Hi Guys/Gals,

I'm new here so be gentle with me. I will give you as much info as I can provide so if it's not enough to get a good idea as to what the problme might be, let me know what info you need and I will get it for you. I've come to the conclusion that I cannot determine if it is my clutch itself, or my master cylinder. So here goes:

About six months ago I started having issues with my clutch. Sometimes it felt loose, othertimes it felt fine, so I thought nothing of it. Around 3 months ago I started having issues with engaging my clutch. I was having such a hard time taht it felt like shifting would break it. The only thing that I could do was turn the car off, get the car in gear and start the car. Then i could slowly let my car go into gear and be off again. Now I cannot even get the car into gear. If i try this "trick" then my car lurches forward and starts to buck. I checked the resevoir and to my dismay it was nearly empty. I added more fluid, and bled the system. nothing happened. So now I have a car sitting in the driveway undriveable, collecting dust.

Here's the troubleshooting I have done so far:

Checked the resevoir. - full
checked the master cylinder - there was a slight leak near the floor by the clutch pedal.

When I did drive the car, I did not smell the "usual" burning smell of the clutch. But when I have the car sitting idle I have noticed a small amount of grinding.

I checked the slave cylinder, There looks like signs of leakage but I cannot really detemine if it's the cylinder or not.

I had my wife pump the clutch and I get a flowback if she pumps fast, but nothing if she pumps it slowly.

At this point, If have the car idle I cannot shift into any gear. It feels like I'm trying to force it, and it might snap the gearshifter.

So, that's what I have done so far.

Oh btw, the car is a 98 Integra RS 3dr, 1.8 cyl, with approximately 125,000 miles on it. Everything on the car is still OEM. The clutch has never been replaced.

Hope this info helps.

Joe

 

I'm surprised that the original cluth has lasted 125,000 miles. It think you've answered your own question.

BTW, if the problem turns out to be the clutch, etc., change everything while you're in there ... everything. Don't ask me how I know that

 

I would do the obvious items first.

Bleed the system again, maybe twice, to make sure that it's not that.

Check/replace clutch master cylinder. Since you said it had a leak anyways. Then Bleed.

Check/replace clutch slave cylinder. then Bleed.

If all those things doesn't solve your problem, I would pop the tranny out and...

Check/replace the clutch.

On a 94 RS w/ 120k, I got lucky, and it was only the smaller components (cmc,csc)

On a 97 LS w/ 90k I wasn't so lucky. Although it was good excuse for me to upgrade my clutch.

Good luck

 

Sounds good, I'll do it twice more, then see what happens. I'll let you guys know what's up.

Thanks, Joe

 

Sounds like a bad Clutch master cyl...Check the area on the firewall directly underneath the CMC on the inside of the car and try to look for leaks...do the same on the engine side.

Just had the same problem.

 

just had my uncle take a look at teh car for me, he said the CMC was leaking a bit, but the real problem was the clutch. he removed the boot on the slave and could see the slave moving back and forth. I was a bit disappointed by this news, but the great news is he said he would help me install everything for free!! so, I just need to buy the replacement parts. anyone have a good suggestion? the OEM's are too expensive. I checked ebay and they're selling parts for about $155? do those sound reasonable? or am I getting cheap parts that will need replacing in about two years?

 

...dun trust that opinion...the thrust bearing is supposed to move a bit. If you see OIL underneath the the CMC and you said that you were low on fluid...

I think you better try the CMC before you go ripping the tranny off...
Like I said, I had the SAME problem.

RULE OF THUMB: Try the small options/possibilities first.

 

I think I could trust my uncle on this. he's been working as a mechanic for over 25 years. what i meant by the the thrust bearing moving was the fact that it showed taht the cylinders were in working condition. Even with these two pieces in a working condition, he said that the car was still not able to engage the clutch. ruling out the cylinders gave him the only option left, replacing the clutch itself. and with the clutch being the actual original clutch, it's high time I replaced taht sucker anyway


as for ideas about where to buy the parts, where did you go for yours?

 

wHATever....goodluck.