DriverofLYN274

Okay guys, Here's the deal:
My friend's '93 Capri's clutch does not disengage. I can push the pedal to the floor with no mechanical feedback. Basically the only resistance I feel is the tension spring in the pedal, I cannot detect any pressure in the system at all. I've checked the clutch master cylinder and the fluid is right at the "max fill" line. The car will start without it, but without the clutch disengaging, it's obviously not drivable and pretty much useless. I don't know what else to look at or what to do. I don't have any jack stands or a jack here at school, so I'm limited to pretty much basic hand tools. Anyone know what the deal is? We're both poor college students, so having it towed to a mechanic is last resort. Let me know what you guys think.

Sterling_Six

Hello and good day to you:

You may have several problems...First I would check to see if you Clutch Cable, or Linkage is connected and working properly. Don't mis-take the Throttle Cable for the Clutch cable.

Start your search at the clutch pedal...push down on the clutch see if the cable or linkage moves back freely. If this occurs then look under the hood...Have some-one push down the clutch...while you are looking down by the Trans axle...see if the cable or linkage is moving the Throw out spindle on the Trans axle...if this does not happen your cable, or linkage is broken...if it does....then you have some Major Transmission problems....First the Throw out Bearing is not engaging...and you need some Expert help here...No small hand tools will help you at this point.

Good luck with this

jwko

The car does not have a clutch cable.

I would suspect the slave cylinder or possibly a bad clutch master cylinder.

DriverofLYN274

I would then suspect that the slave cylinder is inside the transaxle housing, correct? I'm positive I wouldn't be able to repair that as I don't have the necessary tools. The master cylinder was supposedly replaced recently, but to be honest, it doesn't really look it. Would the master cylinder leak if it were bad or no? There is some debris in the fluid reservoir, could that be a gasket that's blown out? Or is that an indication of something else wrong in the system?

Matt Cramer

A master cylinder can sometimes leak internally, but not have any of the fluid actually come out of it.

DriverofLYN274

How can I check to find if it's the Master or Slave cylinder? Is the slave cylinder not housed in the transmission casing?

Slimbob

You could probably remove the hydraulic line from the slave cylinder and have someone depress the clutch pedal. I would suggest placing the end of the line into a container with brake fluid and submerse the end.

Pedal down the fluid should rise in the container.
Pedal up the fluid should return to the master cylinder.
This could eliminate the master cylinder and the hydraulic line.

Just my 2c,
Slimbob