Clutch or Master Cylinder. Civic EP3

[seany87]

Hey all.

Need advice about whats up before I start buying parts. Would hate to buy clutch bits if its just the master cylinder!

Symptoms: Pressed clutch in as per usual habit when starting vehicle. felt a slight 'clonk' through the clutch pedal when I pressed it down and started the car, coinciding with the clutch pedal going soft. With engine now on I found the bite point very low.

I had a two mile drive home and then found gears becoming harder to shift so a couple of clutchless changes were needed near the end. Wanted to reverse into my drive but found it was locked out and grinding.

Back home, visually checked the master and slave for leaks. I have good access to slave so checked it over and that is absolutely fine.
The car will only let me change gear with the engine off. The clutch is dragging, as if I start the car in 1st gear clutch down it will drive forward.

Have spoke to a couple of ex-tech lads I know and they have suggested pressure plate fingers or other clutch kit issues.. I know Hondas master cylinders are very common to go though. I did forgot to check under the dash for leaks from the master and will have to check tomorrow AM as I am now away from home, but hopefully someone smarter than me can shed some more light on it.

Cheers all.

[seany87]

As an addition:

Car had noticeably more vibration at idle in the days prior - could be something or nothing.

Also, pumping clutch pedal at least 5-6 times then allows me to change gear when engine is running and car stationary. Which leads me to think Master cylinder?

[E-bmw]

Have you even checked the level of fluid in the reservoir?

I ask because most are 1 reservoir for brakes & clutch & if you look you may well see what you think is a level but could be just the level in the brake end of the wiered reservoir with the clutch end low.

[seany87]

Yes, first thing checked - I have 2 reservoirs and the clutch fluid hasnt dropped and is between min/ max.

Ive also now got home, checked the master cylinder from the pedal and theres no leaks, its dry apart from the fork grease.

So - looks like new clutch time. At least I can get a lightened flywheel put on now!

[E-bmw]

OK, now you have confirmed that there is fluid, have you tried to bleed the clutch slave?

[seany87]

No, although I doubt air will be in system as clutch fluid was changed and bled a year or so back, the slave cylinder rod operates as it should on the pivot arm, but wiggling the pivot arm feels slightly sloppy / crunchy if thats anything to do with it? Im afraid its the first time I have moved the pivot thingy so have nothing to base its feel off..

[andygo]

why not get an assistant to get in the car whilst you look at the clutch pivot. If the clutch pivot moves, then master cylinder should be good.

If you can see anything moving downstream of slave clinder, then that suggests slave cylinder is ok as well.

[GreenV8S]

The low pedal and slack in the release arm make me wonder whether the release arm pivot has failed - they are prone to wear out on some cars, but I don't know whether this is one of them.

[thatdude]

I had some similar issues with my old civic sport (EP2). I ended up replacing the clutch (genuine Honda kit), as well as the fork and ball pivot (makes good sense to do it while the car is apart) as they were quite worn as well. The clutch plate wasnt so bad, but the other components had worn causing issues.

[LimSlip]

Not totally unknown for the clutch fork to crack on these, which would cause the exact symptoms you have described.