No clutch resistance?

[Twizzler09]

As some may know, I just moved from KC, Missouri to Galesburg, IL..... well I haven't had a single hitch with my transmission in 3 years.... until now...

I drove the 370 miles to get here.... and then I let the truck sit for two days before I went out to move it, but alas, when I pushed the clutch in to start it.... no resistance. At all. Now I can't even get it in gear, and if I try it just grinds the ever-living hell out of itself. I did a little digging and found a slight leak in the hydralic system... it appears to be leaking from the line that comes off of the master cylinder to the slave cylinder for the clutch, could that be the sole cause? What kind of problem causes the clutch to just quit after sitting still for a couple days?

4.0 V6, manual transmission. help please?

 

[krugford]

I would say you've found the problem. Where's it leaking from? I bet you've got a small leak that allowed air to enter the system. Since air is a lot easier to compress than brake fluid, that means you have little or no pressure acting on the slave cylinder. If it's leaking from a fitting, it "could" be loose, but I bet it's time for a new line.

I always hate to use the phrase "it just gave out" but everything has to break eventually. The hydraulic clutch system is no different than your braking system. People usually think to check the rubber brake hoses for cracks and fatigue, but nobody ever seems to check the clutch line. Now that I think about it, I've never checked mine either....

Good Luck!

-krug

 

[Twizzler09]

Thats the very same thing me and gramps were thinking. Problem is, I can't find the damned bleeder valve, doh xD

I obviously know where the line from the master cylinder is, and the bleeder valve should be almost directly next to it, but I can't find the damn thing. I'm gonna go over it again tomorrow when theres more light and hopefully I'll find it this time around.... other than that I think its time for a new line.

 

[MAKG]

Are you sure it's the line and not a broken bleeder?

Get in there with a flashlight. You may need a slave cylinder.

 

[Twizzler09]

Tore into it a bit more today, but its definitely not the line that was leaking... the damned thing was leaking from INSIDE the tranny. Took the rubber boot off the side and started lookin around in there, had gramps step on the clutch, started shootin fluid around. Just means I'm gonna have to take the tranny out to fix the blasted thing.

 

[MAKG]

Yup; replace the slave. Seriously consider a clutch job while you're in there.

It's not a terribly unusual failure after 150,000 miles or so on the slave. It's why I generally recommend changing it unconditionally with the clutch (which has a similar lifetime under "normal" driving conditions -- those that are not virtually all highway driven in modest terrain).

 

[Twizzler09]

If 150K is normal, them mine lasted longer than expected. The slave on my Trans was never replaced and its got 204.6K on it.

The factory installed clutch lasted till 100K, the second clutch only lasted about 64K (it WAS the clutch I learned to drive on though.... smoked the crap out of it a couple times, lol). The current clutch has about 40k on it, it should be perfectly fine for awhile longer.... might still be a good idea to replace it, seeing as how my clutch lifespan has never been that good.

Anyway, I'm getting ready to drop the tranny probably later today, if not tomorrow. Hopefully its just the slave.

 

[MAKG]

If the slave puked on the disk, you probably need another clutch regardless of mileage.

 

[Evan]

Last year I replaced the clutch and not the slave. Had less than 3000 miles on the new clutch when the slave went out. Had to rip everything apart again.

So, I agree with MAKG on changing the slave with the clutch!

 

[Twizzler09]

well, all is well now since I last posted. The clutch itself was in nearly perfect shape, and no fluid managed to get itself on the clutch plate. Found a busted boot seal while I was at it, fixed that too. Runs like a charm now.