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View Full Version : 98 Prelude hydraulic clutch issues


Juicy
05-15-2005, 03:18 PM
98 prelude
92K miles

When we got the car I did some maintenence stuff including bleeding the clutch. The old fluid was so filthy it looked like it's never ever been flushed.

Flushed out all the old fluid and bled out the air. Car drives fine and dandy for about a week when my gf tells me that it's becoming difficult to shift. I drive it and confirm yup, it's difficult to shift. So I bleed the system three more times using different methods and still no good. It'll shift ok for awhile then progressively get worse. If I pump the clutch vigourously between shifts it will slide into the next gear with noticeably less effort.

I don't see any leaks from the master or slave cylinder but for $10 I picked up a rebuild kit for the slave and did that. The old seals looked ok the spring was rusty. Bled the clutch and test it out. Like before it'll shift ok for a while then get worse. Pumping between shifts improves it somewhat but not like before I fudged with the stupid thing.

So I pick up a master cylinder and replace that. Old MC was definately leaking. Bleed. Drive and same frikkin thing. At this point I'm frustrated but convince myself another quart of fluid and very careful bleeding will fix it. Nope. I've also noticed that the pedal is harder to press. When the car is running, at a stop, clutch disengaged and I shift into 1st it clunks and the car very slightly lurches forward as if the clutch engaged momentarily.

Oh, and the clutch release fork squeaks whenever the clutch is disengaged. Can't remember if it's always done that. So...

1. Still air in the lines that'll require some pressure bleeding to get out
2. Bad clutch or pressure plate
3. Bent or loose release fork

I'm stumped and probably taking it to a shop.

95PreludeSi
05-16-2005, 02:07 AM
Well when the master cylinder went out on my prelude about a month later the slave went out too, mechanic said the new MC "overpowered" the older slave cylinder. Then about a month later more transmission problems, although it felt different because a clutch spring had popped out and gotten in between the clutch and flywheel so it totally stopped shifting.

Juicy
05-17-2005, 01:29 AM
Thinking about it some more I've ruled out the hydraulic lines as an issue. When the pedal is depressed the slave cylinder still pushes out completely, yet driving the car it's obvious the clutch isn't fully disengaged.

spring popped out (happened on my GSR)
bad throw out bearing
bad release fork