After picking up my car (50,000 miles), I was driving home on the highway and the clutch pedal went all the way down to the floorboard. This happened three times with I was downshifting on exit ramps. This happened again last week and I limped to the dealership. They reported that it was my clutch going out and they wouldn’t even look at the car. In researching, I learned I’m among a lot of other drivers having this clutch slave cylinder problem. Could you please tell me what to do to get this fixed?
Hi there, thanks for writing in about your 2012 Nissan 370Z. The clutch assembly shouldn’t be worn out at 50,000 miles unless the vehicle has been abused. There are many concerns for vehicles that match your model year with the same complaint and it seems the plastic clutch slave cylinder has come up a lot. You may want to check in with your local dealer if there are any recalls on the car related to this issue. If you would like to have this inspected by an expert, a trained professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose your clutch problem and let you know what should be done.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most common issue for clutch master and slave cylinders is contamination of the hydraulic fluid or even the wrong type of hydraulic fluid being used. The smallest drop of contaminant, such as engine oil, gearbox oil, washer fluid or antifreeze can cause the rubber seals within the cylinder to swell up overtime.
If the clutch slave cylinder develops any sort of leak internally or externally it may cause the pedal to feel spongy or mushy. The pedal may also sink all the way to the floor and stay there when depressed, and may not be able to properly disengage the clutch so the transmission can be safely shifted.
In most loose clutch cases with a hydraulic system, it is a probably an issue with the master cylinder. Internal or external damage to the cylinder can cause the hydraulic fluid to leak out and it simply will not perform properly once the fluid is too low. Sometimes, it is simply a worn seal that needs to be replaced.
“Riding” the clutch is the most common reason for premature clutch failure. Even the slightest pressure on the pedal will partially disengage the clutch, causing the release bearing, pressure plate and flywheel to overheat.
Like the disks, it is subject to wear. However, when damage occurs, the CSC cannot be repaired – replacing the slave cylinder is the only option.
Yes it may cause problems. You could put stress on the transmission input shaft and gears, the engine crankshaft and the drive train of the vehicle. Some of these components could get broken.
That said, there`s really no defined time period for clutch slave cylinder replacement – it`s not a part of your regular maintenance. Chances are that if you own your vehicle for long enough, or if you`ve bought an older vehicle, it`s not unreasonable to think that at some point, the slave cylinder will begin to leak.
Even if there is no external leak, slave cylinders can go bad internally.
Broken Clutch Cable: The most common reason to have a clutch pedal that goes all the way to the floor is a broken clutch cable. This is extremely common, particularly on older cars. Replacing the cable will allow you to engage the clutch and change gears once more.
Driving a car with a faulty clutch can cause further damage to your gearbox, starter motor or shifter. It is important to resolve any damage spotted with your clutch. However, it is still essential to know how to drive a car with no clutch.
Slip, judder, drag on spain and fierceness are the four main clutch faults, which are considered briefly as follows.
A faulty clutch can lead to poor transmission performance, and if left untreated, it can result in damage to your transmission, or your vehicle`s flywheel – both of which are expensive to repair. If you notice a dramatic delay when shifting between gears, get your car inspected right away.
Bad driving habits: Riding the clutch, pulling loads that are too heavy for your vehicle, driving in the wrong gear and placing your vehicle in reverse or first gear with the engine off are all poor motoring habits that can cause damage to the flywheel.
Press the clutch as far down as you can and take your foot off. It should come back up to its starting position quickly. However, if it gets stuck or comes up slowly, then it`s starting to wear out. You should also feel even resistance in the pedal as you press it down.
If it is found under the clutch area of the engine/transmission, it`s the slave cylinder that has worn and failed. Clutch master cylinder failures tend to leak clutch fluid onto the carper above the driver foot pedal area. There will be a bit of an acrid odor in the vehicle if this occurs.
Sudden failure is most often caused by a broken or loose clutch cable, linkable or a failed hydraulic master/slave cylinder. There can also be leaks in the hydraulic line or even the disc could be contaminated with something like dirt or debris.
Sudden failure is most often caused by a broken or loose clutch cable, linkable or a failed hydraulic master/slave cylinder. There can also be leaks in the hydraulic line or even the disc could be contaminated with something like dirt or debris.
What Might Fail? Leaks are the most frequent problem that affects clutch slave cylinders since hydraulics are necessary for their proper operation. The component may eventually deteriorate from repeated use, enabling the transmission fluid inside to leak out.
That said, there`s really no defined time period for clutch slave cylinder replacement – it`s not a part of your regular maintenance. Chances are that if you own your vehicle for long enough, or if you`ve bought an older vehicle, it`s not unreasonable to think that at some point, the slave cylinder will begin to leak.
What Might Fail? Leaks are the most frequent problem that affects clutch slave cylinders since hydraulics are necessary for their proper operation. The component may eventually deteriorate from repeated use, enabling the transmission fluid inside to leak out.
Even if there is no external leak, slave cylinders can go bad internally.
That said, there`s really no defined time period for clutch slave cylinder replacement – it`s not a part of your regular maintenance. Chances are that if you own your vehicle for long enough, or if you`ve bought an older vehicle, it`s not unreasonable to think that at some point, the slave cylinder will begin to leak.