Made a trip to LA.. and clutch died on me.. HELP??

[KRNguyW/aSOLARA]

Yea so.. i live in Milpitas/San Jose area (norcal) and.. i made a trip down to LA recently. Well.. it all really happened over the span of two days.

Im not too sure how to explain it but.. my clutch would sorta get stuck. Just once in a while. So i would push the clutch down then when i released it.. it would just get stuck and not come back out. I would have to reach down and pull it out with my hand (this was the first day). Then on the day i was supposed to drive it back home (yesterday) I was driving on a pretty busy street (Western in LA) then it got REALLY bad..

It got stuck once.. but i just pulled it out then i was able to go again. But it happened again.. i pulled it out.. then it just KEPT on happening. Not ONLY would the clutch go in and not come out.. I wasnt able to even put the car in gear. So i asked my friends to get out and push.. then i pulled over.. At this point.. i just tried a couple more times.. and NOW.. when i just pressed the clutch about 1/3.. it just sucked itself in ALL the way down.. and just got stuck there. It would also not go in gear. But with the engine OFF it WILL go in gear.. but the clutch will still act the same way. I had to get it towed.. and its parked at my friends house right now.

I HAVE tried to do a search.. but most of the results were about aftermarket clutches and what not. Anyways.. i was wondering if anyone knew what the heck is wrong with my car.. =T Self fix? price estimate?

'99 Solara SEV6 5-SPD 120K miles (never replaced clutch)

Thanks Guys.

[Turbosolara]

check your brake fluid, i think they share the same cylinder. if not, check for the clutch master cylinder.

this situation happens as you dont have enough fluid to push back the padel (yes, it uses brake fluid)

[KRNguyW/aSOLARA]

sweet. i was really hoping it was my clutch (pricey..) Well.. i'll call my friend tmrw and tell him to check my fluids.

But yea.. when i opened the hood.. i saw two fluids containers.. i knew one was the brake fluid (the bigger one with an actual container) then the smaller one with no actual container but rather jsut a pipe leading to somewhere.. Well i checked that one.. and it seemed pretty full.

Thanks!

oh and.. i dont know if this makes any difference.. but my clutch WILL engage smoothly around 16-1700 (a bit worn, im sure)

[DatSRBoi]

Holy crap.. Good luck man.

[Strider327]

A good idea would be to bleed out the fluid and get some valvoline synthetic brake fluid in there. Clean it out, it might be simply dirty inside. Good Luck dude.

[indiglosolara]

Its the Clutch slave cylinder... This happened to me when i get my old beemer. The clutch pedal was stucka nd wouldn't let me engage or disengage gears while the car is on.

The slave cylinder pushes your pedal back into place after you engage/disengage your car into gear.

Hope this helps.

[dominoSLEV6]

Also, clutches tend to need to be replaced anywhere from 0-40k miles after 100k, not that they won't last longer, but you know.

-chris

[KRNguyW/aSOLARA]

gahh... how exactly do i change the fluids. and whats the clutch slave cylinder look like? Pictures?

[KRNguyW/aSOLARA]

btw, Thanks for all the responses.

[KRNguyW/aSOLARA]

Hm.. a friend of mine told me that there is probably air inside the clutch slave cylinder. is that correct? He told me that i just need to get the air out.. um.. How exactly would i do this?

[indiglosolara]

The only reason the clutch pedal would drop to the floor and stay their is if the slave cylinder seals broke or blew a seal. Air in the slave cylinder will not make the pedal stay in one position. Air in the line will only cause a sqeeshy feeling in the pedal.

What i recommend you do it bring it to a shop or if you know someone that can replace the slave cylinder. That is the only way i can think of to fix this problem. If you dont think its the slave cylinder i recommend bringing it to the shop and find the problem. But i am almost 95% sure its the slave cylinder that has gone out. Of course thats by the description you have given me.