Clutch issue w/ '95 Prelude

[Ralph LoGrasso]

I'm posting this for my younger cousin, who is currently experiencing some difficulty with his Prelude.

The car has approximately 130,000 miles on it and the other day the clutch started acting up.

Basically, the pedal just went dead. The entire range of the pedal was limp, but the clutch would still engage. It would grab right off of the floor, so the entire engagement point of the pedal shifted from it's normal range to right off of the floor.

I drove the car back to his house like this and it was shifting fine, albeit with the clutch grabbing right off of the floor. He now says that he can't get it into gear, and thus can't drive it.

What could be causing this? Bad Clutch M/C? Has the clutch itself gone?

Thanks in advance,
Ralph

[wedgehead]

More than likely a slave cylinder. At my shop we replace both cylinders when one or the other go dead.

[anthonys 69]

Kenny is right either the clutch master or slave cylinder is leaking. you can check the reservoir to confirm but change both......Anthony

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Thanks for the responses, Kenny and Anthony. I thought it was likely the clutch m/c or slave that was the problem. I will relay the info to him and hopefully we can get the car back on the road quickly, as it is his DD and transportation to work.

[ADaughen]

Check/bleed the fluid. He should be able to pop the hood and have someone pump the clutch can he hear any "squishing" noise by the MC. I've had seals go on the MC and it would still work partially but it sounded like I was walking around in wet shoes. Other than that. Slave and/or master probably need replaced, which aren't too terribly hard. Just make sure he bench bleeds the master per the instructions supplied with the part.

[brans72]

should look where it bolts to firewall under the hood most hondas will leak fluid on the floor on the inside , so lay on your back under the dash and grab a flash light. replace both slave and master.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Check/bleed the fluid. He should be able to pop the hood and have someone pump the clutch can he hear any "squishing" noise by the MC. I've had seals go on the MC and it would still work partially but it sounded like I was walking around in wet shoes. Other than that. Slave and/or master probably need replaced, which aren't too terribly hard. Just make sure he bench bleeds the master per the instructions supplied with the part.

Thanks for the response. He was not able to hear any squishing noise by the MC when pumping the clutch. Everything sounded good and he said when he pumped it, he felt more pressure in the pedal.

Does the transmission need to be dropped to change the slave? I know nothing about these cars...

[Ralph LoGrasso]

should look where it bolts to firewall under the hood most hondas will leak fluid on the floor on the inside , so lay on your back under the dash and grab a flash light. replace both slave and master.

Thanks for the response. I/he will check this tonight/tomorrow and see if we can see where any fluid has leaked out. He says the fluid is full in the reservoir, but I will try to confirm that tonight.

[68nate]

Ralph, It could be in the hydraulics. I would definitely check the master and the slave cylinder first. 130,000 and a consistently low engagement it very well could be time for a clutch. If it does need a clutch, you're not supposed to resurface the flywheel on these because of their stepped design (as per Honda service bulletin HSN 0595-02) Flywheel should be replaced if it has excessive runout, heat cracking or deep gouges.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Nate,

Thanks for the response. I haven't had much time to post the past few days.

The clutch engagement was normal until this happened the other night, so I really don't think it's the clutch that is the issue. It is possible, though, with 130K.

The master did not appear to be leaking, have not checked slave yet. I'm starting to think it may be something in the hydraulics as well, if it's not the slave itlself. I should know more this weekend.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Thanks for the help to all who responded. For those interested, we found out (as suspected) that the slave cylinder was the problem. It's leaking. The car should be back on the road on Monday or Tuesday.

[ADaughen]

Does the transmission need to be dropped to change the slave? I know nothing about these cars...

Sorry for the late response. No, he shouldn't have to drop the transmission.

Of course, I had to pull a CV shaft to get my alternator out of my '87 Prelude.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

No problem, thanks for the response. He still hasn't changed the slave out, but is hoping to do so tonight. I'll post up a final report.