UPDATED-YACT: What the heck is going on with my car?

[Hankerton]

Pardon my ignorance, but I don't know a whole lot about cars. I've got a 98 Eclipse, and this morning I get in my car and all of the sudden from the time I left the driveway, it was really difficult to shift into gear. Maybe I was thinking too much into it, but it felt like my clutch wasn't as tight as it was last night when I drove home. I don't know what could have happened between yesterday and today, but I'm afraid I'm going to be driving home and I'm not going to be able to shift into gear.

Thanks a lot in advance, I hope this doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to get fixed.

Update:: So I went out to my car during lunch and I discovered that there is in fact fluid leaking onto the floor of the car. Not a lot, but you can see the fluid on the floor. So does this mean I just have a leak of hydraulic fluid? Also, do you think I'm going to be able to make it home from work tonight? (~ 50 miles).

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Was there a grinding noise? Or was it slipping, like it couldn't catch the gear?

 

[Hankerton]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
Was there a grinding noise? Or was it slipping, like it couldn't catch the gear?

I had gotten grinding noises in the past, but that only usually happened when I wouldn't push the clutch in far enough. This morning I had to push the clutch in really hard in order for it to get into gear smoothly. Otherwise it almost seemed like it was stuck in neutral. Like I said, it took an extra effort to get the car into gear.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

<cpt obvious>

its clutch related

</cpt obvious>

 

[Hankerton]

Originally posted by: HomeBrewerDude
<cpt obvious>

its clutch related

</cpt obvious>

Yeah, but could you tell me what the problem is? Is this an expensive fix, etc.?

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Yeah, if you can't get it into gear easily, and it feels like it's slipping, it's probably time to get the clutch checked out.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: Hankerton

Originally posted by: HomeBrewerDude
<cpt obvious>

its clutch related

</cpt obvious>

Yeah, but could you tell me what the problem is? Is this an expensive fix, etc.?

To replace the clutch on my old CRX, it was about $300.00, but I had a friend do it and I helped him.

To go to a mechanic...$$$$$$

I'd get someone to look at it for you. It's hard to tell over the forum.

 

[Chunkee]

maybe the actuator is going bad....did it help once it got warmed up?

pressure plate demise is usually symptomized by slipping

 

[CraigRT]

it's not necessarily the clutch, I had this problem when my car after I missed a shift really hard once... I was told the forks inside the transmission got bent from jamming really hard... I got it fixed under warranty (I was surprised) and it's a lot better now, but still sometimes gives me a hard time to engage, I just deal with it

 

[iamwiz82]

Do you see any leaks? Without looking at it, no one can tell you exactly what is going on, just educated (or not) guesses. Have you checked the hydraluic fluid? Has any work been done to the car? Was the clutch adjusted recently?

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
Yeah, if you can't get it into gear easily, and it feels like it's slipping, it's probably time to get the clutch checked out.

Doesn't sound to me like it's slipping...

Check your master/slave clutch cylinders maybe? That could be the problem.

And, teach yourself how to revmatch and shift without the clutch, just in case:evil:

 

[interkool]

You could also be low on clutch fuild. If you still feel back pressure when you engage the clutch then more than likely you are just low on fuild. If your clutch does not come back up then it could the the master cylinder for the clutch. good luck

 

[Hankerton]

Originally posted by: Chunkee
maybe the actuator is going bad....did it help once it got warmed up?

pressure plate demise is usually symptomized by slipping

Actually it did get a bit better as the car warmed up. But it was still difficult the entire trip. I have a 60 miles commute, and it got a little better about half way there.

Also, I don't believe there are any leaks.

 

[Hankerton]

Originally posted by: interkool
You could also be low on clutch fuild. If you still feel back pressure when you engage the clutch then more than likely you are just low on fuild. If your clutch does not come back up then it could the the master cylinder for the clutch. good luck

I do feel back pressure, but it doesn't seem to be as tight as it was.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: interkool
You could also be low on clutch fuild. If you still feel back pressure when you engage the clutch then more than likely you are just low on fuild. If your clutch does not come back up then it could the the master cylinder for the clutch. good luck

WTH is clutch fluid? There is no fluid in a clutch for a stick shift. You must think of the torque converter in an automatic.

 

[Scarpozzi]

You could probably go out and buy a $12 manual for your car and replace the clutch yourself if that turns out to be the problem. Take it to some mechanics for estimates while it's still drivable and see if they can diagnose the problem. Take it to the places that give free estimates like Pep Boys...

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: interkool
You could also be low on clutch fuild. If you still feel back pressure when you engage the clutch then more than likely you are just low on fuild. If your clutch does not come back up then it could the the master cylinder for the clutch. good luck

WTH is clutch fluid? There is no fluid in a clutch for a stick shift. You must think of the torque converter in an automatic.

Umm sorry to correct you as such, but clutches have been at least partially hydraulic for some time now.. they have a type of master cylinder and use fluids..

 

[Hankerton]

Damn, I hope its just a fluid issue. I'm not trying to spend a billion dollars for a new clutch. I just had the breaks replaced.

 

You had to push the clutch in really hard? As opposed to really soft?
I don't understand.

Try shifting while pushing the clutch to the floor.

 

[Hankerton]

Originally posted by: SampSon
You had to push the clutch in really hard? As opposed to really soft?
I don't understand.

Try shifting while pushing the clutch to the floor.

I know that sounds weird. But I had to really jam the pedal into the floor for the gears to shift fairly normal.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Hellspawn

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: interkool
You could also be low on clutch fuild. If you still feel back pressure when you engage the clutch then more than likely you are just low on fuild. If your clutch does not come back up then it could the the master cylinder for the clutch. good luck

WTH is clutch fluid? There is no fluid in a clutch for a stick shift. You must think of the torque converter in an automatic.

Umm sorry to correct you as such, but clutches have been at least partially hydraulic for some time now.. they have a type of master cylinder and use fluids..

You mean hydraulics to engage/disengage the clutch right? In that case I understand otherwise I don't but I'll retract my statement if I'm wrong.

 

Originally posted by: Hankerton

Originally posted by: SampSon
You had to push the clutch in really hard? As opposed to really soft?
I don't understand.

Try shifting while pushing the clutch to the floor.

I know that sounds weird. But I had to really jam the pedal into the floor for the gears to shift fairly normal.

Could be the clutch master slave. Could be the synchros. Could be the rails the gears ride on.

Realistically if it keeps you up need to have a mechanic look at it. No one on a forum can diagnose your problem effectively.

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Hellspawn

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: interkool
You could also be low on clutch fuild. If you still feel back pressure when you engage the clutch then more than likely you are just low on fuild. If your clutch does not come back up then it could the the master cylinder for the clutch. good luck

WTH is clutch fluid? There is no fluid in a clutch for a stick shift. You must think of the torque converter in an automatic.

Umm sorry to correct you as such, but clutches have been at least partially hydraulic for some time now.. they have a type of master cylinder and use fluids..

You mean hydraulics to engage/disengage the clutch right? In that case I understand otherwise I don't but I'll retract my statement if I'm wrong.

It is very easy to change out the fluid if you are low. I did it on an freinds eclipse about 2 weeks ago. You need a small bottle of brake fluid (I prefer valvoline synpower), but any DOT3 will do. Then you need a piece of clear tubing to fit over the bleeder screw on the slave cylinder. It is on the drivers side on the transmission by the lower radiator hose. Space is tight down there if you dont jack up the car. To loosen the bleeder screw, I use a 10mm deep 6pt socket because sometimes the flare wrench can slip, and you don't want a bleeder screw you cannot remove. To tighten it back up, just use a 10mm flare or open end wrench; tighten by hand till it stops, then give it maye a 1/32 or 1/16 quick tug to snug. Do NOT tighten too much or it will be both hard to loosen again or can break off.

Take the tubing after you've loosened the bleeder screw (and hand tightened to prevent fluid from leaking) and place over the nipple of it. Then place the end of in in a old 20oz coke bottle or something. Then, while keeping an eye on the fluid level in the master cylinder resovoir, twist the screw open to allow the fluid to gravity bleed. When the fluid is approaching low in the master cylinder, twist the tubing to temp make the fluid stop, and refill the master cylinder resovoir. Then continue to bleed untill the fluid that comes through the slave cylinder is clear; this usually takes about half to 2/3 of a small bottle of brake fluid.

Once the fluid runs clear, tighten the bleeder screw (in case you want to know the torque spec is about 7 ft lbs for the bleeder screw), then top off the master cylinder resovoir. Be carefull not to spill any brake fuid on your paint; brake fluid is a very effective paint remover. If you do, wipe up immediately.

There is a way to adjust the height of the clutch pedal if need be, but that get a little involved. First thing you should check is make sure the master cylinder and the slave cylinder is not leaking any fluid. The clutch master cylinder is the small thing to the left of the brake fluid booster/resovoir. The cap just pulls off, though slightly twisting it helps.

 

[Hankerton]

Update at the top ^.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[TechnoKid]

So you are leaking clutch fluid. Hmm....If its just a loose bleeder screw ten you may be good. If its a leaking slave cylinder or a leaking master cylinder, then you are screwed untill you replace those. I suppose if it is a slow leak you can put some brake fluid in the master cylinder resovoir till you get home.

When you do get home, make sure you put something under that car so the fluid doens't get everywhere.