clutch issues

MD MK1 · 02-12-2009, 11:45 AM

so i have an 89 supercharged and the clutch has mysteriously decided to stop working. the pedal is either up or down, there is no resistance at all. i thought it was the clutch master cylinder because i tried to bleed the old one and discovered that it wasn't putting any fluid into the lines. so now im stuck as to what it could be. any help is much appreciated.

masagsxr · 02-12-2009, 01:20 PM

air in the line is what I thought from reading your post. Maybe something came loose on the other end by the slave cylinder?

ebouwman · 02-12-2009, 01:20 PM

Happened to me in an old mercedes i had, what happened was the cylinder that the pedal compresses (Pushrod?) was really stiff from the car sitting for a year, and because of the geometry it would flick down, kind of like you described.

You might be able to spray some wd-30 or rub some sort of lube on it, and try to move it.

Is that kinda what it's doing, the flick thing that is, or is it just moving too freely?

EDIT: Looking at it, what i described can't really happen. It could be that the pedal disconected from the pushrod.

Jackstand Queen · 02-14-2009, 12:46 PM

Buy a clutch master cylinder, slave cylinder and brake fluid. Take massive doses of Valium to keep you calm, and minimize your rage while you bleed and fill the system. Its a frustrating process . .. . you've been warned.

ebouwman · 02-14-2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackstand Queen

Buy a clutch master cylinder, slave cylinder and brake fluid. Take massive doses of Valium to keep you calm, and minimize your rage while you bleed and fill the system. Its a frustrating process . .. . you've been warned.

Can you get valuim at a local parts store?

I think my suggestion of the pushrod disconnecting somehow may be unlikely lol

MD MK1 · 02-15-2009, 01:55 AM

yea i just redid the master cylinder so i'm guessing thats not it haha, one of the guys at work said to bleed the slave cyclinder so im thinkin thats my next step and i'll go off there

Jackstand Queen · 02-17-2009, 08:45 PM

The clutch master and slave cylinders wear out usually around 150k to 200k mileage. Like clockwork. It is a difficult system to bleed out. The best luck I've had is using an assistant to pump the pedal, while I work the slave bleed valve. Budget about 30 minutes or more for this particular battle.

02-12-2009, 11:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
MD MK1 No Skills Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: austin texas Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	clutch issues so i have an 89 supercharged and the clutch has mysteriously decided to stop working. the pedal is either up or down, there is no resistance at all. i thought it was the clutch master cylinder because i tried to bleed the old one and discovered that it wasn't putting any fluid into the lines. so now im stuck as to what it could be. any help is much appreciated.

02-12-2009, 01:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC Posts: 1,600 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 51 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Happened to me in an old mercedes i had, what happened was the cylinder that the pedal compresses (Pushrod?) was really stiff from the car sitting for a year, and because of the geometry it would flick down, kind of like you described. You might be able to spray some wd-30 or rub some sort of lube on it, and try to move it. Is that kinda what it's doing, the flick thing that is, or is it just moving too freely? EDIT: Looking at it, what i described can't really happen. It could be that the pedal disconected from the pushrod. Last edited by ebouwman; 02-12-2009 at 01:27 PM..

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02-12-2009, 01:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
masagsxr Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Norwalk, CA Posts: 3,534 Thanks: 1 Thanked 81 Times in 81 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	air in the line is what I thought from reading your post. Maybe something came loose on the other end by the slave cylinder?

02-14-2009, 12:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 840 Thanks: 75 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Buy a clutch master cylinder, slave cylinder and brake fluid. Take massive doses of Valium to keep you calm, and minimize your rage while you bleed and fill the system. Its a frustrating process . .. . you've been warned.

02-15-2009, 01:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
MD MK1 No Skills Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: austin texas Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	yea i just redid the master cylinder so i'm guessing thats not it haha, one of the guys at work said to bleed the slave cyclinder so im thinkin thats my next step and i'll go off there

02-17-2009, 08:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 840 Thanks: 75 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	The clutch master and slave cylinders wear out usually around 150k to 200k mileage. Like clockwork. It is a difficult system to bleed out. The best luck I've had is using an assistant to pump the pedal, while I work the slave bleed valve. Budget about 30 minutes or more for this particular battle.