. Check for leaks from the master to the slave, that area is the only possible place it could be leaking. DO NOT let anyone tell you that your transmission is junk because you are leaking clutch fluid.

As for bleeding the clutch, it is very easy to do. There is a bleeder valve located on the slave cylinder. Bleed it like you would brakes, however that is not your major problem. If you don't fix the leak first, then you will just leak all of the fluid out again and have to bleed it all over again. Find the leak and fix it first, then bleed it to ensure proper clutch action.

Edit: Don't ever go to that shop again, they screwed you, the clutch had nothing to do with your fluid leaking. They were just milking you for money.

Thanks Sluttypatton, I know the master cylinder is working fine cause it is pleanty new and factory inspected, they did mention the tranny and clutch needed changing but I knew it was a scam (my clutch is a year old) and I also figured the hydraulic system for the clutch was enirely independent. Now the only thing is changing the slave cylinder, I've never done it before so I am a little nervous, hope i can manage! if its a leak in the line I guess I can simply change the hoses, right?

Yeah, I think there's something wrong with my clutch too. It's kinda "ridgedy" when I'm going into first (from a stop and not) and third. Does your car allow you to shift into 1st at EXTREMELY LOW speeds? Because sometimes when I'm going too slow to go into 2nd and try and go to first, it won't let me in. :o/ And like the thing is, my clutch has only about 11K miles on it.....not time for a change yet is it?

No Slade, your not supposed to shift in 1st unless you are at a complete stop. Some people will do it but I'd rather no run the risk. also your clutch is fine, those things last a long time 8-10 years if you drive easy. I beat the hell out of my cars and the clutch will still last 5-6 years. My tranny locks 1st sometimes too.

Oh okay....I didn't know that you weren't supposed to go to first unless if you were at a complete stop. Sometimes when going down a dip, the car is going so slow that it seems like it's hard for it to pick 2nd up so that's why I thought we were supposed to go back to first. Do you think that maybe it's my synchros? I heard a couple people talk about that but I don't really know the whole deal behind it much less how hard/much it's gonna cost to get it fixed (given that that is the problem)...

Ah, we are in the same boat my friend. I know about not going into first cause my dad always tells me not to. but I have seen many people do it. when I try it I end up grinding my gear. My best friend just bought a brand new STI and his mechanic told him, "dont shift into first unless you are at a complete stop". so I realy can only tell you wha I've heard, as for the synchros.....ya got me there chief. i'm racking my brains over a simple slave cylinder!

The slave should be easy. Check it out first, see if you think you can do it, then decide from there. Before you go changing it though, be sure it is your slave. Try pushing the clutch pedal and seeing if you can see where the fluid is leaking from. I wouldn't think that the lines are leaking, they are usually metal tubing and last a long time.

If in doubt, buy a Haynes manual...it should detail the procedure.

Post back if you have anymore questions.

Sluttypatton, just one more question. I was reading on a corvette forum about a guy who had similar problems but he took his to a specialist. they told him that the faulty slave cylinder was passing fluid into the clutch and as a result burnned out his clutch. I know the system is independent and he got ripped off but just how possible is it for the leak to cause dammage to the perriferal area? Can enough fluid eventually leak into the tranny?

Don't shift to first unless you are at a complete stop. My car has the same resistance when moving...it doesn't want you to go into 1st. Generally, if it is pretty hard to get it into a lower gear, that means you shouldn't be in that gear. You can take first to 30some mph(or whatever it's topspeed is) but once you shift to 2nd, even if you are only at 7mph, don't shift back to first, it's hell on your synchros.

Ah, got ya Igovert500. :)

Depending on the positioning of the slave cylinder, I suppose it is possible that the leaking fluid could migrate into the bell housing where the transmission bolts to the engine and contaminate the clutch. Usually this isn't a problem, but I suppose it could happen.