New to the clutch game. Can a bad slave cause me to not be able to shift while car is running?? But i can go through gears with it off?? Help??

 

If there is a lack of pressure in the pedal as well then yes, you'll also have to replace the master with the slave, never do just 1 since the other will fail usually when bleeding.

 

You can always go through the gears with the car off.

FYI a bad slave will be visibly leaking from the slave cylinder itself most of the time. You can also look at the slave while someone depressed the clutch pedal and see if it moves or not.

If you can't put it in gear it may be the slave, master, clutch, etc...

 

jajaja...i must admit that i did replace one WITHOUT doing the other...and it was a PAIN trying to figure out why I was STILL having a lack of pressure on the clutch pedal. Come to find out it was my slave cylinder. As soon as i replaced the MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER the other gave out...so PLEASE DO CHANGE BOTH IF YOUR WORKING ON THEM. I had to learn the hard way...frustrating at times.
And Yes you CANNOT change gears while the car is running if the slave gives out..which means that you wont have much or any pressure on the PEDAL itself.

 

the second day i owned my current (a 2000 base model) prelude i went to pick up my girlfriend.. when i went to leave the clutch pedal when i pushed it in just stayed down on the floor. really freaked me out i thought my clutch was screwed or something.

i had full fluid in my clutch master cyl's reservoir and really had no idea what was wrong. this car had recieved a new clutch and clutch master cylinder only 6 months before.

long story short i replaced my clutch master cyl that was only 6 months old and my slave cylinder. Bled the system and that fixed my problem. previous owner put cheap parts on the car.



does the piston in the slave cylinder move in/out at all when your pressing the clutch? have someone push the clutch and have a look.

 

This sounds like a pressure plate failure...
Sucks, happened to me not too long ago. but I replaced with a Spec stage 5 clutch/pressure plate. best thing ever!

 

Start with checking that the slave cylinder is working by pressing the clutch in and making sure the clutch fork is moving.

Also, the slave will most likely leak out of the rubber boot if it is bad, while the master may not. If you press the clutch and the clutch fork moves, but slowly releases, you have a bad seal in either the slave or the master. If its not leaking from the slave, rebuild the master. All it takes is a < $20 rebuild kit, some brake cleaner and some fine grit sand paper. Pull the master, remove the cylinder and seals. Clean with brake clean, scuff the inside with fine sand paper in a nice cross hatch pattern. Clean with brake cleaner, lube with brake fluid, re-install new plunger with seals. Bleed the system.

Both the master and slave should be rebuildable, you just need to get the kit(s).

 

VERY VERY TRUE!! I found out the hard way!!

 

Ditto! I found out the hard way the slave was the culprit. It started out by creeping and shuddering at red lights and one morning after breakfast, it just gave up completely. Wouldn't release the clutch enough to shift/drive it. Nursed it home. I had already changed the master. Put the new slave on, (as I suspected it was on its way out), and what a difference! You'll more than likely have to adjust the rod under the dash to re-establish. the friction point.

As we drive our cars these things wear and we make subltle changes and adjustments to make them work till they fail.

Hope this helps!

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