1990 Honda Accord LX clutch problems

DMAG269

MEMBER
1990 HONDA ACCORD

I recently replaced my select cable after having the clutch r&r'd even though I knew that wasn't the problem. Anyway all of a sudden I no longer have any clutch. The pedal went all the way to the floor and stayed there, but when manually lifted to return to correct position I could not feel anything. I have checked for leaks as the master cylinder was found to be empty, and I even bled the lines which made no difference. I've inspected the cables and they seem fine. No matter what I can't get the pressure back. What else could be wrong? Where do I begin?

6 Replies

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,754 POSTS

Unless I am way out on this there is no cable for the clutch. There is a master and slave system. This is pretty simple but can be frustrating. So start with looking in the master and seeing if it is full. Then look closely around the master both in the car and on the firewall to see if there are any leaks. Follow the line to the slave unit and check for any leaks. IF you found no leaks you really need to check the system for air in the lines. Make sure all the connections are tight. IF the lines are tight and there appears to be no air and yet you still do not have pedal pressure then it is one of the two cylinders.

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Sunday, December 3rd, 2006 AT 12:18 PM

DMAG269

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3 POSTS

I guess I should clarify myself. A while back my clutch, or so everybody thought, was giving me some problems. Initially it was hard shifting into third gear, then third gear just disappeared. Next went fifth and first gears. I visually inspected the shift and select cables at the shifter and noticed something wrong with the selector cable. However, several friends said that wasn't the problem and were sure that it was my clutch that needed replacing.
Well one week and $400 later I still had the same problem. So I r&r'd the selector cable myself and the problem was gone. All gears, shifts great, no problem.
Well now I have another problem. A friend was driving my car the other night and upon returning home he said your clutch pedal is stuck to the floor. After I inspected the whole system the one and only thing I found was that the master cylinder was empty. Nowhere, at any connection, on any line is there any leak or sign there of.
I filled the master cylinder and even bled the lines yet I can not get any pressure at the pedal whatsoever. The pedal will hold in the upright position yet once pressure is applied it "snaps" to the floor and stays there. Would I be safe in guessing that it's the master cylinder that's shot even though when bleeding it appears to be functioning correctly?

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Sunday, December 3rd, 2006 AT 12:47 PM

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
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I would venture a guess that the slave is gone. The fluid has to be going somewhere. How about the bottom of the tranny housing, is it wet? The fluid could be letting go into the transmission.

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Sunday, December 3rd, 2006 AT 5:16 PM

DMAG269

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Well I have now replaced both the master and slave cylinders, bled the system, and still I have no pressure at the pedal. It still is going all the way to the floor, in fact it's snapping down to the floor. Why cant I get any pressure building yet?

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Thursday, December 7th, 2006 AT 10:50 AM

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,754 POSTS

If there is not air in the system and the parts were bled prior to installation, then the only solution to the problem is a line connection that is not fully tight or a bleeder that is not completely closed.

I have sworn before that I had this problem and it was always something simple.