Clutch not working

Tiny
ISABELL OWINGS
  • MEMBER
  • 1991 FORD ESCORT
  • MANUAL
  • 84,000 MILES
Starts up shifts but will not go anywhere like not in gear.
Sunday, July 30th, 2017 AT 3:36 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,895 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like you have a broken axle or clutch. Here are some guides that will help you get back on the road:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/clutch-doesnt-work-sometimes-or-not-at-all

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-clutch

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-cv-axle

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, July 31st, 2017 AT 12:54 PM
Tiny
SSHEWELL
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1991 FORD ESCORT
I cannot get the darn thing to change gears. The clutch goes all the way in and I do not feel any pressure behind it. I pulled the slave cylinder this weekend and the plunger moves in and out freely. I did not check the master cylinder because of the work involved with getting it out, but I guess I will have to pull that as well.

How do I check that to make sure that it is okay? I replaced both the master cylinder and the slave cylinder in September of last year (2005). I bought both of the parts at Autozone. Someone told me their parts are crap.

Can anyone offer any ideas as to what my issue may be? The car has 187,000 miles on the original clutch, so I know that it is on its last legs, but it was working fine before. The car acted the same way last year and when I replaced both of the parts it worked fine.

I appreciate any advice you can give. The advice I received last year was right on the money and saved me a ton in repair costs.
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Monday, July 31st, 2017 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LOSONE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,616 POSTS
Go to a real parts store like NAPA and buy both master and slave. Insure you clean the lines before you install them. You will not have any more problems. I totally agree with your friends comments. The only thing I buy from the zone is something I can pour out of a bottle or can.
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Monday, July 31st, 2017 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SSHEWELL
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1991 FORD ESCORT
I changed the master cylinder and the slave cylinder. Worked fine for awhile, but now it will not go into gear again.

When I depress the clutch, I feel no pressure behind it at all. I checked the reservoir and it is full.

I am stumped at this point. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Monday, July 31st, 2017 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LOSONE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,616 POSTS
No pedal pressure means either a bad master cylinder, slave cylinder or a broken pressure plate or throw-out bearing. I suspect it is in the hydraulics. The master and slave cylinders should be good quality not from a discount house.
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Monday, July 31st, 2017 AT 12:55 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,895 POSTS
Hello,

If you can shift the gears with the engine off but not when the engine running it means the clutch disc has fallen apart and needs to be replace.

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Wednesday, August 2nd, 2017 AT 10:22 AM

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