I'm having a problem that seems to be really common for FD's, I did a search and about 20 threads that were helpful came up but i still need more information.

So, my clutch pedal is sticking to the floor. I can pull it back up with my foot, but if i try to push it down and shift again, it sticks again, and grabs about 1/2" off the floor. I can pump it (pulling it up with my foot everytime) and it doesn't give it any pressure.
I checked the clutch fluid and its still completley full so i don't think there is a leak. I wasnt able to drive my car home so it is parked in a lot, i stayed with it for about 30 min and i didnt see any fluid leak before i left.

From what i've read on here, the majority diagnosis is that the master and slave cylinder went out and that i should just buy new ones and replace them. However, Before i go and do that, i would like to actually look at all the parts myself and make sure that that is the problem and not something else. I know virtually nothing about the whole clutch system and i dont really know what to look for or where to look.

My question is, if i get under the car, what do i need to look for the make sure that that is the problem? i can get someone to pump the clutch while im looking if needed, i just want to know how to tell if it is the master/slave and not something else.

Please help me out! i try to do the work on my FD myself and i have already learned alot from these forums. When i got the car it got a new clutch and lightweight flywheel about 12k miles ago.

-TJ (sorry that this post is so ridiculously long)


P.S. The pedal stuck to the floor a few months ago, but i just pulled it out with my toe and then it worked fine. It did this about 4 times over the course of a week and then never did it again until today.

 

I would recommend having someone who knows a little about the car take a look at things for you. They can help you directly point out what to look at which is much easier than someone here on the forum trying to explain in words what to check.

It sounds like a hydraulic failure. Unfortunately, there is no way to verify that with everything on the car. The fact that it comes and goes pretty much rules out anything mechanical broken.

 

Well, it only came back those few times i mentioned, after it got stuck down today, it wouldnt come back no matter how many times i pump it, it has to be manually pulled out.

I talked to one of my buddies about it and i've decided im gonna try to bleed the clutch (just incase) and see if that helps at all. If it doesn't im just gonna go ahead and replace the master and slave. What do you guys think?

 

Sounds like a plan, but I don't think bleeding is going to buy you anything. It's a closed system. So if it isn't holding pressure, something is just flat broken and bleeding isn't going to magically fix that.

 

Word, i suppose i'll just go ahead and order those parts then...

Thanks for your help mahjik, i know i've asked you alot of questions since i've had my FD. you've helped me alot.

 

Here is a tip when you are bleeding it. I had a hell of a time doing it until I figured out that you pretty much had to have the reservoir completely full. There is a little internal baffle that will run dry quickly if you don't keep it toped off the entire way while you are bleeding the clutch. My clutch acted the same way when I had too much air in the line.

 

10 bucks says it's the master cylinder!!!

I've had both the master and slave fail on seperate occassions so i've had some experience with both. The master went straight to the floor like yours. The slave will more give you half pedal and then slowly fall to the floor and also will more than likely leak out onto the ground. The master, if leaking, will just leak around the seal which leads right back into itself so it will not show any signs of failure.

 

ah, good to know. I'm going to go ahead and replace both of them though. but thanks for the info. I hope that this is the last time this happens though lol.

 

i would say its a good idea to take a look at everything first. no sense in replacing random parts if its not related. You can pull the slave cylinder out without too much trouble its only a couple bolts or nuts and you can leave the line hooked up. there are also some diagnostic ports on the transmission bell housing that you can pull off and look in to make sure things in there aren't broken.

 

I had the same problem, replaced the internal parts on both the Master and slave cylinders. It works like a charm, hold the clutch pedal down for 5 minutes or more and have strong pressure.

So long as there's no pits or scrapes in the cylinders, then its ok to replace the springs, plunger and seals. Call Ray Malloy Madza, 1-888 533 3400 parts for each runs less than $30.00

New ones will cost alot more, make sure to top off the Master cylinder with brake fluid before installing.

 

Change your clutch master and slave cylinder. They are 21 years old and tend to give it because the rod inside gets rusted stuck.

 

21 years old or 15........... That kind of thinking will only get you on To Catch A Predator

 

Huh??!!

 

lawl