Merry X-mas.


So,christmas eve, on my way to an X-mas party my clutch just stopped working while I was driving. Its a 95 max with 228,000 miles on it.

Basically I can start the car (even without pressing down the clutch). I can shift the car into all the gears without pressing down the clutch (whether the car is on or not). Absoultely nothing happens. No grind, no nothing. Clutch will not engage. I can't even bang the clutch into gear.

I have pressure in the clutch system and there is fluid in the resevoir.

What could it be? Does a bad clutch master cylinder or slave cylinder cause this?

I have had NO symptoms of a bad transmission..no grinding no nothing, this happened out of no where.

It seems like something is not connected. Does anyone know anything about the shift linkage or the shift gate....could the linkage be severed or unaligned?

Thanks.

 

If any of you local transmission guys are reading please give me your 2 cents. The guys at the local shop told me they can't figure out what's wrong, but seem to think its probably in the transmission. This shop does not do tranmissions.

So what to do now. My engine is rock solid, but I'd hate to dump more money into the car...

 

Do you hear any difference in engine sound/RPM when you push/release the clutch pedal, especially with the engine cold? (I know when I start my 2K up in the cold, and the RPMs are high, when I release the clutch pedal the RPMs drop a very tiny bit...)
This might hint to whether it's the clutch not engaging, or if it's an internal problem in the transmission.

 

Wow, what you describe is really strange. Does the clutch pedal feel normal? It's not stuck at the bottom of its travel?

The fact that you can shift without the clutch with the engine running indicates that the clutch is staying disengaged from the flywheel. Maybe your pressure plate broke or came loose from the flywheel. Hard to believe it would do that without making some kind of noise, though. And your clutch pedal wouldn't feel normal if that happened.

Or a broken input shaft, maybe?

 

Hmmm. I just don't know. Now I have to either have it towed to my house and tinker with it or pick a tranny show.

And to the questions above, The clutch feels normal and there is not drop in RPMs. I didn't hear anything when it stopped working.

My gut tells me its not the tranny but something simpler.....but I don't really know.

 

have someone press the clutch for you. Go to the top of the tranny while they are pressing on the clutch and see if the slave cylinder is pressing on the fork. If is not then something is wrong with your master cylinder or have a leak somewhere.

If your slave cylinder is pressing on the fork then your master cylinder and lines are fine.

Did you put it in gear and try to take off? if your car moves then your clutch is fine.

 

Yes, I can put it gear and nothing happens. I doesn' matter if I do it with the car on or off, not even if I start the car in gear. Nothing happens. What is odd, is that I can start the car without pressing down on the clutch. Prior to this problem I had to push the clutch down to start the car.

I'll have to try the test with the slave. However, I have pressure in the system and fluid in the resevoir.

What is wrong with the tranny?

 

Looking really weird!!

Seems to have two problem for the same price!!

Your clutch switch seems to be all f**ed up, cause the car start even if the clutch is released. (Maybe just the switch stick as if it was depressed!!)

And Something wrong with the tranny too (which problem? : Don't have a clue)

 

Because of the fact that you can start your car without depressing the clutch, I would DEFINATELY look at the switch pressed when you depress your clutch. That is a very strange behavior. I've never actually looked at the linkage myself but that switch failing in the closed position could probably be your problem.

 

One last bump. Anyone else?
Thanks for the responses.
I was hoping someone experienced the same thing and would reply, but oh well.

I am currently looking for a used tranny now.

 

Man, I just had my car towed to a local transmission specialist and he told me my car just needs a new clutch. on the one hand, I'm glad because its only a $600 job. However, on the otherhand, I'm kind of ****ed off that after taking the car to two mechanics who couldn't tell what th problem is, that my only problem is the clutch.

 

I don't know it's kind of weird. Clutch just going of without a prior notice. First it has to start slipping, then it will almost imposible to move the car, and then it dies. Oh well, if it's not the clutch you can tell mechanic you are not paying him $hit for the new clutch because he was wrong.

 

was it a stock clutch?

 

Yes stock clutch. Now get this, the mechanic just called and said "the support bracket for one of the axles is broken" What part is he refering too? He is going to try and find a used part. God I hope this isn't expensive.

 

I don't know what the F he is talking about but it's starting to seem really wierd I would go over to the shop and tell him to show it to you. It's going to be another one of the $1200 dollar jobs that I've been hearing about

 

The passanger axle is held in the middle by a bracket. Its like $120 new from nissan. That thing is solid Iron and heavy so Im not shure how you broke that thing

 

I recently had new axles installed. Could the shop that installed the axles have botched the job somehow?

 

Its sounds to m like its your throw out bearing or your clutch cylinder.

And you can start the car without pushing in the clutch, make sure the car is in neutral and cral under the steering wheel to look under the clutch pedal and you well see a button that is pushed when the clutch pedal is to the floor. Push this button with your finger and see if the car will start. the bootm is kindoff at the top part of the pedal, i wish it wasnt so cold out cause id show but look and youll find it.

 

wish i could of caught this earlier..yea its ur clutch..
it went to clutch heaven.