DID MY CLUTCH GO OUT ?

[JAYCEE]

This morning I sucked all of the clutch fluid out of my 89 Mazda B2600i 4x4 with a turkey baster. The old fluid was black. I put in new dot 3 brake fluid and went around the block. I have done this several times before with this truck over the past year.

At the first stop sign, I noticed that it was hard to shift into first gear and it was moving forward slightly when I tried to force the transmission into gear. Same with reverse. I finally got it into gear and made it back home. I pumped the clutch several times and then it stayed down on the floor. The clutch is still down. I can pull the pedal up but the clutch itself stays down.

How can I fix this?

Thanks!

 

[nobadges]

Maybe you go some air in the system?

 

[kendogg441]

Sounds like it could be a few problems. First off, if the fluid black, there is a heat issue. I'm going to guess that your TO bearing is sticking, or tehre is some kind of resistance/friction there ausing a build up of heat, and once the fluid gets hot, it loses it's ability to not compress nearly as much, and it will absorb water much faster.

Basically, sounds liek your TO bearing may be toast. It's heating up your fluid, allowing it to compess more, basicaly not fully dis-engaging your clutch. I'd be pulling the clutch first and foremost, and inspecting everything. Replace parts where needed. Last thing you need is for that clutch to leave you stranded.

If your slave cylinder is bad, it'll leak externall most of the time. But, have a partner watch it closely, with the vehicle off, and hold your foot to the floor on the clutch pdel. The slave should no move back inwards. If so, you have 1 of 2 problems - Eitehr a bad slave, or master, most liekly a master. But, if your gonna do the maser, the slave is cheap and easy, and dumb not to replace at the same time.

Good luckj.

 

[97f150]

You have allowed air into the system some kind of way when sucking the old fluid out. Bleed the lines and all should be fine for a while. Also, heed kenndoggs advice, black fluid is not normal, especially if it was done several times in less than a year.

 

[labman]

*iatrogenic (iatro- + Gr. gennan to produce) resulting from the activity of physicians. Originally applied to disorders induced in the patient by autosuggestion based on the physician's examination, manner, or discussion, the term is now applied to any adverse condition in a patient occurring as the result of treatment by a physician or surgeon, especially to infections acquired by the patient during the course of treatment. Cf. nosocomial.

This is why I say not to change brake fluid. A good example of an unnecessary procedure causing a problem. I traded my 92 grand Am 5 speed off at 10 years with 180K, with the factory fill in the clutch. It still didn't look that bad. What did you put in it that turned black so soon?

 

[Tosh]

Labman seems to be suggesting that one shouldn't maintain one's car for fear of it spitefully turning against you. I force myself to believe that cars are inanimate objects that obey the laws of physics, no matter how mysterious and charismatic (even romantic) they might appear to the superstitious onlooker.
Further, my anecdotal evidence supports (and owner's manual recommends) that brake and clutch fluid should be changed on a regular basis.

 

[labman]

what I am saying is changing the clutch fluid isn't maintaining your car, it is playing around. The more you play around, the more times you are going to mess up. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Master ACiD]

playing around is when you are doing e brake burnouts in a front wheel drive.

flushing the clutch fluid isnt playing around. its preventitive maintence. so youre car went 10 years without a clutch problem. so what? im sure the previous owner is cursing you for not changing out the fluid, as he has probably had to replace some of the hydraulic parts by now.

my clutch slave cylinder went for 6 years before it started leaking. i had not bled it once. i put a new slave put on and now i bleed it every year to keep it nice and clean inside and if there is _any_ chance that bleeding the clutch hydraulics will prolong their life even a little bit, its worth it.

 

[JAYCEE]

UPDATE: I bled the master cyl. It was full of black fluid. (I have only done the turkey baster method in the past.) I used the 2-man method of bleeding after a gravity drain got all of the old fluid out. Seems to be ok now.

Thanks!

 

[andyd]

The durn things have only so many cycles in them. Hydraulic clutch bits are wear items ,just like brake pads. If they work , they're fine. No need to play with them until they need it. They will eventually