Half a clutch '99

[Uhlenhopp09]

When the vehicle is cooled off the clutch seems to act normal but when it warms up I lose pressure about half way down. It has 135isk thousand on it and I wouldn't be surprised if it needs a new clutch. It just seems weird to me that it would only do this intermittently. If I did the clutch I had planned on replacing the throw out bearing and slave cylinder and possibly pressure plate while it was all right there and available to do.

 

[Uhlenhopp09]

I would also like to point out that I drove it on the interstate doing 75 and the highway doing 60 and it went back to normal doing town driving.

 

[Mark_88]

Haven't actually seen this myself on any vehicle, but could indicate something is failing...sporadic stuff doesn't make sense on something that actually works some of the time but when it goes back to normal, like when it's cooled, it makes it more strange.

You can actually try bleeding off some of the fluids and topping it up...or maybe flush/bleed it yourself as there may be moisture in the fluid. Clutch fluid is, after all, brake fluid...and brake fluid is known to get moisture in the mix and make it less able to give the type of pressure that makes it work right...

There is a bleeder valve on the transmission...may need help but have someone crack the bleeder and pump the clutch a few times...top up the reservoir every five or so pedal pumps...

Check the colour of the fluid...it may be black or otherwise discoloured...brake fluid is clear when fresh...

 

[adsm08]

Try a fluid change on the clutch hydraulics first. It's brake fluid and it may just be water logged.

 

[enjr44]

Try a fluid change on the clutch hydraulics first. It's brake fluid and it may just be water logged.

Water logged fluid (or just plain water, for that matter) will work great when cold. When hot it boils and quits working.

 

[Uhlenhopp09]

So a little update. It's now doing it when the vehicle is first drove and continues to do it when it's warmed up but then after a while it gets stiff again and back to normal. I just realized that I've never checked the fluid while it's doing it but I have checked it when it's normal and it's right at the full mark.

 

[Mark_88]

Well, three of us mentioned water in the brake fluid causing it to loose the ability to force the clutch to open...so...

Did you actually change the fluids? That should correct this for you...if you didn't change the fluid then there is not much else that it could be short of a mechanical failure...which doesn't seem to be the case since it does work properly some of the time...