a friend of mine tells me that my car is having some clutch problems.. when the car is off he can move it throught he gears with no problem , but i guess when the engine is running it cannot be put into gear.
this is all of the information that i have right now as i am not around the car

what the **** is wrong with my clutch????

 

Perhaps the release bearing is shot? Sorry if that's bad advice, I don't know too much about clutches but...

A couple years ago I had a similar problem. The shifter would intermittently not go into first gear without severely forcing it. This was relatively soon after having a clutch job done. However, the problem went away after a month or so and never came back! Don't know if that's similar to your problem but I thought I'd mention it.

 

I would have a good look at your slave cylinder 1st before condemning your clutch. have someone sit in the car and depress the clutch pedal over and over, watch on the top of the tranny where the slave is mounted, it should be extending as the clutch is depressed.

Guru

 

okay.. i will give that a try when i get home on saturday.

****, i just bought a bunch of new **** for the car too. dizy and ignition parts mostly. if i would have known about this little problem a few days ago i would not have got them, just incase i need to replace something

 

I would suggest changing the hydraulic fluid, check the hoses, inspect the throwout bearing, and check the slave cylinder.

 

more information.
the the clutch resevor is full. but i have been told that it feels like there is no tension in the clutch/cable

 

Make sure there is no air in the hydrolic lines. IF you have it in gear and depress the clutch to the floor and start it, does the car move then? If so, your clutch disc could be shattered! I have shattered two discs in my time from severe driving conditions. Hope that isn't what happened to you.

 

it moves then, and while the engine is turning over

 

okay so either my slave cylinder or clutch is fucked.. next question is what do people recomend for replacements. this is my only car, and thus a daily driver. so no pure race clutches

 

Before you go pulling a tranny, bleed you slave cylinder. refer to the manual for the process, should not take long at all, maybe 10mins. I am more convinced now then before that it is indeed your slave cylinder. if you end up needing one let me know, I have many used ones.

Guru

 

i was definatly going to check the cylinder before pulling the tranny. i will do that on saturday when i get home..

thanks for the offer.. i will let you know when i find out

 

just replaced the slave and the master clutch, mine works great!!!!!!!

 

check the hydraulic fluid,probably just need to rebuild slave,
the slaves go all the time on these cars,
ive rebuilt mine 3 times already,
kit only costs around $7.00
takes roughly 15 minutes to do,
dont even have to get under the car,
its right on top in plain view

 

its not a cable clutch,
so if there compairing it to a mustang clutch there will be a huge diference.
the clutches in first gens are butter
there supposed to feel soft

 

the first time i swapped mine i didnt take the time to align the slave with the throw out fork,
and sure enough it did the same thing,
felt kinda soft,
didnt work,
take out the slave,
inspect it
reinstall it

id check every possible thing before you go yanking a tranny

 

just rebuilt both my clutch and slave, will see how long this lasts with my Bonez street/strip clutch (read STIFF). But it cost me like $20. and the car was only down for 2 hours

 

v8kilr, i know that they are not cable clutchs.. i am just relaying here what a friend is telling me.. i am not around the car at this point to check things out for myself..

but i am going to go ahead and order a slave cylinder rebuild kit now, and work on it when i get home on saturday

 

v8kilr, were did you get your slave cylinder rebuild kit for only 7$? mazdatrix wants 20 bucks for them.

 

Buy new, they will last. A rebuilt doesn't last, as V8kilr can atest to, see above post.
You should replace the master, the slave, and the hydraulic hose all at the same time. If one is bad, chances are they are all bad.
Tip: It's easier to change the master if you remove the driver's seat.
hanman

 

riffraff, I got the slave cylinder rebuild kit from the local O'Reileys auto parts. It was less than $10 and the wagner brand.

 

The problem with rebuild kits is that the wall material in the cylinder is worn out and probably has been enlarged from years of usage and maybe scrapped up and fluid will leak by soon after rebuilding unless your very lucky. When I say luck, it may last a few months before leaking a lot again if you use it often.