Hi guys,

In my '94 Accord LX MT, I'm finding it very difficult to shift into first gear from neutral. It has always been a little rough going in, but now it's about impossible. Some info:

- previous owner mentioned that he fixed the master/slave cylinder of the clutch once because he couldn't shift into gear

- I replaced the transmission oil with Pennzoil Synchromesh earlier this year

- problem started after my significant other started using my Accord regularly (she didn't know how to drive stick previously). I know she's terrible at shifting because I can HEAR the gears going in as she pretty much forces them in.

- other gears are "okay" but certainly not as smooth anymore


Any idea what I can do to make the car drivable again? I intend to use it for one last winter.


Thanks.

 

I'm guessing either your clutch hydraulics are shot or your clutch disk has come apart.

 

To add to the problem description, the clutch pedal is pretty hard to push down (always been like this) and engages pretty close to the floor (also always been like this). However, a new problem that developed is the pedal doesn't always rise all the way up.

Would you say that this is indication that the master or slave cylinder(s) need replacing?


UPDATE: I visually inspected the master and slave cylinders, and neither appear to be leaking. In the reservoir, the fluid was black and about halfway down so I topped it up.

 

I'd be inclined to look at the hydraulics first. Just because the fluid is not leaking out from the system does not in any way mean fluid isn't leaking past the seals in the two cylinders.

If you can confirm full operation (both cylinders move in concert when the pedal is pressed and released), then it would be time to examine the clutch disk.

 

I had my friend fully depress the clutch and the slave cylinder moved as the clutch was depressed. I also checked that there was some movement in the reservoir level when the clutch was depressed/released, and I could see the level change in tandem with the motion.

The fluid seems mostly black, so I'm wondering if I do a complete flush, would that help?

 

While the fluid should be replaced regardless, I rather doubt it will help in this instance. I'm thinking it is clutch time.

 

Okay thanks for the help!

 

Quick update. As the week progressed, the clutch pedal started sinking more and more which led me to believe that the master and slave cylinders were shot. I replaced both this weekend, bled the system, and adjust the pedal, and now everything works again as it should. Gears engage smooth and buttery.

Thanks again for all the help!!

 

Thanks for the update!

 

Thanks for posting the fix.