pedal just drops to the floor, clutch wont engage

[ghettosmurf]

hey i have a problem, and all the shops around me are closed today. My clutch pedal decided that every time i push it down the smallest bit, it just drops to the floor. Not like it pulls itself down...like there is no pressure or any type of friction holding it up. There is no fluid leaking in the engine bay, or underneath the car...I was thinking maybe the piston, or the main/slave cylinders??? Any quick insight to what the causes are, or even a way i can diagnose because my knowledge is small would be great!!!!


thanks

 

[DSMcrazy3]

Time to replace the Master Cylinder.

 

[ghettosmurf]

do you know approx. how much that would cost? is it a job that an average mechanically inclined person can do in the garage.

 

[DSMcrazy3]

Price will be between $50 and $100, should be closer to $50 though.

It's a pretty simple job. I'm sure you can do it, if you don't have one, pick up a Chiltons manual when you go to get the master cylinder.

 

[tstkl]

or you might have just leaked out all your clutch fluid, happened to me once, ...

 

[DSMcrazy3]

or you might have just leaked out all your clutch fluid, happened to me once, ...

I thought that too, but this statement made me think that was already ruled out...

There is no fluid leaking in the engine bay, or underneath the car

 

[ghettosmurf]

well i unbolted the master cylinder, and pulled it off. and whatever that connects to the pedal on the other side of the manifold stayed in there. The mechanism was still connected to the clutch. But when i pulled the cylinder out a mild rush of air came out. Then the piston inside the cylinder doesnt seem broke...

whats my next step???

 

[uberingram]

You need to replace the assembly assuming you've proven the clutch fluid tract isn't leaking somewhere.

 

[ghettosmurf]

so uber...think it needs to be replaced? Not possibly just air in the system?

 

[DSMcrazy3]

If you said air puffed out, go ahead and hook everything up, fill the resovoir with fluid and bleed the system and see what happens

 

[IceDragon]

Has anyone told this guy to check the spring that puts tension onto the actual pedal yet? You know, the one that is connected to the pedal in the passenger compartment to give resistance to the clutch pedal??? Because I think checking that first would be common sense considering it's so much easier to check than replacing a master cylinder... its a spring that puts mild pressure onto the pedal to hold it up tight...

 

[ghettosmurf]

the spring is good too.

 

[prostreetdsmx1]

chances are the master is bad bud. If it wasn't before it sure could have gone bad while you tried driving it. Just get the new cylinder and make sure to bleed the clutch line well.

best of luck.

 

[ghettosmurf]

well 4 frustrating hours later i have found the problem...a pressure line from the slave cylinder to the bleeder was leaking real bad right at the fitting....and when it leaked it dripped onto the mount under the radiator....man im so steamed right now. its the dumbest thing. Thanks for you help everyone

 

[uberingram]

well 4 frustrating hours later i have found the problem...a pressure line from the slave cylinder to the bleeder was leaking real bad right at the fitting....and when it leaked it dripped onto the mount under the radiator....man im so steamed right now. its the dumbest thing. Thanks for you help everyone

Glad you found the problem.

 

[tstkl]

hahahahahah I was right..... Stupidity reigns over experience once again!!!!!

This is why I have like 1 vacume line in my car too, less chances of leaks. Maybe Ill replace all my clutch lines with stainless steel as well, it would be really scary to be driving my car on the freeway and have my clutch pedal slam to the ground and not come back up... h shit smiley:

 

[ghettosmurf]

Stupidity reigns over experience once again!!!!!

definetly....i mean it took me that long to even check there. and people always say check the cheap stuff first. it was like 2 bucks.

 

[onegee]

Can you take a picture of this line? I have a 1g so I don't know if I have the same line or not. Dropping my tranny this weekend and willing to try any fix for this clutch problem before doing so.