Hi! First of all, I'm no mechanic ... let's get that one straight. I can do VERY basic stuff and that's about it. After reading my issue, you may think I can't even do that. Also, I did search and search and search and it doesn't work well to find all of what I'm going to describe.

Last week: shifting got difficult, especially trying to put it into first gear. I found myself having to start out in 2nd (and sometimes third - hey, I needed to get home).

Then I stopped driving it and started researching and asking friends for DIY advice. One friend asked me if the clutch fluid was low. This is where I'm an idiot. I've driven manuals all my life and never knew they used clutch fluid, I thought it was only for automatics. So, I checked and my clutch level was VERY low, at the MIN line. I had some brake fluid DOT 3 or 4, can't remember. Synthetic. So, I opened the cap and filled to MAX line. Then I topped the brake fluid, which wasn't very low at all, but there was room to top.

THEN, I got into the car and the clutch pedal was flat, depressed to the floor. Limp. It wasn't like that at all before filling the fluids. Back to my friend and she told me that I probably got air in the lines while filling the fluids.

So, now I'm looking at videos and DIY articles on how to bleed the lines. I'm really poor, having lost my library job of 18 years due to Covid and it doesn't look like it's coming back so I have all these stupid part-time jobs. I'm a huge DIYer and have fixed many things in my rental.

I guess I'm wondering so many things. Do I need a new clutch? I'm hoping not. Does it sound like, since the clutch fluid was so low, that was the problem? Would you agree with my friend that I got air in the lines? I do. I understand that the clutch fluid being low could be a problem in itself (leak?) but for now, I just want to see if the clutch fluid add did the trick, for now..

Any advice for me? Please be nice! Thank you!!

 

Don’t beat yourself up. It’s a easy fix. You don’t want to let the clutch fluid go too low or like your friend said, you will get air in the lines. Which seems like the case here

Go get a bottle of brake fluid, get a transparent plastic bottle, a water bottle works fine, and a 3ft or so clear hose to attach to the clutch slave cylinder bleed valve. It uses the same hose size as the brake bleed valve, which I forgot what the size is but, just look that one up.

Put the hose on the bleeder fitting, fill up the clear bottle about halfway, so the hose is submerged at all times. Then loosen the bleeder valve not all the way, but until a good stream of fluid comes out.

Now go in the car and pump the clutch pedal with your hand because it won’t come right up until you start to build pressure.

Pump about 10 times or until no air bubbles are seen in the clear tubing and pedal pressure re builds. Always make sure the clutch fluid does not get low while doing this.

 

Hello,

Yes, you need a functioning clutch and clutch hydraulic system. If the clutch fluid was that low, there is a leak somewhere, and bleeding won't help until you fix the leak. Start by performing a visual inspection of the slave cylinder, clutch master cylinder, and lines.

 

Hello, White EG1, thank you so much for the response. Very helpful. I bought the brake fluid last night but won't be able to do the bleed until the weekend. You make it sound so easy! LOL. I've watched multiple videos and I'm a little overwhelmed but I'm going to give it a go. Next up is to find where the bleeder valve is LOLOL

 

Hello, CarParts, I understand that I probably have a leak, but would sure like to be able to drive the car safely to a shop and was hoping that if I bleed it, that could happen.

Any idea what the repair would cost? I'm seeing 1200 and upwards for clutch replacement. Ouch.

Thank you!

 

You shouldn't need to replace the clutch itself for this particular problem. The issue is somewhere within the hydraulic control system (master cylinder, slave cylinder, or lines). As far as cost goes, it will depend on how much the shop charges for labor and what the actual problem ends up being. Good luck!

 

Oh, I sure hope that it's just one or the other or just the lines. Finally taking car in on Thursday. I haven't tried to bleed the lines yet myself because I lost my courage. I may still, before then, if nothing else, to get it to the shop. Otherwise, I'm gonna be driving there like a bat out of hell.

 

Man grow some ***** bro, anything they do at the shop you can do in your garage, driveway or **** even on the side of the road with basic tools. Trust me

I even wrote you a step to step? You probably don’t even need to take it to a shop, once you bleed it, and if there is a leak, inspecting the car will show you exactly where. We can even help you with the rest. And that’s totally free

Stop being scared, overcoming that fear will turn you into more of a courageous man than you are today. If you worried about breaking something it’s ok dude, it happens to the best of us. Professional techs at shops break stuff on your car all the time.. Difference is they will charge you for it, and say it was on the way out, or needs attention, and since your car is in the hands of the “trusted”.. Your most likely to fork out the bill.

Save yourself some money