'91 300zx TT, push clutch in, car won't go into gear

[w8lifter21]

I jumped in my car last night heading home from work. Noticed that it was extremely difficult to get the car into first, then a little easier into 2nd, etc. Figured it was due to the cold.(~45 deg.) I noticed while driving home last night that the clutch felt different. Pedal still has full travel, but seems to me completely disengaged only about 1" off the floor.

Jump in the car this morning (~55deg), fire it up, let it warm up for a min. Push clutch in, car won't go into any gear. Nothing grinds as I try to put it in gear, but I can feel the car lurch ever so slightly. Shifter moves freely left and right, I just can't push it into any gear.

A little more background. The past few months, the clutch pedal would "change feeling". Sometimes when I would drive, it would be a little more firm than other times. Sometimes, a little less firm than average. Now, I'm not talking huge differences that would greatly affect or change the way I would have to drive, but it is definitely noticeable. Maybe there is a clutch adjustment that needs to be made?

Car is a '91 300zx TT, ~100k, daily driver while the weather is nice.

[fleabay]

I have the same problem with my 720 pickup (stick shift). I noticed a fluid leak on the firewall behind the clutch pedal. The leak was traced back to the clutch master cylinder which I have now replaced. I have bled the system but still I have no response from the clutch. I can change through the gears when vehicle is turned off but not once running. If I put it into first gear then try starting - with clutch depressed - the vehicle lurches forward because depressing clutch doesn't put it into neutral. I really don't know if the clutch pedal 'feels' normal or not because I haven't driven this vehicle much. There is some pressure I guess but it does feel pretty light. I guess I will change over the slave and see if that makes any difference.

[nothing]

That happened to my car ('91 240sx) as well. First thing I did was bleed the system. It made a difference for a day or two at most. Then the pedal would go back to either sticking to the floor or having a really soft feel. The engaging "sweet spot" (as I call it) would vary. Sometimes really close to the ground and sometimes really high. We replaced the clutch and it helped for maybe a month. Then I noticed my slave (operational) cylinder was leaking. I just rebuilt it last Saturday and I must say it shifts like butter and the engaging point has not changed.

In conclusion I would:1) Inspect fluid level and cleanliness of fluid.2) Inspect master and slave cylinders and lines (make sure they are not leaking).3) Bleed system with new dot 3 fluid. 4) If any of the cylinders are leaking I would rebuild.

I'm not sure if there is a way of checking a clutch besides driving it but I'd save replacing the clutch until the end.

Good luck with this. Let us know how it goes.

[fleabay]

Just thought I'd let you know I fixed my problem. It was a matter of adjustment. Three or four turns on the fork of the new master cylinder that attaches to the clutch pedal and all was fixed.

[heepee]

That was easy, I was thinking master cylinder rebuild.