I got in my car one day and the car would not shift into gear. I had the car towed to my mechanic and he found a leak in the hose that goes to the slave cylinder. Replaced it, bled the clutch and still no dice. Long story short, it has been 5 days and we have replaced that hose, the slave cylinder and the clutch master cylinder. Bled out all of the air and started the car. It shifted like butter in each gear and the clutch felt nice and stiff. A few seconds later it softens up and then I can't engage the gear shifter into any gear again. Everyday I get off work and go to work on my car w/ my mechanic. Everyday we replace another part with the same result. Bleed out all the air and it shifts fine, start it up, and back to square one. I am so frustrated right now. I told my mechanic today that I wanted to take it to Nissan, but he told me to have faith in him and that Nissan will charge an arm and a leg. At this point I don't care if I pay a bit more with Nissan, I just want the car back fixed. My mechanic thinks the next step is to pull the tranny and replace the clutch. I need to get the car working so I can sell it and buy a 2002 6 speed. My car is a 95 Maxima with an ACT clutch. The ACT has never given me any problems. Does anyone have any input at all? I would appreciate any help at all. What is the problem?

 

Bump

 

Bleeding is simple. Get a clear hose to put onto the lower and upper bleeder valves. Do the upper first. Then loosen the valve and place the other end of the hose in a container full of brake fluid. Then pump the clutch until the fluid flows and you will see the bubbled escaping. Do this until the fluid in the resevoir is low. Then refill and try again until no bubbles remain. Once your done turn on the car and pump the clutch to get the fluid going again and make sure there are no leaks. Should be fine after this.

 

Thanks for the reply, but I know how to bleed out the air, it's just that more air keeps getting into the hydraulic system. My mechanic and I have no idea where it is coming from. We cannot find any leaks anywhere. He wants to pull the tranny to look at the clutch. I think I'm going to take it to Nissan tomorrow. I was just hoping to avoid going to them.

 

Look up motorvate.ca how-to for bleeding clutch He's got a '95 SE.

 

 

If it just won't shift into gear, then there's something bigger wrong. Can you shift it into gear when the car is not running? if not, then your tranny is probably toast....or at least the shift linkage.

If you can push in the clutch pedal, and it springs back fine, but does not engage, then there's something wrong with your clutch.

If you push the pedal in and it sometimes sticks to the floor, then you need to bleed again.....

IanS

 

my guess is the pressure plate

 

take it to a new mechanic that knows what they're doing.

 

Just took it into Nissan. The clutch is shot.

 

Dude, I totally feel for you. I had the same (well, not quite as bad) experience with mine. I had a leak in that same hose (seems to be a common spot for leaks) and replaced it myself. Had a huge bottle of fluid and spent 3 hours trying to bleed the SOB with no success. Followed the factory service manual instructions to the letter and had no luck. Finally said f' it and managed to drive it in 3rd gear all the way to the dealer to bleed it. $90 later they had it perfectly bled. They oviously had some trick that they used that I know nothing about.

Take the car to a dealer and let them do it. You at least get someone to yell at should if not get done properly.

 

Maybe they vacuum bled it? I have the MityVac vacuum bleeder...sucks stuff from the nipple, as opposed to pushing w/the clutch pedal.
I'm glad your problem's fixed!
Jae

 

Sorry to hear that....unfortunately, that's what I thought it was.

Could be worse...could be your tranny.