Got a Little Clutch Issue

[jmsmith76]

So this morning I cranked up and pulled out of the parking lot at my apartment complex. Bout the time I got on the road, the clutch started feeling real funny, so I pulled off to the side. The clutch pedal depresses way to easy and I can't feel the clutch doing anything. It wouldn't let me put the shifter into any gear, a few minutes later it went in gear and i let off the clutch and as soon as i took any pressure off it was engaging real quick and the truck would lurch forward. A few minutes later it started working again so I pulled back into the parking lot and parked it. Now it does the same as earlier and won't go into any gear. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance, sorry for the long post. BTW: 1999 Ranger, 3.0L FlexFuel, 5 spd manual.

 

[jmsmith76]

also, not sure if this is the right forum for this question. And it's a 2wd

 

[fordboi415]

Sounds like your slave cylinder went out

 

[jmsmith76]

should i try bleeding the clutch system before taking the time to drop the transmission out to replace the slave cylinder? the fluid was pretty low when i checked it, refilled it and didn't help

 

[BlackBII]

Make sure she's got fluid, then bleed it.

If that doesn't help, could be a bad slave.(or master, but it aint as likely)

 

[jmcarthy]

Only two parts it sound like could be atissue here. Slave cylinder or clutch master cylinder. Clutch master cylinder I believe can easily be checked by having someone depress on the clutch pedal while another person sees if the fluid level in the clutch master cylinder reservoir (where you add the clutch fluid) is fluctuating. If you check the master cylinder reservoir and have plenty of fluid not much of a chance you introduced air into the system but bleeding the slave is probably 100 times quicker than replacing it. So it is worth the effort.

 

[jmcarthy]

Sorry I didn't catch you said you were low on fluid.

 

[jmsmith76]

Just got done bleeding the clutch system and now there is even less pressure on the pedal. Also, the fluid level in the master cylinder didn't even budge. Could there be a clog in the lines? Or maybe the master cylinder is bad?

 

[jmsmith76]

after further inspection, looks to be fluid leaking from the master cylinder. bad master cylinder?

 

[BlackBII]

Leaking from where on the master?

You could pull the line out of the Slave and try to push the pedal, it should be rock solid, if not, you have a master or line problem.

If the fluid got too low, it may have sucked air into the master, it might need to be bled.

 

[jmsmith76]

there's a line of fluid residue down the inside of the wheel well right below the master. i bled it last night and just made the pedal less resistant, didn't help at all. i'll try disconnecting the slave and see what happens

 

[jmsmith76]

as expected, still no pressure when slave disconnected, so sounds like the master is definitely the problem

 

[BlackBII]

as expected, still no pressure when slave disconnected, so sounds like the master is definitely the problem

Yup, I would take it out and try to bench bleed it, and look for leaks. There are a few threads on the process.

 

[jmcarthy]

Bad master cylinder or could be the little rubber o-ring in the master-slave tube at the master cylinder. Either way you lucked out. Congratulations!

 

[jmsmith76]

been in the process of pullin it out for about half an hour now and took a dinner break, lol. anyways, the little pin that holds the hydraulic master-slave line into the master is a PITA! lol. finally managed to get it out with a leatherman and a 2 inch length of clothes hanger.