To me, it sounds like you have rusted ports on either the slave or something else. Personally I would just replace all the clutch hydraulics, they're not expensive, and then you know that you should have everything functional.

Zero Banger said:

What is the likely issue with a clutch that won’t actuate when the pedal feels like it has no back pressure, the slave doesn’t seem to move any fluid while the bleed screw is completely removed, and the reserve was completely full?

Have a car that has been sitting for awhile, and AFAIK the system worked correctly when parked.

To be clear, it Doesn't even allow me to bleed the hydraulic system with full vacuum applied to the slave bleed port with a barb fitting.

Can I include any details that would help diagnose what the underlying issue might be, and what to check or try to repair the existing system if possible?

This is for a 97 Eclipse with a 420A engine if that has any bearing on what might be the issue.

TIA!

Click to expand...

Busted line or blown master or slave cylinder most likely. In the odd event those are all okay try gravity bleeding. But Im willing to bet the master cylinder seals are trashes

Do those masters go out "frequently" was searching around on the topic earlier, and it seemed there were several threads on the topic seeming to indicate that the master on these failing from issues was not a particularly uncommon problem?

Seemed like the seals were failing inside the master?

One thread said that "dirty looking fluid" in the reservoir was a indication that the master was worn out possibly?

The oil in the reservoir when I opened it was full, but also did not look like new clean brake fluid...it had a cloudy darker appearance...

I would have liked to have bled the whole system of that fluid, which is why I had vac pump and a fluid extractor tank...

But nothing would come out of the system unfortunately.

Do those lines go bad, or moisture build up typically causing internal oxidation commonly?

My guess is a bad master, just fishing for easier fixes if they exist...

The slave is nearly new, with very few actual miles on it despite being a few years sitting...

Ballpark cost on a master?

Can they be rebuilt, and is it worth the effort?

This one appears to be fairly tightly tucked into a small pocket in the firewall, are they particularly difficult at all to pull or replace a master from people that have done that task?

Thank you guys! Not a car I have fiddled with in quite a while, unfortunately it has just sat neglected.

I would bet on a bad master cylinder.

I bought a 2g somewhat recently where the clutch basically did not work. Fluid looked like cloudy dark water.

Replaced the master and was able to bleed and get pedal feel.

Just make sure you bench bleed the master... also to your comment on whether the master clutch cylinders go bad often, my new autozone master failed within 100 miles from install...so there’s that.

Report back after changing the master if you still have issues.

Auto parts store parts like master cylinders, water pumps, and other things tend to go out prematurely. If able, stick to OEM on those parts (higher prices).