clutch problem - suddenly not working

16bit · Postby **16bit** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 4:19 pm

i was driving to manly today and in traffic the clutch pedal suddently went to the floor and smoke came out. the car was not drivable after that. it did not make any noises and gave no indication prior that anything was wrong at all.

i am thinking that the clutch line suddenly gave out and there was no line pressure to disengage the clutch. the smoke i am thinking was the fluid coming out a hole in the line.

as anyone ever had this problem before?

any ideas if that is what it is (i really hope its that!!) or what it could be?

i parked it in a side street and will get it towed to somewhere tomorrow.

on that note does anyone know a good clutch place near mosman in nsw?

Old Dude · Postby **Old Dude** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 4:34 pm

Sounds like either that or the slave cylinder crapped it self,

either way the fluid reservoir will be low on fluid.

Sorry cant help with a good clutch place

Cheers
Dale

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 5:40 pm

Possible cheap "get it to the repair place" fix if all the fluid has gone: get a small bottle of brake fluid, top up the clutch master and see if you can get pressure up again. You may need to get someone to check that a flexible line or union hasn't broken.

This may save on towing costs and get you mobile again.

16bit · Postby **16bit** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 6:02 pm

is any of those things a box out jobby?

thanks for the replies!

turns out there is a midas 2 blocks up the main road.

Uncle Arthur · Postby **Uncle Arthur** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 6:14 pm

Both are easy jobs to do. No need for the gearbox to come out for the slave or master cylinders.

psquire45 · Postby **psquire45** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 6:18 pm

if its your slave cylinder repco stocks a repair kit for $15 if your the diy type pretty simple job only takes about 20 minutes or so

16bit · Postby **16bit** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 6:18 pm

turns out the hard line failed. not sure if that is the entire problem but its the reason for the loss of hydrolic pressure.

Postby **Okibi** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 7:51 pm

Clutch slave failure is pretty common on the MX-5 any photos of the failed hardline? Was something rubbing on it?

Quicksilver · Postby **Quicksilver** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 11:03 pm

If you haven't already got it repaired, give Danny a call at MX5Plus. They have a modification for the clutch pipe which is shorter and neater. I put one in last year when I had the same problem (also on a NB8A).

Actually, I replaced the slave cylinder first, then the clutch failed again two weeks later with a small tear in the clutch hard pipe. It may have been the real problem in the first place.

16bit · Postby **16bit** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:37 am

damn, part already ordered.

oh well.

i had a pretty large shunt with a bit of lifted road on my way down that could have caused it to crack somehow. that happen in coffs harbour though so might have taken a while to finally crack all the way through.