Clutch help please for my ST-185

bullet781

New member
I've done several searches and haven't found exactly what I was needing so please don't shoot the poster, but...

Here's my latest issue with the car. When the engine is on, I can't engage any gears, presumably because depressing the
clutch pedal is not having the normal effect. With the engine off, I can select any of the gears, and if I start the car in a gear it 'jumps' which implies the clutch *is* engaged and the gear selection is working. I am a bit wary of doing this too much as I don't want to put unnecessary strain on any other components in the clutch/gearbox.

This happened about 5 months ago - same issue on the side of the interstate. After I sat for an hour or so, I was able to get it to go through all the gears while running and got it home. Local mechanic looked at it and found nothing wrong - and since I've put another 1200 miles on her with no issues or similar symptoms until Sunday.

My guess is clutch master or cylinder - does that sound right? Is there anything simpler that could cause these symptoms? As it stands I'm going to have to get it towed to a mechanic as I can't drive it at the moment.

I'm the second owner - not sure if this is the original clutch (I doubt it). 153K miles.
 

___Scott___

Active member
It sounds like either the master or slave cylinder is having trouble. Either one or both may be leaking. Look on the inside of the firewall, behind the carpet to see if the master cylinder is leaking. The slave cylinder is tougher to tell since it's usually covered in oil from other leaks anyway.

If you need to keep adding fluid to the reservoir, you have a leak somewhere.
 

FC Zach

Active member
If there are no leaks, you may have a damaged pressure plate that is not disengaging the disc. Same thing happened to me. I didn't see any leaks and needlessly replaced both the master and slave only to find that it was the clutch later after finally removing the engine and tranny.

Check the fluid and bleed it first as already mentioned.
 

underscore

Well-known member
Is that something that could possibly be checked for using the inspection cover or by removing the starter?
 

aus jd 2703

New member
Although it's unlikely the cause. Check the adjustment of the peddle. It's free to try. Otherwise check for leaks and air. Clamp off the flexible line to check master
 

FC Zach

Active member
underscore":1dq821yi said:
Is that something that could possibly be checked for using the inspection cover or by removing the starter?

No, not really. I tried myself and even used one of those fancy flexible camera scope thingies.
 

Rallly

New member
aus jd 2703":gubhpqvc said:
Although it's unlikely the cause. Check the adjustment of the peddle. It's free to try. Otherwise check for leaks and air. Clamp off the flexible line to check master


What does clamping the flex line to check master do?
 

aus jd 2703

New member
cant pump fluid due to it being blocked, there for if it goes to the floor quickly its likely air and slowly is likely needs a rebuild.
 

Rallly

New member
Okay so after clamping rubber clutch line, if pedal goes to floor quickly it's air in the lines and can be blead? And if it goes slowly to floor I need to rebuild my master?
 
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