It is supposed to be sunny here this week, so I thought I would drive the Maxima. I haven't driven it more than a couple of blocks since the fall.

Anyway, I drove it to work this morning just fine. When I left to go home, I started out fine (normal driving here in town, other cars around), shifted into 2nd and the pedal felt odd. Shifted into 3rd and the pedal hit the floor and smoke started billowing from the engine bay, smelling like roasted clutch. I managed to coast into the parking lot of the local swimming pool.

Clutch wouldn't engage at all. Had to call someone to help me tow it home. I put it in the garage, where it will sit for a while until I get some free time to take things apart.

My best guess is the clutch broke into pieces or the springs came apart. I haven't had any clutch problems in any car, other than a bad slave in my first VE. Regardless, it looks like I am in for a new clutch and maybe ISB just to be safe.

 

Upon first reading this I thought something might be wrong with the hydraulic system. Since you mentioned the springs, that made me second guess that or the pp. If nothing is wrong with the hydraulics then its the disc. Its nothing to me after all I've been through (last 8 months) of trying to figure out why mine wouldn't move.

 

I should have added something really strange, almost crazy.

When I first pulled into the parking lot, this teenage kid rolled up on a bicycle and asked if I needed help. As luck would have it, he works at a transmission shop that his dad owns. We checked out what we could and it didn't seem like the hydraulics had any problems. He was telling me that just a couple of days ago, they were working on a Ferrari transmission. haha

When my last Maxima had a bad slave, it went slowly. The current incident happened in roughly 2-3 times shifting the car.

 

No popping sound? That would indicate spring in the clutch turned side ways. Clutch master cylinder still full of clutch fluid? Only time my clutch peddle dropped on me like yours did you was when the boot that goes into the car from the clutch master cylinder got a hole in it. I think it's something to do with hydralic becuase mechanical would still have the pedwww.dle pushing back up.

 

where did the fluid go on yours?

I didn't see any fluid, the reservoir is still full and when that kid helped me, we figured out that the metal rod that pushes the lever on the trans had gone sideways from whatever happened. He put that back straight and the pedal now goes up. When you try to push the transmission lever, it is very difficult.

I also had my stereo on kind of loud, so I didn't hear what happened that well.

 

About the only way the slave cylinder rod should/would come off is if the clutch fork suddenly lost pressure/came detached. The only time that ever happened to me is when my TOB broke and allowed the clutch fork to go wonky. But I didn't have any burnt clutch smell or smoke, though.

 

It's pressure plate related I had a somewhat similar experience in the 5.5 when I first got it.

 

You might be able to get the bottom 1/2 moon plate off the bottom of the tranny and look up at the PP.

 

I think what I am going to do is replace the ISB in my original transmission, then start new with a new clutch and install that. I can figure out what's wrong with the current one. It was starting to whine pretty loud in 1st gear.

I did a google search for "ACT clutch failure" and I have seen several images like this:




(This is NOT mine and I have no idea if this is what happened, but it seems possible)

 

When my black vg 5 lost pressure it leaked into the cab at my feet and had the carpet moist with clutch fluid. My tk3 has no such issue as I just replaced every last part of the clutch system including clutch hard lines. Still keeping the distributor block with cooling lines and bleeder screw. Unlike most who did away with those parts. I keep it to how nissan designed it. That coiled line serves a purpose.

 

Damn! I hope mine never does this.

 

Had mine break on three of the for sides of the center were the clutch center meets the outter end of the clutch disc. Also one of the springs popped sideways.