94 ranger - can't shift clutch, won't build up pressure

[ryanjantz]

I posted a while back but now have an updated problem. quick background info... my clutch resevoir went dry - filled it - worked but now as good as it used to be so i thought air must have gotten into so i tried bleeding the clutch fluid. the first time i tried to bleed the line i did it wrong and ended up pumping air into the line! of course immediately my clutch had no pressure. it always pops back up but just has no pressure when you push it down. so i had to start all over again and try bleeding correctly. it seemed to be working but it never got anywhere. my neighbore mechanic said he thought that my mastercylinder may have gone out since my clutch doesn't build any pressure up after pumping it repeatedly.


it seems strange that what caused the problem was me pumping air into the line, it makes sense that it would just need a massive bleeding. but i just can't get that to work. any suggestions? what does it typically mean if your clutch builds up no pressure when pumped?

thanks a bunch.

[ryanjantz]

just an update if it may help anyone else out. Ford suggests taking the master cylinder off to bleed since it is tilted downward. I unbolted it and disconnected the clutch rod so i could tilt the MC upward and air that was trapped could flow up to the clutch line. Automatically gravity brought the air right up out of the resevoir. i had to do that two different times but it runs great now!

[KimMG]

Did you figure out what initially caused the fluid loss?

[ryanjantz]

well it's not leaking anymore. fluid has stayed the same for two months and no signs of leaking on lin MC or SC. it is twelve years and the clutch fluid has never been checked so i don't know but it's running fine now. i'm keeping an eye on the fluid but all looks well.