Ok, WTF??? Clutch master cylinder, slave cylinder, or something else? This is weird

[-DSM2NR-]

I wake up and get ready to leave for work today, step into my car, and turn the key. The car stumbles and eventually dies. I was like WTF? So I try it again. The car dies again. So I adjust my TPS and BISS screw thinking that this will fix the problem. Does it? No!

I notice that I can't shift into gears WTF with the car on so I put it in reverse with the car off and then turn it on and what do you know...the car starts moving reverse without me even pressing the clutch or applying gas. After that I turned the car off, put it in first gear, and turned it back on. Sure enough the car was moving forward.

As I was putting the car back into the garage I noticed that the clutch was all the way down to the floor. I yanked it back up and shut the car down.

WHAT THE F@CK IS WRONG?????? Somebody help me out here.

 

[DGajre777]

Check clutch fluid level, if it is not full, fill it up. Then check master cyl (on the firewall) and the slave cly (under the car) for leaks. Move the rubber boot on the slave to see if it is leaking fluid.

How many miles on your car? Did you ever replace the clutch master cyl?

 

[-DSM2NR-]

98k miles on the car. I've never replaced the master or slave cylinder.

 

[olmytsi]

Check the TOB or cluth fork as well

 

[-DSM2NR-]

don't I have to drop the tranny to check those?

 

[Marc91GSX]

Did this happen overnight? Check all of the things mentioned above and if you do not find anything that is out of wack then you probablly have a bad clutch disk. I have seen this problem alot where a spring from the clutch disk will break and get lodged in the pressure plate. If this happens then you will not be able to get the pressure plate to disengage and it would cause similar symptoms to what you are describing.

 

[olmytsi]

don't I have to drop the tranny to check those?

yes

 

[DGajre777]

98k miles on the car. I've never replaced the master or slave cylinder.

The master cly is probably dead. I have 59xxx on mine, replaced the master cyl at 45k (clutch change) and replaced the slave at 57k (was leaking).

 

[-DSM2NR-]

I'll check the master and slave cylinder first. If that doesn't work then I guess I have no other choice but to drop the tranny

The previous owner supposedly replaced the clutch fork and TOB when the tranny was rebuilt.

 

[chicagoavenger]

I had the same issue turned out to be the master cylinder. It was leaking and if I left it over night it would fall to the floor. I Replaced it and had no issues after that. If you can have someone pump the clutch and check your master and slave you will see fluid squirt out if there is a leak

 

[-DSM2NR-]

I'll try that. I hope it's nothing more serious.

 

[-DSM2NR-]

Well, I checked the master cylinder. There's enough fluid. There's no leaks, no air or anything like that. The lines aren't tangled and everything is how it's supposed to be.

Confused, I pumped the clutch a couple of times and what do you know THE CAR WORKS FINE AGAIN WTF. What the hell?

 

[IslanderTsi]

You have a leak somewheres. Your slave is probably leaking. Run your hand up the back of the clutch pedal up to the pivot point and see if there is any fluid. More then likely there is and its youre slave leaking.

 

[bluetlr2001]

I had the exact same problem after i put a clutch in my car. rebuil the master cylinder and slave cylinder. Acted like it had air in the line so i bleed the hell out of it and couldnt get it to build up good after it set. Finally had to put a pump on the slave cylinder and bleed it that way, ever since then its been fine.

 

[-DSM2NR-]

Like I said, I already checked for leaks and couldn't find any. The Master Cylinder bottle is still pull with fluid. There's not even a single drop spilled. A master cylinder is only messed up if it's leaking or has air in it (little bubbles in fluid), isn't that correct?

 

[Hollywood77]

Aaargh....I'm having the same problem right now.
Just yesterday finished installing my new clutch, flywheel, and SS clutch line. Put the car back together, everythings fine.

BUT, now the dang thing won't idle worth a darn. I seemed to have tracked this down 2 the clutch master cylinder. I live in the STL area, and Adrenaline Motorsports told me that if my clutch M/C is leaking (i noticed fluid on the adj. rod when I was adjusting my clutch pedal) that it could indeed cause a stumbling idle.

This never occured to me.

I guess my question is as follows:

My car was in perfect mechanical condition BEFORE I replaced the clutch and flywheel. Could just doing that, and having to bleed the system, make this problem appear almost overnight?

I never woulda thought that a leaking clutch M/C would cause a stumbling LOW idle??

Or is it something like I didn't get ALL the air out of the clutch lines when I bled them? Maybe the clutch isn't engaging/disengaging like it should? And my lightweight flywheel is amplifying the fact that the clutch could be dragging a bit?

Shifts fine, shifts smooth, everything SEEMS fine, except the damn idle....

I'm sorry to be rambling on and on...this is just really stressin' me out.