I have read through the archives and found 3 possible causes,

1. The assist spring is worn
2. Master cyl
3. Slave cyl

I have eliminated #1 as when i am sitting in the garage with the pedal to the floor with the motor off I can hear the clutch springs creaking, so I know it is one of the cyl.

Which one? I have inspected both and don't see any leaks.

 

Ckeck the hose from the slave. It might have collapsed. I have seen rubber brake lines do this and make the calipers stick.

 

I don't think it is a hose isue. as it is steel line.

Keeping constant pressure on the pedal, the clutch will engage. Means fluid is slipping past one of the seals in either the master or slave. I guess I am going to have to replace both, if i replace just the master the pressure may cause the slave to fail.

 

The replacement I bought at the Mazda dealer is rubber, didn't know they make them in steel.

 

When the slave leaks, you wil be able to see it.

When the hose leaks, you can see it.

When the master leaks, it can be internal (like yours), or external where the lost fluid hides under the rug.

 

My theme of the day----- prevention.

Hydraulic fluid gets contaminated & looses its additive package over time.
Then the systems components start internal corrosion.

Anytime you change belts or hoses, also bleed the brakes & chutch to flush the worn out fluid.

 

Bleeding is a great idea. I tore my car all apart because i thought the hydralics were fine but it ended up being the slave cylinder. CarQuest is a great place to go to find replacements.

 

Yeah CarQuest had the master for 98 and slave for ~50. And they actually had them in stock. I was able to find another place local that has the OEM parts new. The cyl are made by the same manufacturer that supplied Mazda. And they come with lifetime warr for about the same cost as CarQuest

 

Actually the owners manual recommends every two years to replace clutch and brake fluid (as well as drain and clean the gas tank- which makes you wonder if people really did, would we get some many of the flooding/can't start/leaking injectors trheads).

 

wow, last time I needed a slave it was only $26 for a reman'd w/over sized cyl slave at Napa auto parts.

 

Isn't the slave cylinder stupidly easy and cheap to rebuild yourself?

 

The kit is simple to construct but i have yet to meet anyone who has been satisfied with it.

 

The rubber seals get worn on the corroded bores.
By the time you catch it leaking the corrosion pits are too deep to easily hone smooth, so the next seal gets worn off pretty fast.
A replacement cylinder is best.

 

Yeah, but the rebuild kit was $22... so for an extra $4 it was worth not messing with it.

 

pressure plate!

 

I replaced the slave and master. I can shift now!! :-)

I have the old ones so if anyone wants them to rebuild PM me. I have not pulled them apart to see if they can even be rebuilt.