Clutch is very different

[JDMHonda]

I need your help on this guys. My car just hit 40,000 miles and my first issue came up. The clutch pedal has gotten shorter and shorter. What I mean by this, is when i press the clutch about 50% in, it does nothing. It's very soft and i can tell nothings happening. Its just moving in. After that is when the clutch start to disengage. Before it wasnt like this. Recently the engagement point has gone closer to the floor. Another issue is that when the car is cold it doesnt get into any gear AT ALL. I warm it up to a good 6 bars (AP2) and nothing changes with the transmission. Today i had to get out and push the car back in neutral and then ask a friend to push it front and then it gets into first. I drive it at a high rpm for about aminute and once tranny oil gets warm, its all normal again. My clutch isnt slipping. Still full power delivery.

Any suggestions on what it may be? Im really worrying about this. Thanks in advanced guys. I appreciate it.

[JDMzimbo]

Could be the master or slave cylinder?

[JDMHonda]

Just checked my clutch fluid level and its on minimum. Under the clutch pedal its leaking. Im guessing your right zimbo.

[JDMzimbo]

Originally Posted by JDMHonda

Just checked my clutch fluid level and its on minimum. Under the clutch pedal its leaking. Im guessing your right zimbo.

yea, the same thing happened to me a few months ago.

[Marrk]

Bear:

I'll be interested to know how this works out.

Marrk

[kigz]

Originally Posted by JDMHonda

I need your help on this guys. My car just hit 40,000 miles and my first issue came up. The clutch pedal has gotten shorter and shorter. What I mean by this, is when i press the clutch about 50% in, it does nothing. It's very soft and i can tell nothings happening. Its just moving in. After that is when the clutch start to disengage. Before it wasnt like this. Recently the engagement point has gone closer to the floor. Another issue is that when the car is cold it doesnt get into any gear AT ALL. I warm it up to a good 6 bars (AP2) and nothing changes with the transmission. Today i had to get out and push the car back in neutral and then ask a friend to push it front and then it gets into first. I drive it at a high rpm for about aminute and once tranny oil gets warm, its all normal again. My clutch isnt slipping. Still full power delivery.

Any suggestions on what it may be? Im really worrying about this. Thanks in advanced guys. I appreciate it.

hey quick question, when you say it can't go into any GEAR at all, what do you mean? the tranny won't let your shifter, shift in the gear?

off topic, just found out recently, from gear parking on hills that, I couldn't go into gear somtimes reguardless of temperature, because the gear sits at a point where the rivet aren't matched up for the shifter to allow it to change. So moving the car, like a centimeter with momentum of you pushing, or gravity on the hill move the car and shift it into place.. I've experienced this on flat lands too. People have a better knowledge on this then me, they can probally tell you a more detailed and more "accurate" explaination.

[Vezna31]

If leaking under the pedal, it's the slave cylinder. I had mine done at 100k miles when my pedal stuck to the floor while I was on the race track.

Consistent changing and bleeding (just like brake fluid) keeps the pedal feeling like it is brand new. I do mine twice a year now.

[chazdawg35]

Hey Bear if it's leaking inside the car near the pedal, the clutch master cylinder is bad mine was leaking at 50k. here are some pics to make sure we are talking about the same part.

[chazdawg35]

[chazdawg35]

[chazdawg35]

Sorry of the quality camera phone LOL!

[JDMHonda]

Its aright thanks. Yeah pretty sure its that part. I checked the clutch fluid and it was below min so i filled it to max and cleaned around the pedal and around the fluid canister. Now im gonna wait and see if it still leaks, then ill change it. i dont want to change the wrong part.

And when i said it wont get into gear, i meant it doesnt go into any gears. The clutch basically was pressed but it wasnt. Hard to explain, your foot is all the way down on the clutch but it actually isnt disengaged.

[JDMHonda]

BTW, is it normal for the CMC to leak at 40000 miles?

[chazdawg35]

Well Bear if the fluid was low it is going somewhere that is the only part near where you said you seen the fluid leaking. And when you say to clutch doesn't feel the same is because if the clutch master is leaking the presure to the slave cylinder will be low and the clutch will not engage properly, locking the shifter in place.

[chazdawg35]

Originally Posted by JDMHonda

BTW, is it normal for the CMC to leak at 40000 miles?

BTW how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop, THE WORLD MAY NEVER KNOW!

[midwesta]

It is common for the clutch master cylinder to go bad. They typically last around 100,000 miles. But your driving style or something could have caused it to go bad at 40,000.

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

BUT since you have an AP2. When changing the master cylinder I would also change the slave cylinder to an AP1 slave cylinder that does not have the delay valve. You will save some clutch life with this and you should notice a difference in the way the car drives.

[H20]

It leaked and the level got low enough to suck air into the system. Top up the fluid and give a couple of pumps before shifting till you can change the bad part. I drove my BMW 2002 like that forever back about 30 years ago, till I flipped it.
Brake fluid is EXCELLENT paint remover. Clean up after yourself well.

[Marrk]

What causes this leak? What causes these parts to go bad? Is this the normal life cycle of the slave and/or master cylinder? Is it the seals that are going bad in these parts? Do they go bad because moisture enters the system? Is it due to aging or due to use?

As Al Pacino once said, "I'm in dah dahhk hee-ah." More light, please.

[midwesta]

The leak is caused because eventually everything that has a seal will leak.

If you would have read my previous reply the typical master cylinder will last around 100k. Slave will usually last a bit longer.

[Marrk]

Originally Posted by midwesta

The leak is caused because eventually everything that has a seal will leak.

If you would have read my previous reply the typical master cylinder will last around 100k. Slave will usually last a bit longer.

Okay . . . so do you rebuild the cylinders or replace 'em?




P.S. midwesta, I hang on your every post, your every word.

[JDMHonda]

Ok i drove around a bit and still no leak. im waiting so that the second it leaks, i buy a new one. And really midwesta? Is it worth it going with the AP1 CMC? I know it doesnt have the clutch delay valve but does is make it better? Im guessing i would chirp more by shifting instead of hearing the stupid thing burn my clutch. Wouldnt I also be hurting the drivetrain pretty badly this way?

[midwesta]

Honda did it because of idiots who would go out slamming gears and doing burnouts which is bad for the drivetrain. If you drive it properly and don't launch the car you will save clutch life and put more power to the ground by switching to an AP1 SLAVE. The AP1 and AP2 clutch master are the same.


Markk, I am sure you could rebuild it but I usually just replace them. I do not know if rebuild kits are available.

[JDMHonda]

Oh your talking about the slave. So Since i dont launch it wouldnt be bad to switch correct? But i do drive it hard and stay at the high rpms. Still okay?

BTW, how can i know if its my clutch master thats messed up or my clutch slave. If its leaking on top of my clutch pedal then its the master right?

[turbosix]

yes.


my cmc is leaking but VERY slowly. i just check the clutch fluid once a month and make sure to keep it topped off, i dont have spots or wet carpet, but i drive barefoot. ONE time a drop of brake fluid landed on my toe. that is the only way i know it is leaking. if it leaks enough to ruin the carpet i'll change it, until then, brake fluid is cheap!

[jagg]

why wouldn't you just fix it?

It would make me crazy, knowing it was bad, and not doing anything about it.

jagg

[Marrk]

You have to wait practically until your carpet is ruined before you know you have a problem?? Jeez, this is depressing.

There must be a smarter way to keep on top of things like this.

[jimbosr1]

i would bet that half of the members have a slow leak in there cmc.at least a small droplet..

[turbosix]

Originally Posted by jagg

why wouldn't you just fix it?

It would make me crazy, knowing it was bad, and not doing anything about it.

jagg

because its like $100 and its not really a problem.

Originally Posted by Marrk

You have to wait practically until your carpet is ruined before you know you have a problem?? Jeez, this is depressing.

There must be a smarter way to keep on top of things like this.

i added fluid to it once... the first time i checked it and it was low. i have never had to add fluid to it since then.

by all means, go spend $100 that you dont really need to, dont let me stop you in the name of "keeping on top of things like this."

[Marrk]

Originally Posted by turbosix

because its like $100 and its not really a problem.

i added fluid to it once... the first time i checked it and it was low. i have never had to add fluid to it since then.

by all means, go spend $100 that you dont really need to, dont let me stop you in the name of "keeping on top of things like this."

By all means, save a hundred dollars and have brake fluid leak on your toe.

[turbosix]

Originally Posted by Marrk

By all means, save a hundred dollars and have brake fluid leak on your toe.

in the past 2 years and 30,000mi i have had to refill it 0 times and had ONE drop come out.

sounds fine to me.

[chazdawg35]

I don't know about you Dudes but I like to keep on top of things, leaking is NOT normal so I went and changed it. The easy way to do this is check ALL your fluids once a week if any are low there is a problem in that area. With the exception of brake fluid which goes low as the pads wear down. If the brake light goes on get it checked ASAP!

[Marrk]

Originally Posted by turbosix

in the past 2 years and 30,000mi i have had to refill it 0 times and had ONE drop come out.

sounds fine to me.

Yeah, it's fine. Except that, as noted above, brake fluid is highly corrosive. It might not be something that anyone wants to wait to address.

[Marrk]

Originally Posted by chazdawg35

I don't know about you Dudes but I like to keep on top of things, leaking is NOT normal so I went and changed it. The easy way to do this is check ALL your fluids once a week if any are low there is a problem in that area. With the exception of brake fluid which goes low as the pads wear down. If the brake light goes on get it checked ASAP!

Now, why didn't I think of that?

[turbosix]

Originally Posted by Marrk

Yeah, it's fine. Except that, as noted above, brake fluid is highly corrosive. It might not be something that anyone wants to wait to address.

brake fluid is not "highly corrosive"

[Marrk]

Originally Posted by turbosix

brake fluid is not "highly corrosive"

No, it's actually good for the paint. I wipe my car down with brake fluid every week. I'm coming to love that bare steel look.

[turbosix]

Originally Posted by Marrk

No, it's actually good for the paint. I wipe my car down with brake fluid every week. I'm coming to love that bare steel look.

i've never had brake fluid eat paint off anything when spilled and cleaned up immediately.

regardless of what you've heard over the years, brake fluid is pretty freaking mild. it doesnt burn when it gets on your skin, it is a TERRIBLE paint remover, and it actually contains corrosion inhibitors... why would you want something highly corrosive inside a system made of steel tubes?

[Marrk]

Originally Posted by turbosix

i've never had brake fluid eat paint off anything when spilled and cleaned up immediately.

regardless of what you've heard over the years, brake fluid is pretty freaking mild. it doesnt burn when it gets on your skin, it is a TERRIBLE paint remover, and it actually contains corrosion inhibitors... why would you want something highly corrosive inside a system made of steel tubes?

I guess we are well advised to take the statements we read on the Internet with some circumspection, even when they come from recognized Forum poo-bahs.

[D1sclaimer]

I use brake fluid as an octane booster.

[jagg]

I've been shaving with it for years.......leaves my skin silky smooth.

[turbosix]

Originally Posted by jagg

I've been shaving with it for years.......leaves my skin silky smooth.

such a great hand cleaner too. same with auto tranny / ps fluid.