1996 Honda Civic Clutch losing pressure

1996 HONDA CIVIC
120,000 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • MANUAL
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JESMAN0
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
My civic has recently been having problems with shifting gears. It seems like my clutch has lost responsiveness and I need to pump it to get pressure. The clutch used to have a nice wide range of engagement but lately it engages all at once at the bottom of the pedal. When I pump it for a few seconds I gain about half the range i am accustomed to. I believe I have a hydraulic clutch so perhaps this is a bad seal.

Also, it has recently gotten very cold here and this problem has gotten worse with the drop in temperature. Maybe it's coincidental, I dunno.

I have some minor mechanical experience, swapped out power steering pumps, water pumps, radiators, starters, alternators and such. My questions are what is causing the loss of responsiveness and compared to the aforementioned items how hard is it to replace a master or slave cylinder, if that is what it is?
Jan 22, 2009 at 8:26 AM
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MIKE H R
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 3,094 POSTS
sounds like the clutch slave cylinder is going bad. but first make sure the fluid is not low. The clutch slave cylinder is not that hard as long as you have had some experience. It can be replaced under the hood. Make sure after you put a new clutch slave cylinder in that you bleed it.
Jan 22, 2009 at 9:11 AM
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