Clutch Slave?

[00_GS]

Just started having this problem... Every once in a while if I'm at a stop light, my car acts like i have the clutch pulled out, when the pedal is on the floor. After this happens, the pedal feels like the clutch is basically non-existant! Could it be the slave, or is it about time for a new clutch? I have a little over 64K on the car, and its a 2000 GS... thanks in advance!

[eclipsed4utoo]

check the clutch fluid

[mitsufreak04]

I had the same problem in my '01 Spyder - it's your slave cylinder. If you remove the boot from the push rod leading to the clutch release fork you'll end up with a puddle of hydraulic fluid on your floor. The piston in the slave cylinder is seizing and/or allowing fluid to sneak past it and into the boot. No hydraulics to push the release fork and it feels like your clutch is gone.

Get a new slave cylinder (it cost me ~$80 at the dealer), a bottle of DOT3 and a one-man brake bleed kit. If you remove the air box, you'll be able to do everything from above the car.

Remove the hydraulic line and unbolt the old cylinder, then bolt up the new and reconnect the line. Now just fill the clutch fluid resevoir and pump out those air bubbles using the bleeder kit.

Two things to watch out for when you're doing this. First, don't get brake fluid on your paint - it'll eat it away. Second, make sure the fluid level doesn't drop below the 'min' line after you start bleeding - you don't want to reintroduce air into the system. So there it is, a few dolars and a few minutes to fix the problem.

Hope this helps!

[mitsufreak04]

Actually, I mispoke regarding the lack of hydraulic fluid. It should be just as you described it - no fluid to depress the release fork and it feels like the clutch plate is always engaged, because it is!

Sorry for any confusion.