Help with Clutch Problem

[RevJunky]

While exiting the freeway and downshifting the car suddenly wasn't able to shift gears anymore. After some diagnoses, here's what it does and maybe someone can help me figure out what the issue could be. First off, clutch pressure is normal, consistent, smooth, no visible leaks anywhere in the system (lines, master/slave cylinder). When the car is running, no rattling or abnormal sounds, if I depress the clutch I can't shift into any gears. When the car is off, I can go through all the gears so I guess this rules out shifter linkage or cables.

Now here's the interesting part. If I put the car in 1st while the car is off, with the clutch fully depressed, I can start the car but the clutch is partially grabbing and it feel like I have the clutch halfway depressed and I can still modulate the clutch but I just can't get it to fully diengage when I fully depress the pedal. If I press the clutch down all the way I can still pop it out 1st into neutral with ease. Basically it feel like the clutch pedal lost half it's stroke range but the pressure feels consistent all the way through. In my experience, you can usually feel it in the clutch pedal if there is a leak or something wrong with the hydraulic system.

I'm thinking it has something to do with the clutch master or slave cylinder but doesn't anyone have any more thoughts?

[RFM]

I would at least begin to bleed the system well and see what it gives, parts can be replaced later on if still no result.

[wvicary]

I agree with RFM, completely flush the clutch hydraulics and see if that restores operation. If not perhaps the clutch disc has separated.

[RevJunky]

I agree with RFM, completely flush the clutch hydraulics and see if that restores operation. If not perhaps the clutch disc has separated.

Thanks for the tip, I'll try bleeding the system first. Wouldn't it rattle or make some noise if the clutch disc separated? I'm still able to smoothly modulate the clutch if I start the car in 1st gear, I just can't get it to fully disengage enough to shift.

[zedex]

Yea. Sounds like master cylinder. I wonder if the MS was low in fluid and from clutch operation air got into the lines.

[RevJunky]

Yea. Sounds like master cylinder. I wonder if the MS was low in fluid and from clutch operation air got into the lines.

I checked the MS and it was at the max line. Maybe the master or slave cylinder blew an inner seal. I'm currently trying to replace the master and slave cylinders but having a hard time getting the slave cylinder out. Hopefully I won't have to remove the transmission.

[mattatk]

Mate, I had similar with my 01 S. changed master cylinder & problem went away. Pulled master apart out of curiosity & internal rubber seal was eroded & obviously was letting fluid past.

Good luck!

[RevJunky]

For the sake of other that might have the same issue, here's an update. I replaced both cluch cylinders to no avail so I ended up taking the transmission off to examine the clutch. At first, everything looked perfectly fine. It took quite a while before I could find that something had failed on the pressure plate. There's a "ring" that goes above and below the outside of the "teeth" and it looks like one of them broke. There are no signs of anything out of place except for the little piece that's sticking down into one of the opening. I couldn't have even imagined something like this happening or even know how it could happen but it did. Hopefully this helps someone diagnose a similar problem in the future but I looks like a freak incident to me.

New pressure plate on top, failed one on the bottom.

[wvicary]

Glad you got it sorted.