User38221 wrote:
> Here is a brief summary of the problem on my '94 Civic EX coupe (93k miles):
>
> -6 months ago: mechanic mentioned that clutch master cylinder has a leak
> -shortly thereafter noticed that the car was harder to shift through the gears
> -a couple of days ago: the clutch suddenly started having trouble engaging and
> disengaging. e.g. i'd be in 2nd or 3rd and it would be locked there even with
> the clutch depressed. after a few seconds i'd eventually be able to shift out
> of those gears. Also, after shifting into 1st or 2nd it would sometimes
> "klunk" as it engaged. i imagine the same would happen in higher gears but I
> never shifted that high.
>
> The clutch doesnt seem to be slipping once the transmission is in gear. Only
> when I tried to shift in or out of gears would I have a problem....maybe on
> about 25% of the shifts I had to make. I've only driven the car for about 15
> minutes since the clutch suddenly got worse so this is what I'm going by.
>
> Since I already knew that the clutch master cylinder was leaking I thought that
> that would be the extent of my repairs.
>
> However, I took the car for the first time to this new garage (non-dealer honda
> shop) and they, after a short test drive, said I need a new clutch. They were
> certain that it was not the clutch master cylinder. They said most of them leak
> a bit at that age, but he didnt have a satisfying answer when I said that since
> the cylinder only has a little bit of oil in it to begin with, any
> leakage--even a small bit--would likely necessitate replacing it. On the
> other hand, the clutch fluid in the reservoir has barely dropped at all.
>
> They're convinced that my problem resides with the springs in the clutch disc,
> saying how common this is with Civics and Accords, how one of the mechanics in
> the shop had to have the same repair done 3 times, yadda yadda yadda.
>
> Is this guy a good mechanic or is he trying to make me overhaul my clutch when
> merely replacing the clutch master cylinder will do? I thought my clutch still
> had lots of life in it: i dont race, pop the clutch, nor shift crappily....but
> i do drive it "enthusiastically". The clutch is still engaging at about the
> halfway point of the clutch pedal's travel--nowhere near the top which is what
> I expected.
>
> I'm on a very tight student budget and want to sell the car within a few months
> so obviously I'm trying to keep my repair costs low.
>
> thanks in advance for any advice


=============
Get the clutch hydraulics bled, for cheap, and you'll know right away
who'se telling the truth. It's the same as bleeding the brakes, but
takes about ten minutes if you have a helper. DON'T push the pedal too
near the floor.

You didn't mention how often you've been checking and topping up the
fluid... That would have helped a lot.

'Curly'