The other day I was at a stop light and I was holding down the clutch pedal like I normally do. Light turns green and I let out the clutch pedal like usual but this time the car stalls. So I turn it back on and got on my merry way like nothing ever happened. Fast forward two days. Im backing out of my driveway and Im holding down the clutch pedal most of the time Im rolling backwards. The pedal got VERY sensitive. It felt like I had one of those crazy clutch/pressure plates that engage the clutch by barely releasing the clutch. If I let go of the clutch pedal just a tiny bit, the car would start moving. When I took my foot off the pedal, the pedal stayed down and wouldnt come back up unless I brought it back with my foot. After bringing it up, it would work normally. The clutch pedal only does this if I hold the pedal down for a few seconds. Its like its losing fluid pressure since its not returning to the up position after holding it down for a while. The car starts moving after releasing the clutch pedal about an inch or so after holding down the pedal. If I dont hold the pedal down for a while, the car drives/acts normal. Whats wrong here? Ive never experienced something like this and its very annoying when Im trying to park the car.

 

Check the brake fluid and see if its full. It could be something as simple as that. If not, that mean you have a leak at the master or slave cylinder.

 

My old first gen used to do that. It'll be the master cylinder. Do check the fluid level to, but the Master will need replacing or rebuilding.

Greg

 

What happens is the seals inside the master cylinder wear out over time and they can't hold pressure as well. When the clutch pedal is on the floor, the whole clutch hydraulic system is pressurized to force the throwout bearing against the pressure plate. As time goes on, the seals wear out in the master cylinder, and if you hold the pedal down, some of the pressure leaks past the seals in the master cylinder's piston, line pressure goes down, and the clutch engages.

Don't try and rebuild a master cylinder - I've gone that route and had to learn from experience that it just won't last that long. Get a NEW master cylinder. I'd call around locally - there's a local parts store here that specializes in imports that stocks the brake and clutch hydraulics, all brand new Tokico parts, and usually cheaper than the dealer. Yes, Tokico does make the RX-7 hydraulics .

But, if push comes to shove, get up with Malloy Mazda or Mazdaformance and see what kind of pricing you're looking at.

BTW, with 2nd gens at least, when one part of the hydraulics go, they are all on the way out. Might be worth replacing the rubber clutch hose and the slave cylinder too.

Dale