How to troubleshoot clutch failure

Tiny
BURBAN05578
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 SATURN SL1
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 140,000 MILES
When I was driving on the highway, I heard a couple loud knocks like something broke from near my engine.
Right after the sound, my car went out of gear and I had to pull over.

Now my clutch pedal has no pressure when you press on it, the pedal goes down and back unussually easy. It feels like theres no linkage.

Shifter will move into all gears, excluding reverse, but will not engage. Car can be pushed in all gears with clutch pedal depressed.

**clutch resivor still has fluid**

I been told many things, pressure plate, slave cylinder, clutch linkage, throwout bearing.

Any idea what needs to be replaced, or how to troubleshoot the problem? Needing to know how much parts and labor is going to be to fix this.

thank you!
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 AT 4:15 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
So if you don't push the clutch pedal down can you push the car?The loud noise while driving is strange. So when you move the shifter does the linkage on the transmission move like it should?Let me know and we will go from there.
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Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 AT 6:02 AM
Tiny
BURBAN05578
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Yes, I can push the car without the clutch pedal down. And when I move the shifter the linkage does move, if I was looking at the right part.

Also, I noticed that a hose/connection might have broke after this happened. I do not know if it's related to the clutch but I included a picture to show it.
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Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 AT 7:54 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
That hose is the vent for the transmission. If you can see the linkage moving into the gear's and with it in gear you can push the car with pushing the clutch pedal down. Then I would say you need to look at your clutch components and transmission itself. Judging from the noise you hear something came apart in the clutch and or the transmission. You will have to remove the transmission to take a look. Let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 AT 8:29 PM

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