Hey Everyone,

I got into my Lancer after returning from a week on a work trip, and when I got started, my clutch pedal lost all pressure, and after a few minutes I was unable to shift gears as well. I had to pull over when I got off of the interstate and turn the car off to shift gears again. The pedal is coming back up, but as I said, there is no pressure. Someone told me that it could be one of my cylinders or a clutch plate, but I would like to know what you guys think. The car was fine when I went to work, and sat there for a week without moving. Gotta love em! I'm kinda green when it comes to transmissions, so any help you guys can give will be appreciated. Thanks!

Taylor

 

It is a hydraulic clutch. Did you check the brake fluid level. I'm pretty sure the clutch runs from the brake master cylinder. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. But then again, if the level was so low that the clutch had no pressure, your brakes probably wouldn't work either.

 

Sounds like a loss of hydro pressure. Check the fluid levels, cylinders, and wrong back from there...Any visible leaks?

 

Not that I can tell yet, but I havent had a chance to really look it over. Would that also keep the gears from changing?

 

When you say, "Would that also keep the gears from changing?", do you mean that you can't shift, even when the car is turned off? If so, they might have something to do with the linkage.

 

lets start with this: a little bit more detailed explanation of the problem would help out a great deal.

-the car won't go into gear when it's running?
-will it go into gear while the engine is off?
-if you can drive it; does the clutch slip?
-etc.

in the mean time; check for leaks like mentioned earlier. it sounds like EITHER a leak OR air in the clutch line (if the problem occurs at random and is not consistent). try bleeding the clutch. if it is air in the line; that is the solution. if there is a leak; you will need to find it. HOWEVER, if the car will not go into gear at all when it the engine is running but will when it is not --> more likely than not it is your pressure plate.

mark


EDIT: i forgot to mention the slave cylinder --> if your slave cylinder is leaking and/or 'going bad' you will be able to tell. the pedal will gradually get mushier over time. in most cases there isn't a sudden and complete failure. they wear out over time, thus it is able to be noticed before it fails.

 

^^what he said, also, if the brake fluid is below the full line, that can indicate a leaking system. When I replaced my clutch, I had to fill to the brimb to keep fluid going into the clutch line. check to see if your clutch bleed "nipple" is loose. From there, follow the line back to the master cylinder checking for anything wrong with the line.

 

"filled to the brim" isn't necessarily good. overfilling the 'system' can cause premature failure of the slave cylinder.

what i forgot to mention is this-->the resevoir that houses the brake fluid is also responsible for housing the clutch fluid. they are one in the same. HOWEVER, there is a small divider in the resevoir to seperate the brake lines from the clutch line. a lot of times the resevoir appears full BUT it is not. shine a flashlight into the resevoir and check the level in the backside. i'll post a picture to clarify what i am talking about.

EDIT: here are the pic's to give you an idea of where you are looking.

mark

 

yeah, I just meant when I was refilling the clutch line

 

gotcha

 

ok, let's see

gears Will shift when car is off
gears Will Not shift when car is running

Clutch does not slip

clutch pedal has no pressure.

My father drove it a few weeks earlier and said he thought the pedal was looser than normal. (tells me now after it happens...figures)

Thanks,

Taylor

 

if you try and shift when the car is running does it get 'stuck' in whatever gear you are in OR does it attempt to go into a new gear only it grinds the syncro?

sounds more like a pressure plate. i did that before.

 

it gets stuck in gear. Depending on the speed it might shift(not easily) into gear, but at higher speed (45mph Up) it will not shift at all. Middle speed it will be hard to get in and out and will grind. Sound more like the plate?

 

pressure plate or the slave cylinder. the slave on the 02-03's is internal so you'll have to pull the tranny either way.

 

Ain't that a B. ( DOH!) I appreciate your help. You know of any places where I could get either part at a good price?