Any guess what's wrong with my clutch?

[StageLeft]

2000 Maxima with 115k miles. I have no clutch slippage to my knowledge (and even floored it in second yesterday with no issue). Last night it seemed like the clutch had to be pressed pretty far in and lost that sense of substance. This morning when I started the car the clutch pedal just feels completely loose like it's not connected to anything and it's impossible to get it into gear. Unfortunately, in this state, I'd have to have it towed if I had to bring it anywhere. Any ideas?

*FIXED* just took it for the test drive. Presuming it doesn't leak out all is well. As mentioned throughout the thread, replacing the slave didn't fix it but as I was trying to refill I saw a leak on the lower line that hooks straight into the slave so I replaced that today and now we're good to go. I figure since the thing was undriveable I saved about $300 (tow + labor for the work). Can't beat that

 

[iamwiz82]

Is the clutch pedal rebounding when you press it in?

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Is the clutch pedal rebounding when you press it in?

Unfortunately no. In fact, I suppose that's what it felt like yesterday--like there was almost no rebound. Now there is none at all. I can easily pull it out, but when I manually with my hand push it in and out it's like it's not connected to anything. I looked down at the pedal and it looks like things are attached as they should be, but who knows...

 

[iamwiz82]

Check your clutch master cylinder, any fluid left?

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Check your clutch master cylinder, any fluid left?

How do I do that? All I'm aware of to check fluids is the transmission itself via a 1/2" bolt on it that is unscrewed and the fluid checked with the pinky finger.

 

[iamwiz82]

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/802

 

[Zenmervolt]

In many cars the clutch shares a fluid reservoir with the brake system, so there may not be a separate clutch fluid reservoir. Or your car may use a cable clutch, I'm not sure about the Maxima. What you describe suggests a hydraulic clutch though.

The symptoms you describe match those exhibited by a failed clutch slave cylinder. In general, when a slave cylinder for a hydraulic clutch fails, the recommended practice is to replace both the slave and master cylinders as a precaution since they both have the same amount of wear.

ZV

 

[StageLeft]

Hmm, well I learn something new every day. I checked my fluid reservoir next to the brake one (which I do regularly check and it's perfect) and it's got...no fluid in it, at all whatsoever. I haven't checked the hoses yet for a leak.

This sounds exactly like what motorvate guy has had happen. I will at the least fill it with fluid and bleed the system and see how things are. If I don't need to replace both cylinders per Zemnervolt's concern, that will be great!

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

clutch master cylinder.
happened to my friend's car not to long ago.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Hmm, well I learn something new every day. I checked my fluid reservoir next to the brake one (which I do regularly check and it's perfect) and it's got...no fluid in it, at all whatsoever. I haven't checked the hoses yet for a leak.

This sounds exactly like what motorvate guy has had happen. I will at the least fill it with fluid and bleed the system and see how things are. If I don't need to replace both cylinders per Zemnervolt's concern, that will be great!

When you have filled and bled the clutch system, pump the pedal several times and then check under the dashboard where the pushrod for the clutch pedal goes through the firewall and into the master cylinder. Pull back the rubber boot and check to see if anything dribbles out, if so, your master cylinder is leaking.

ZV

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Hmm, well I learn something new every day. I checked my fluid reservoir next to the brake one (which I do regularly check and it's perfect) and it's got...no fluid in it, at all whatsoever. I haven't checked the hoses yet for a leak.

This sounds exactly like what motorvate guy has had happen. I will at the least fill it with fluid and bleed the system and see how things are. If I don't need to replace both cylinders per Zemnervolt's concern, that will be great!

When you have filled and bled the clutch system, pump the pedal several times and then check under the dashboard where the pushrod for the clutch pedal goes through the firewall and into the master cylinder. Pull back the rubber boot and check to see if anything dribbles out, if so, your master cylinder is leaking.

ZV

Thanks, I'll do it

 

[AMCRambler]

Zenmervolt is the bomb.

 

[bruceb]

While you are at it, on a car that old, it pays to rebuild the
clutch slave cylinder. It sits on the Bell Housing and has a
rubber line connecting it to the clutch master cylinder on the
firewall. Rebuild kits are cheap as they only contain a couple of
O Rings and a new Boot .. sometimes a new piston. Easy to take
apart, clean properly and reassemble. Or just buy a new one.
Same procedure for the clutch master cylinder .. rebuild or replace it.

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
Zenmervolt is the bomb.

QFT

 

[StageLeft]

I got in there and started bleeding/purging. Apparently there is a lower and upper valve. All I can find is the upper one. My haynes has a terrible (surprise, surprise) picture of a valve to the "clutch cylinder" but also talkes of a master cylinder, so I guess it means slave instead of clutch. It doesn't tell me where the darn thing is and the motorvate picture is for a 4th gen. All I could find was the valve, up high by the strut, to the reservoir. I have gotten some rebound back in the pedal but now all I'm doing is replacing fluid and no additional air is coming out so I presume I need to find my way to this "clutch cylinder" valve. Any ideas? I posted on maxima.org forums and the guy just said "it's near the slave cylinder", but I've no idea where that is

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: bruceb
While you are at it, on a car that old, it pays to rebuild the
clutch slave cylinder. It sits on the Bell Housing and has a
rubber line connecting it to the clutch master cylinder on the
firewall. Rebuild kits are cheap as they only contain a couple of
O Rings and a new Boot .. sometimes a new piston. Easy to take
apart, clean properly and reassemble. Or just buy a new one.
Same procedure for the clutch master cylinder .. rebuild or replace it.

Why do you
format your
messages
on the board
in this manner?

 

[exdeath]

Slave/clutch side cylinder is connected to the clutch fork sticking out of the bell housing where the engine and transmission come together. Just follow the circumference of the bell housing (eg: where the starter is) and look for a cylinder with a plunger/rod connected to a lever sticking out. It should also be connected to a hose/line that goes to your master/pedal side cylinder.

The idea is you want to bleed the clutch system the same way you bleed brakes, by opening the valve on the slave end at the transmission, pressing the pedal down and holding, close the slave end, verify master cylinder fluid level, let the pedal up, rinse and repeat.

But you'll need to fix the leak first of course.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: exdeath
Slave/clutch side cylinder is connected to the clutch fork sticking out of the bell housing where the engine and transmission come together. Just follow the circumference of the bell housing (eg: where the starter is) and look for a cylinder with a plunger/rod connected to a lever sticking out. It should also be connected to a hose/line that goes to your master/pedal side cylinder.

The idea is you want to bleed the clutch system the same way you bleed brakes, by opening the valve on the slave end at the transmission, pressing the pedal down and holding, close the slave end, verify master cylinder fluid level, let the pedal up, rinse and repeat.

But you'll need to fix the leak first of course.

engine.jpg

There's a pic. Where in that pic would it be generally located? I presume I'm hooked to the valve for the master. I don't know if the bell housing in that pic next to the clutch reservoir is for the brakes or not. Do you think I need to get under the car?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: exdeath
Slave/clutch side cylinder is connected to the clutch fork sticking out of the bell housing where the engine and transmission come together. Just follow the circumference of the bell housing (eg: where the starter is) and look for a cylinder with a plunger/rod connected to a lever sticking out. It should also be connected to a hose/line that goes to your master/pedal side cylinder.

The idea is you want to bleed the clutch system the same way you bleed brakes, by opening the valve on the slave end at the transmission, pressing the pedal down and holding, close the slave end, verify master cylinder fluid level, let the pedal up, rinse and repeat.

But you'll need to fix the leak first of course.

engine.jpg

There's a pic. Where in that pic would it be generally located? I presume I'm hooked to the valve for the master. I don't know if the bell housing in that pic next to the clutch reservoir is for the brakes or not. Do you think I need to get under the car?

It will be under the car. You will need to put the car up on jackstands and lay underneath to get at the slave cylinder.

Some general information (4th Gen, but should be reasonably accurate): http://forums.maxima.org/4th-g...all-pic-intensive.html

The specific picture with the slave cylinder circled is here. I was wrong about it being underneath on this engine apparently.

ZV

 

[StageLeft]

Sh*t, that's gonna be tricky given that I cannot get the car up my hilled driveway into the garage

EDIT: I found it, now to see if it's possible to access without getting under/removing air filter housing, etc. There is a lot of sweating and moisture in the area, too.

 

[slag]

Skoorb, if you want to spruce it up a bit, I have a stainless steel braided hose made for a 4th gen, that will probably fit yours. Its the hose between clutch and slave cylinder. Never put it on my old manual Max, but its a really nice piece.

 

[bruceb]

No .. not always .. but some people have a habit of typing way to far to the right, which on some screens makes it hard to read without using the scroll bar.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: bruceb
No .. not always .. but some people have a habit of typing way to far to the right, which on some screens makes it hard to read without using the scroll bar.

The posts resize with your browswer window and resolution. It doesn't stop fitting everything until the size is ridiculously small and you couldn't view anything anyway.

 

[StageLeft]

OK I bled it from the slave and master and there is no air in the system and yet, despite its ability to hold in fluid (I have it pressed in with a 2X4 for 10 min and nothing appears to leak) seemingly, I'm unable to quite get enough rebound for it to pop out by itself. THe clutch is more workable than this morning but the pedal won't go in quite enough to disengage the clutch so now all I'm doing is wasting fresh brake fluid--it's been completely purged of old.

I'm likely now to take out the battery and air intake box and replace the slave cylinder and line. I thought there was leak around there earlier today but it was hard to tell in the light. How involved is the master as well?

 

[bruceb]

Odin,

On one forum (dell support) they do not resize with the browser window.
On that one, I have seen many posts with very long lines of words, which
in my view makes it harder to read. So I limit my line length to about 3/4 width.
It also makes it easier to get points across to the person wanting assistance.