Clutch pedal is sticking when pushed down. help.

[lance89240]

Just yesterday the clutch pedal started sticking and would only come up about half way. Today it got stuck all the way down. I can't change gears when it happens. It happens every 20 pushes. Also since i got the car two years ago it has never fully returned up. It usually stops an inch or so from the very top. I haven't had any problems with that, but now it's getting rediculous. I can pull the pedal up when it gets stuck with my foot, but man does it suck. Could it be the clutch master cylinder not getting enough pressure to push the pedal out? Or maybe the pedal assembly is gunky. There is a spring attached to the clutch pedal above it and it looks kinda dark and dirty but it still moves. If anyone has any info please let me know. I'm going to take it to a mechanic, i want to see if anyone else knows what it is so they don't have to search around for hours while they charge me. Thanks.

[srpowered240sx]

sounds like a bad master cylinder or slave cylinder. id say, bleed the system (only takes a bottle of brake fluid). it will give you a better idea of whats gone.

[lance89240]

I just got the brake master cylinder changed but yeah it might be the other, I didn't get that changed.

[srpowered240sx]

if the master is new and good, and the clutch pedal assembally doesnt seemed to be hanging up/catching/dragging on itself, then my vote would be the slave.

[pmkls2]

i have had that same problem intermittent for a long time but it doesnt happen as often as yours. First dont get a cheap aftermarket master cyl bite the bullet and get a nissan one. second check your pedal assembly and the return spring and make sure the spring isnt worn out or the pedal binding. I have been thru 4 masters 3 slaves and 2 hoses and have long since removed the dampener and still have a sucky clutch pedal feel. I would attribute at least part of that to my using advance parts instead of getting nissan ones.

[Sijonda]

I just started having this problem with my 1991 240SX SE.But I'm having different symptoms with my clutch. I let it sit for a week and didn't drive it (no problems with the clutch). but as soon as I got back to driving, the clutch would activate at a different spot. I drove it for about 2 miles and the clutch got worse as I went and eventually the clutch would be soft the whole way down to the floor until the last fiew inches. Yet the clutch would still engage and disengage to shift gears. I also noticed that if I pump the clutch like a brake, the pedal would stiffen back up again only to go soft once more. I ended up considering my car unsafe to drive until I get it fixed since pumping the clutch doesn't work anymore. This being caused by the same problems?

[Gramentz]

Nice threadjack, way to introduce yourself

I would start with the bleeding and go from there.

[irocknrol2]

That sounds like the slave cylinder is going bad.

[Sijonda]

Sorry. I forgot about posting in a newbie tread to introduce myself.Anyway my cuz took a look at it and he bled the clutch line.So, yea the slave cylinder is bad.

As for introducing myself. I'm posting elsewhere.zer...id=17

[purzzz]

Can anyone say for sure this is a slave or cylider problem if happens to a new vehicle? my roadster's clutch stuck at 4600 rpm between 1st and 2nd, would not release until i pumped it like old time brakes, it continued to burn for 30 seconds until it came loose. Nice Scary smell to go with it. This is not hard driving i'm talking about. I only have 1600 miles on this car & My dealer is interested in ANYone else who has experienced a sticking/stuck clutch, including what dealer you took it to for inspection and/or repair. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE as you are without power and helpless while clutch is stuck. Many different threads here and personal blogs on www list same experiences, just not as the focus. Please send personal message with your dealer name, much appreciated. Thanks

[TypeX4Sho]

quick question? this is pretty much th sam thing that is happening to mine...the cluth pedal sticks down and then i try to take it out of gear but it wont let it...it then the car obviously stalls out...does this happen to yours or is there something that could be wrong with mine more than just the slave cylinder because i got that changed maybe 2 thousand miles ago..but i did get a cheapo....advanced auto oneany ideas???

[180fan]

if the pedal don't come back up it could be other stuff as well like maybe the pressure plate is toast, maybe you've a bent fork, maybe you've got plenty of air in the system.

Here's a check list of what to do first. This applies to all of you with clutch issues.

With the car off, have a buddy press on the clutch pedal. YOU look below and see if the clutch slave cylinder even moves. If it does move but you can't shift, you've probably got either a shot pressure plate or a bent fork, possibly the fork popped off the pivot or maybe even the pivot broke. Either way, it's gonna be a pita to deal with. Weep and pull out the box of razor blades now.

If it doesn't move at all, now is as good a time as any to get a new master and slave and dump the damper loop. It doesn't cost much and it'll dump alot of "oh noes, what if..." from your mind. When you pull the damper loop, hold it over your head (of course with the fluid out otherwise you'll look like a total doofus) and run around screaming and throw it into the trash where it belongs. You'll feel infinitely better afterwards. Trust me.

Now another thing to do while you're down at the clutch pedal, put some good lube like vaseline or some lithium grease at the clevis pin (it's the pin that links up the pedal to the clutch master cylinder. It'll reduce the groaning and possible squeaking that comes up every so often.

btw, please no more thread jacks in this thread. that makes me want to end myself. pls.