For the last couple of days, my clutch hasn't felt quite right, but couldn't put my finger on it.

This morning, I get onto the freeway and begin getting up to speed, when the clutch goes to the floor and stays there, and the car barely came out of gear as I rolled it to a stop.

Checked under the hood and didn't see any hydraulic leaks, so got back in the car and pulled the pedal off the floor with my foot. Then the pedal had pressure again (???).

Started up in neutral and went thru the gears at a stop no problem. Drove the rest of the way to work o.k., but it still feels mushy - there's about an inch of play in the pedal and the clutch begins to engage almost as soon as I let the pedal up - something it never did before.

It did this about 6 months ago, and I got it working the same way as today.

O.k. guys (and gals), how screwed am I here? Master cylinder? Slave? Both? Or maybe it just needs to be bled? The fluid level is fine by the way.

Any and all insights are appreciated.

JB

 

Try bleeding it, there could be just air in it. But if its air Id think that it would be a constant thing, not just once every few months. Sounds like the clutch master cylinder is going.

 

One vote for M/C. o.k. Anyone have instructions for bleeding a clutch? I've never done it before.

Thanks.. keep it coming...

JB

 

make sure you have clutch fluid mine runs out everyonce and a while and clutch does the same thing.

 

Well, another careful inspection after a cup of coffee reveals dirty fluid, almost black. I'm assuming the rubbers in the master are wearing out, letting fluid blow by, so I'm replacing the master and slave cylinders and (obviously) replacing the fluid.

Thanx for the input!

JB

 

you should never have to fill the clutch master. step one is to bleed it, it wont work but you can try. step 2 is to replace both the master and slave, it is very hard to diagnose one or the other if they are both original. also check the rubber hose they occasionally split

mike

 

bleeding clutch = same as bleeding brake lines (I think)

There's a bleed valve right on the slave cylinder

 

If you're going to replace the slave/master, might as well get the stainless steel clutch line. Mazdatrix has them for $18.

http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.asp?partnum=4990

 

I got one of those about 3 months ago.. I didn't like the look of the original line. It's working fine, but looks fragile. So yes, it's all getting replaced with brand new stuff.

JB

 

SS clutch line, what are the opinions of those who have em?

 

Friggin' mechanic wants $300 to replace the parts! Damn! Guess I'll be doing this little project myself.

$120 for the parts and an afternoon.. anyone have any tips to make the job easier?

JB

 

attach the line to the slave cyl. bolt it to the tranny, and then put the line on the body, that way you can't twist the line (they dont like that). and use flare tools

mike