clutch problem maybe pressure plate? please help :)

[halfblackaaron]

so I was driving down the road when a ball joint broke which thrashed my front driver side axle.

I had the car taken to my mechanic and he replaced both parts. when I came to pick it up he had mentioned that he had to refill the clutch fluid and that I might need to pump it before I drive it. so I did and it worked fine.

two and half weeks later I go out and sit in my car and when I push the clutch in it goes straight to the floor without any resistance. when i told him (my mechanic) about it he said that the pressure plate might have a leak and may need to be replaced. regardless of the problem I know that either I can fix it or he can, but I would like to know where the fluid goes in order for me to refill it and bleed it so I can at least get it to the shop.

so basically my questions are where do I put that fluid in at and then where is the bleeder screw? thanks!

-Aaron

[Inodoro Pereyra]

Ok Aaron, first, the best advise I can give you is GET A NEW MECHANIC!
That guy either doesn't know what he's talking about, or he's just trying to scare you to make some extra money.
First, move your car so you will have some room in front of it. Get in the car, put it in first gear, and with the clutch pedal depressed, try to start it. Does the car jump forward? If it does, your pressure plate is just fine. By the way: tell your "mechanic" that pressure plates don't leak...
Then, look at the floor under your car. Is there any fluid spilled?
If your floor is clean, the most likely culprit for your problem is your clutch master or slave cylinder ( my money is on the master). You will see the slave cylinder in the front lower corner of the clutch bellhousing. On its end, you will see the bleeder fitting. The master cylinder will be on the firewall, under the brake booster (follow the hose that goes from the brake reservoir).
Bleed your system thoroughly, using plenty of new brake fluid (keep the reservoir full at all times). When you open the bleeder and depress the pedal, does brake fluid shoot from the center hole?
If it does, finish bleeding and try your clutch again. If it still doesn't work, replace your slave cylinder.
If when you're bleeding it, brake fluid doesn't shoot off the open bleeder fitting when you depress the pedal, you're gonna have to replace the master cylinder.

Hope it wasn't too confusing...

[_-Night-Shade-_]

I thought the clutch pedal has to be pressed down in order to start the car...?

[Inodoro Pereyra]

I thought the clutch pedal has to be pressed down in order to start the car...?

It does. That's why I said "with the clutch pedal depressed, try to start it."

[_-Night-Shade-_]

The word 'depressed' always confuses me

[Inodoro Pereyra]

Now you made me go running for the dictionary...

[Mad Cow]

The word 'depressed' always confuses me

English has a way of confusing immigrants.

[halfblackaaron]

Thanks for the info.. I'm actually making progress to finding the problem now.

As for my mechanic, if anything I missunderstood him..he may have said something else. But I know that he has definately saved me alot of money in the past and is very trustworthy.

So update* I attempted to bleed the line but it doesn't look like I'm doing it right. I have someone pump the clutch about 5 times and then hold it down 3/4 of the way. Then I open the bleeder and let the fluid drain until the flow nearly stops and then I tighten it. I did this many many times and never did the clutch start to tighten up, and never did the fluid squirt out. Maybe once I recall fluid actually squirting out for a split second. So how long do I continue bleeding? Or is it safe to say I need a slave cylinder?

[Inodoro Pereyra]

Read this:

http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph ... 62#p528562

[tehbrookzorz]

The other possibility is that the clutch line between master and slave is leaking. The fluid must be going somewhere.

[halfblackaaron]

ok so if I were to have a leak somewhere.. wouldn't my brake fluid be empty? because the both use the same reservoir don't they?

so come to think of it.. before I attempted to bleed my clutch I topped of the fluid to the max line (actually a tad above) but it was never that low. so If they both use the same reservoir then I don't have a leak,if thats the case then my problem has got to be something else..

[halfblackaaron]

it was the slave cylinder, as soon as I put it on my line bled perfectly. thank you for the help people