Damn Clutch

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-07-04 09:04pm

Driving home this morning my clutch went out in my truck.

Actually it's a little more interesting than that. Basically I can still sort of shift but after I press the clutch in a certain distance it gets sucked to the floor and then I have to hook my foot under it to pull it back up.

Nothing like the fun of having to deal with stuff breaking on a holiday weekend.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2003-07-04 09:06pm

If I knew anything about cars that story might make more sense to me.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-07-04 09:08pm

Basically it makes getting my truck to go rather difficult at best since the clutch allows me to put it in gear.

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2003-07-04 09:14pm

Ouch. At least the clutch is designed to be easily replaceable, sort of like the brakes.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-07-04 09:16pm

That could be as simple as a return spring that's slipped off, try and check it yourself before giving away money.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-07-04 09:19pm

Frank Hipper wrote:That could be as simple as a return spring that's slipped off, try and check it yourself before giving away money.

It didn't look like it was off but it's hard jamming myself far enough under the dash to get a really good look. I'll double check before I take it anywhere though.

I had this problem once earlier in the week and then the clutch went back to acting normal and then it hit full force this morning.

That it sucks itself to the floor after being partially compressed makes me think there's something hydralic wrong with it.

It is 14 years old so it's not like it should be a big surprise.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-07-04 09:37pm

Oy vey, if it started screwing up, and then stopped earlier this week, she don't sound good.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-07-04 09:42pm

Frank Hipper wrote:Oy vey, if it started screwing up, and then stopped earlier this week, she don't sound good.

Nope it doesn't.

Considering the age it could be a lot of stuff. I had the clutch master cylinder replaced a few years ago so hopefully that didn't go bad again. It could be the slave cylinder or maybe my clutch needs to be replaced?

It's just darn annoying is all. At least it didn't completely die on me so I had to push it through a busy intersection. It came close a couple of times though.

Kitsune · Post by **Kitsune** » 2003-07-04 09:45pm

Don't worry,
Tomarrow I have to replace the fan in my car (as long as I can keep it kmmoving it does not overheat) and the Drivers side CV axel.

Hethrir · Post by **Hethrir** » 2003-07-05 12:33am

Well i twiddled with my car a little today at the workshop. Fixed the water level sender, so i only have one red light left on my dash - the headlight washers. Ugg, and it's not hooked up. That will be fun. On top of it, i have to run around on low boost and take it easy, 'cause my clutch is starting to slip

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-07-05 02:36am

That certainly doesn't sound like a worn disc. Look in a repair manual to see if there is a return spring, and check on it if there is one.

How hard is it to pull the pedal up?

Phil Skayhan · Post by **Phil Skayhan** » 2003-07-05 03:00am

Check to see if your brake fluid reservoir is low, this could indicate the the slave cylinder is worn and need to be replace (might as well do the master cylinder while you're in there). The symptoms you describes sound like this is the likely case.

If you don't do your own work, a quick temp fix to get it to the shop is to top off your brake fluid and pump the clutch until it responds normally. This will only work for about an hour or less and should be done only to get it to the shop.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-07-05 03:09am

Well, that sounds worse than my dumbass battery acid problem. Hopefully if it is the clutch, you can find a place that does a good job for a reasonable price.

Im lucky in that my mechanics shop is actually on the same block as me. So if my car ever breaks I can push it down the street.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-07-05 02:51pm

Ended up replacing the clutch master cylinder and the slave cylinder. I could probably have done with just the slave but it was recomended that I replace them both at the same time just so I don't have a new part that can take more pressure than the older part.

In parts and labor it cost me about $275. The parts are garunteed for as long as I own my truck (and hang on to the receipt/waranty). It took the place about 3 hours to do it all.

I had a bitch of time getting there. I almost had to resort to pushing my truck out of it's parking place because I was having so much trouble with reverse. It wasn't that it wouldn't work but that with the clutch disabled I could vary the pressure at all to help control how fast I was going in reverse. Plus there was the fun with the clutch stickin in and out of gear.

I'm glad that's done.