Oblivion

Hello.

Since I've bought the vehicle: I have noticed the clutch (more than likely) was slowly failing.
Today, on my way to college, at a stop light: I shifted from 3rd gear, to neutral, and came to a stop, and put it in 1st gear, and a violent "bop!" Came from the engine / transmission.
After that: I was unable to put the vehicle back into gear. Ever.

I finally shut the vehicle off, put it in 1st gear, and tried starting it. It kind of growled at me, and that's when I realized:
The clutch pedal has no resistance to it at all. The brakes, the gas: They all function normal.

I am under the impression the clutch is shot.
I am able to granny-shift gears without a problem. If I come to a stop and put it in neutral (naturally): I cannot put it BACK in gear with the engine running.
I am still capable of "driving it." But I will more than likely drain the battery constantly restarting the engine.

This is a front-wheel drive vehicle, I believe.

Any suggestions on what to do next? You are forced to drop the engine engine to disconnect the transmission, yes?
Once the transmission: Is it possible for a shady-tree-mechanic such as myself to fix it (preferably cheap)?

My income is much less than what it was 2 months ago, especially with the $0.50/gal rise in fuel.

Thanks in advance.. PS: College finals are coming up on March the 7th!

R.S.LOGAN

Could be clutch master cyl or slave cyl gone or both .Check clutch fluid level .

R.S.LOGAN

It is a FWD .You need to tilt engine to remove g/box .If not any of the clutch cyls leaking , clutch assembly will need replacing . No disrespect , but not a job I think you should tackle if it needs a new clutch. If it's a cyl. leaking , you could try filling master cyl and bleeding as a temporary measure to get you by .

Oblivion

The clutch/brake fluid haven't moved at all. The brakes are unaffected by this.

I am still under the impression that the clutch is shot.
Nothing has changed, and I have not attempted to drop the transmission yet (no time).

It could very well be an air bubble floating in the clutch/brake fluid. I have yet to bleed it.
I doubt it's that, but: I am always willing to try it over having to drop the alternative first (cheapest solutions first!).

The vehicle still runs fine. The clutch's safety switch is still very so active.
The neutral switch also functions fine. Can't use the starter motor without those where they should be (which is funky since the clutch pedal doesn't work anymore).

No offense taken. I will attempt it regardless. With or without the help from the persons of this forum (all 3? ) I shall figure it out.

R.S.LOGAN

Your brakes wont be affected , separate system from clutch hydraulics . Cyl could be drawing air . As already stated , could be the hydraulics or internal with clutch assembly on it's last legs . Check the DIY , if I remember correctly there used to be a walkthrough of djzx3 doing his clutch on a 2.3 Focus .Either that or get yourself a workshop manual , you'll need it if you decide to pull the box out yourself . Best of luck .

Oblivion

You are saying there are two separate internal systems, that both draw from the same reservoir (Super DOT4)? That is peculiar.

Thanks for the notice, regarding djzx3. I will possibly PM him when/if it comes to that. There's also this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eoUL347ce0

Here's a new update as of last night (~9 hours ago): On the way home, I was using the clutch pedal when I granny-shifted the gears.
You might ask why, but I figure: What can it possibly hurt? If it's not physically moving any parts: It can't possibly do any harm.

That's just it.. I was slowing down, pushed in the clutch, put it in neutral, then shifted when the light turned green (still in motion), put it back in 3rd gear, and as I released: I felt PRESSURE.
The clutch pedal felt VERY resistant (compared to how I'm used to it feeling now: It should be a 'normal' resistance).
I thought it was super peculiar. So I held the clutch pedal back in and hit the gas: The RPMs flung up.
I let it go while giving a little bit of gas: And the car pulled forward. The clutch was working! Yay! This all happened as I went over a bump on the road.

I stopped at a red light. Trying my faith: I used the clutch pedal, and put it in 2nd gear. The engine didn't stall. It fell right in.
I put it in 1st gear: Nope, no damage done. I put it in 3rd, and it still worked fine. I let it go in neutral (taking my foot off the pedal).
I finally put it in first gear, with my foot down on the clutch pedal, as you normally would, and it fell in, but a split moment later: CLANG! The engine stalled.

Then the clutch pedal has 0 resistance. I kept pumping it, just curious. Then, I realized:
If I'm going like 30MPH+, and hit the brakes real hard, as I'm pushing down on the pedal (one motion): It generates resistance, and the clutch pedal works momentarily.
I am able to shift gears a few times. Then the resistance goes away, and the clutch pedal quits working as fast as it started again.

There was at one point that I got it to "work" again using that trick, and after I was able to successfully shift six, seven times going down the road, I decided to test it:
I put it in 3rd gear, doing ~25MPH, and held the clutch pedal in, and gave it gas. I felt a thud, thud, thud, on the clutch.
It's like the clutch was hit and miss grabbing it (when it should have NOT been touching). Then the resistance went away real fast and the car took off.

Is it possible that the transmission's shift linkage is to blame? If I'm not mistaken: That is one of the more common problems with the MTX-75 / Ford Focus 5-speed manual transmissions from 2000-2002.

I have yet to go outside and look at the vehicle. I just woke up from a ~12 hour shift at work.
I am also leaving soon for another 10 hour shift at work. I also have much school work for college to catch up on (about eight chapters in auto-mechanics).

Thanks for all the help as usual. Wouldn't be driving today without the great advice.

R.S.LOGAN

The fluid reservoir is split .

Take it you still haven't tried bleeding the clutch ?

R.S.LOGAN

Dont know what granny shifting is unless it's another name for double clutching .

Shift linkage wont affect the clutch .

Oblivion

I bled the clutch clean last evening. No change in anything. Except now I have a pretty clean looking clutch reservoir (for the time being).

I was unaware that it was split internally somewhere along the line.


Okay. The shift linkage should affect how the gear is capable of being 'engaged/disengaged' though, no?
Although that wouldn't describe or explain the problems I am experiencing.

"Granny shifting" or "double clutching" or "power shifting" or "speed shifting" or whatever you want to call it.
Shifting without using the clutch pedal.

To highlight the update:
- I bled the clutch clean today; No change
- The 1st/2nd gear are grabbing the clutch very hard
- The clutch is now slipping at random (but more often under a heavy load)
- I am able to actuate the clutch now (randomly happened earlier this week; Nothing I did).

I was told it could very well be the friction disc. At any rate, I am out of options, and am forced to drop the transmission now, yes?

R.S.LOGAN

If clutch is slipping it will be AT LEAST clutch centre plate , but no one in there right mind would only replace that as the pressure plate (diaphram) and release bearing will be worn also .. You will need a clutch kit and if you continue driving with it slipping probably a new flywheel also if it gets scored . I have even seen some clutches break up and damage gearbox / casing .The longer you use the car in that condition the more likely you will damage the gears / synchros etc. also .