The last couple days my clutch has started acting up a little bit. It started by just having a different feel than usual. Usually when I push down on the clutch its the same amount of pressure the whole way down. The last couple days (getting progressively worse each day) the first couple inches, before the engage point, have been like i'm pushing down on nothing, then I engage the clutch about 2 inches furthur down than usual. On top of that moving the gear shift into from the neutral to any gear has become incredibly hard. Its like i'm not even pushing the clutch in and I'm forcing the gear shift into gear. This can't be good for the clutch.

I'm thinking I need some more transmission fluid. Any other ideas? I just had it in the shop the other day, do you think they did something by accident that may have caused this?

Thanks
-Alex

 

make sure your clutch fluid is filled. the reservoir is by the master cylinder.

 

If the fluid level is right, you possibly need to bleed the hydraulic fluid from your clutch slave cylinder. It is on the front of the transmission, right by the clutch fork. Have a friend push in the clutch with the car off and check the travel of the slave piston.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HokieinCville &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just had it in the shop the other day, do you think they did something by accident that may have caused this? </TD></TR></TABLE>

What exactly did they do to your car?

 

When I went to the shop I had this done:

New spark Plugs, oil change, the check engine light was on (they found no problems), and the steering column was disassembled, lubed, and reassembled b/c the turn signals weren't turning off after going around a corner (this was fixed correctly).

Oh btw this is a 1997 Honda Prelude.

 

Sounds as if maybe your shop either took apart something in the brake system,(to fix the column) and didnt bleed the system after it was put back together or they damaged something while pulling or reinstalling the column.. I would check travel on the slave and bleed the system..it cant hurt anything..also look around your column area for something out of place or bent or broken that involves the break system and check for leaks thoughout the whole hydraulic system. GL!!

 

4WSi_guy, I think you may be right. When I first engaged the clutch and tried to put the gear shift into gear it was incredibly hard, but over the course of the 5 minute drive to work it progressively got better, but never back to normal. How long should I bleed the clutch so the fluid goes to the rest of the system? Should I just push down on the clutch, or continually push it in then disengage the clutch back and forth until the systems feels lubed?

 

did you check your fluid yet?. and yes bleed it if it is too low.

push on the clutch and have someone open the bleeder and then close it. You will have to pick up the pedal off the flow. then pump the pedal and repeat.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kulrevon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">push on the clutch and have someone open the bleeder and then close it. You will have to pick up the pedal off the flow. then pump the pedal and repeat
</TD></TR></TABLE>

do this until you dont see any air in the fluid stream...if you dont get a good pedal you may have a leak elsewhere. Also dont let the clutch pedal return until the bleeder is shut or you will draw more air into the system...

 

I went to the NAPA auto parts store over lunch and picked up some brake fluid, which doubles as clutch fluid. After filling up the clutch fluid and pumping the clutch about 15-20 everything went back to normal. The clutch shifts smoother than every before.

Thanks for all the help!
-Alex

 

Awesome....I wonder where your leak is?...I would still check that out...