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Clutch problems

Just yesterday I noticed a potential problem with my clutch. It seemed like it was getting worse as I drove to work today, but I may have just been getting paranoid. In any case, it's not like it normally is.

The first symptom I noticed is that the clutch engages almost immediately when releasing my foot from fully depressing the pedal. And by almost immediately I mean less than an inch of travel. The pedal feels very soft as I press it in, and I don't remember it engaging so quickly. Also, I've been having trouble getting the gear shift knob into gear. This happens both when driving, and certainly when at a stop and trying to get it back into 1st.

Do these symptoms point to any one possible cause? What should I try to look at first? Am I risking big troubles by trying to continue driving it until this is fixed?

Thanks for any and all help.

By the way, anybody know a good Miata mechanic in the Portland, Oregon area? Preferably on the west side?

Reply to
Mark
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Yes: they're classic symptoms of a leaking slave cylinder. Confirm by peeling back the cylinder boot to check for leaking fluid (it should be dry in there).

Reply to
Lanny Chambers

I'm at work now and don't have any of my manuals. Is the clutch fluid reservoir that small circular reservoir tucked in the rear right of the engine comparment (about 8 inches or so to the right of the brake fluid reservoir)? Mine is completely dry, so I guess the leaky slave cylinder is right on the mark. Should I try to find some DOT 3 fluid to put in there before attempting to drive it home?

Thanks.

Reply to
Mark

Yep, yep, yep. It should quickly return to normal function once you have some fluid in there and use the clutch a bit, mine did under identical circumstances. You can get by for a while topping the fluid up when it needs it.

miker

Reply to
miker

I have to say a big kudos to Les Schwab here. There aren't any car stores within walking distance of my work other than Les Schwab. I called them and asked if they had DOT 3 for sale, and the guy in the brake shop said they didn't, but if I drove the car over he'd top it up for me. Even made sure to let me know it was dry for a reason and when I told him what I'd been reading, pointed out the slave cylinder to me. All without any pressure for a sale or any charges. Very nice and helpful.

Now I can go home at the end of the day and start acquiring the parts and tools for the replacement.

Thanks all for the info.

Reply to
Mark

It'll be a mighty tough job... Two bolts, a $12-ish dollar slave rebuild kit, and roughly an hour of tough :)

Hardest part of the whole operation is likely to be a toss-up between the "strain" of jacking it up to get underneath, and getting it bled out proper once you've got the wrenching finished.

Reply to
Don Bruder

OK, wish I'd read this thread first :-)

Parts needed: new slave cylinder Tools: 10mm brake union wrench, 12mm socket, 12mm ring wrench, ratchet handle with extension bar, bleed tube. Other materials: clutch fluid to top up (DOT3 or DOT4), copper grease for the big end of the pushrod where it seats in the clutch fork.

The 12mm retaining bolts will be pretty seized unless you live in a very dry place, hence use a six point socket if possible, and use some penetrating fluid the night before. The top bolt is removed using your ratchet and extension bar, the bottom one can be got at from underneath with the ring spanner.

Be careful not to overtighten the pipe union; don't use more than two fingers' strength on the wrench, and make doubly sure it's not cross threaded. Take time to bleed the new cylinder carefully, ideally with a friend to pump the pedal rather than using a one-way tube; a little air in there can really mess up the clutch action.

My cylinder was changed last week, but I didn't do it myself; it was done by the local garage as part of a major replacement involving a new

3-piece clutch, the main crank oil seal, the gearbox oil seals and the spigot bearing. All for a 3 quid spigot bearing which had partially seized, causing a grating sound when the clutch was disengaged.
Reply to
Zog The Undeniable

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