david236kEG

So this morning i start my car and my clutch pedal is all loose and i have to press it to the floor to disengage. It just started doing thing out of no where. Does the temperature have something to do with it?

tercel95

You are leaking clutch fluid from either your master or slave cylinder... Check to see where the leak is coming from and replace the appropriate part. If your car hasn't left you stranded already it will very soon.

dividedas1

are you trying to say that there is no pressure to your clutch pedal?

if yes, then check the slave to see if it's leaking, then check by the clutch pedal and inside of the engine bay to see if the master is leaking.

weather doesn't do this, when my car is super cold i feel like my clutch fluid gets frozen. but it just feels stiffer

david236kEG

im saying it feels like there is no pressure until the clutch pedal is half way pressed down. the fluid level is normal and there is nothing leaked onto the street

david236kEG

I have also heard that the hydraulic fluid in the lines can be susceptible to water absorption and if the water freezes in them they can make clutch travel feel strange.

Jimster480

Where would it get water from?

tx_ej8_49

Touch the bottom of the slave cylinder and see if there is fluid. Yes? Then replace it. Look at the lines too. Then check under you dash and see if fluid is leaking back into the car. Yes? Replace clutch master cylinder.

tercel95

Even if your fluid level seems normal there might be air in the lines... When I bought my civic I felt like the clutch engaged really close to the floor. Then after having the car for about 3 months the slave completely crapped out. So I was driving the car with the slave leaking just enough to get air in the lines, but there was definitely a problem. With the symptoms you reported you definitely need to replace the slave or master cylinder. One of them will completely fail in the near future...

suthernbred904

that happened to my ek,but there was no play and wouldnt go into gear! clutch was gone!

dividedas1

x2... never seen water in a clutch or brake line before

**** that just look at the slave... does it look wet? like brake fluid wet?

look @ the firewall where the master touches the firewall. is it wet?
get on the ground feel up where the master comes thru to the cabin is it wet?


$20 says you have a bad slave or master... when my slave went bad i had 1/4 of pressure to the pedal the rest was flat.

when my master when bad i had 0 pressure.

its a easy hydraulic system. open your eyes and use your hands to feel it out. i bet you will find the culprit.

dividedas1

.................................. idk what to even say to that. not even close to what the OP is describing. free play like that in the clutch pedal would not be pressure plate or friction disk related.

Dead CIVIC

iTrader: (1)

replace slave solenoid, on the tranny. i had the same issue. didn't see a leak there. but it fuxed it!

dividedas1

Dead CIVIC

iTrader: (1)

thanks. i knew something sounded odd. OP, try it!

Jimster480

exactly

david236kEG

thanks for the input guys ill check it out when there's some light tomorrow

srmofo

brake fluid is hydroscopic. that means it will absorb moisture out of the air. thats why master cylinder caps always says to only add fluid from a sealed container. that is also why brake fluid should be flushed at least every 2 years. when moisture gets into the fluid it lowers the boiling point signifcantly. it only takes 3% moisture to lower it to around 290 degrees water boils around 260 if I remember correctly. water turns to steam when boiled, and steam is basically an air pocket in your brakes hydro system. thats no good. squishy pedal.

however its in a clutch hydro system which experiences very little heat, so I dont suspect that is your problem.

If your fluid level is correct, Its either the slave or master. they have cup seals inside of them that can go bad, or get flipped inside out. which would explain the sudden loss in pedal pressure.

Have a buddy press the cluth pedal for you and watch the slave piston. (yes you will have to remove the rubber dust boot. you can either remove the slave or just cut a slit in it carefully so you can reinstall it later.) I dont remember the exact distance it should travel,but I think It was 1 inch, check your haynes manual. unfurtunately if you dont have a hydro pressure gauge, you are going to have to guess which part is bad.

Jimster480

so ill ask the same question. Where does it get water from? its in a sealed system.

dividedas1

that's what i am wondering too, i can understand it maybe absorbing air. but once it's in the system its sealed. no air in, no air out. if you do have air coming it then you found your source of the original problem. such as a leaky master, slave or even clutch line or a fitting some where.

make sense?

zdizzle

The same thing happend to me. Your master and or slave cylinder need to be replaced also dont forget to bleed. Even with new mast/slave without a bleed it still sticks to floor

Jimster480

yes

srmofo

your brake system is supposed to be sealed close to 100%, but when was the last time you inspected or replaced that seal on your mastercylinder cap? It goes bad like every other seal eventually will, the only difference is you dont know when it is bad.

you can buy test strips to test the moisture content of the fluid for a couple of bucks, or they make various tools that do the same thing (electronic and analog hydrometers). and thats not even bringing up the fact that everytime you go to a shop for a oil change they open the system to check the condition or level of the fluid (you cant see through all mastercylinders like a hondas). ya I know some of you change your own oil, but most people dont and thats who these recommendations are written for.

make sense?

Jimster480

somewhat, but that still doesnt support water absorption in the system. Especially overnight.

srmofo

I never said that was his problem, someone asked how water can get into brake fluid, I explained it.....

reread ALL of my post...