Clutch seams to have an issue

[Kerichbe]

Went out today, and a few time the clutch would not engage until the engine hit 4000 rpm or higher. I checked the clutch fluid, and it appears to be ok, about 3/4 inch from top of filler, any thoughts of what I should look for?

[David T]

Sounds like you will be pulling the transmission and replacing the clutch.
David Teitelbaum

[Kerichbe]

Sounds like you will be pulling the transmission and replacing the clutch.
David Teitelbaum

Oh no, not me...sounds like a job for DMCMW ! I did top the fluid and it does seem a little better. I think that must have been the mystery fluid on the garage floor.

[jawn101]

Where was the mystery fluid? Under the rear of the car or the front? That would determine if it was the master or slave that is leaking. Or the line, if it was somewhere in between. Either way you need to address that as soon as possible, as the fluid will eat your frame and/or transmission.

[Bill Robertson's Sock Puppet #1]

Hydraulic fluid is used to *DISENGAGE* the clutch. A pressure plate holds the clutch disc tight against the flywheel until it is disengaged, in DeLoreans' case by hydraulic cylinders. It is possible your hydraulic cylinders are partially activated by an adjustable pedal clevis turned out too far, or the rear main oil seal may be leaking onto the clutch disc, but the most likely scenario is a worn clutch disc or tired pressure plate. They are wear items and do need to be replaced at the end of their mileage life.

[Kerichbe]

Fluid appears on the floor at the rear of the vehicle on the drivers side. It is clear and colourless. At first I thought a/c discharge, but it has a slick oily feel to it. Midwest had the car over the summer, and mentioned that the clutch looked new, so I'm hoping the clutch itself is ok. Of course if it isn't, it will give them a chance to take care of the roll pin

[jawn101]

Fluid appears on the floor at the rear of the vehicle on the drivers side. It is clear and colourless. At first I thought a/c discharge, but it has a slick oily feel to it. Midwest had the car over the summer, and mentioned that the clutch looked new, so I'm hoping the clutch itself is ok. Of course if it isn't, it will give them a chance to take care of the roll pin

Hm. Hydraulic fluid should be yellowish even when new. A/C shouldn't discharge back there, rather towards the front of the car depending on where your drain tube is routed. Could be your slave cylinder leaking, or the fitting from the flexible line to the hard line on the transmission itself. You'll definitely want to make sure to clean up any leaked fluid with some solvent sooner rather than later....

[DMCMW Dave]

Fluid appears on the floor at the rear of the vehicle on the drivers side. It is clear and colourless. At first I thought a/c discharge, but it has a slick oily feel to it. Midwest had the car over the summer, and mentioned that the clutch looked new, so I'm hoping the clutch itself is ok. Of course if it isn't, it will give them a chance to take care of the roll pin

Leaking clutch fluid is more toward the center of the car. Way at the back on a side is often a leaky shock absorber . If the clutch reservoir was 3/4 full it is not likely leaking as that's about where it should be. It can actually leak to where the bottle is almost dry and still work pretty well (other than the mess).

If you are getting a slipping rather than failure to disengage, either the disc or pressure plate (or both) is failing. Usually the disk but I've seen a pressure plate or two seem to loose all the "springiness". Typically due to sitting for a long period of time and being used as a mouse restroom.

[LEVY]

If is doing it every now and then, I don't believe it is the clutch itself but may be the slave or something else that get stuck at times.

LEVY


Went out today, and a few time the clutch would not engage until the engine hit 4000 rpm or higher. I checked the clutch fluid, and it appears to be ok, about 3/4 inch from top of filler, any thoughts of what I should look for?

[David T]

If he is having trouble with the clutch not engaging (or not engaging properly) and he is not stepping on the clutch pedal then the clutch hydraulics have nothing to do with this. He also said he is not leaking fluid, the level is 3/4 full in the reservoir. If he was leaking enough to cause problems then there would be no fluid in the reservoir. His problems are internal to the clutch and the only way to get to it is to remove the transmission. If you put it into 1st, take your foot off the clutch, hold the brake and the motor does not stall, the clutch is not working. There can be several reasons it is not working but it doesn't matter, the transmission and clutch still have to come out.
David Teitelbaum

[LEVY]

I never said he had a leak. He said he had a problem a few times. If something is preventing the fluid from returning back to the reservoir, then the clutch will take a little to engage.

LEVY



If he is having trouble with the clutch not engaging (or not engaging properly) and he is not stepping on the clutch pedal then the clutch hydraulics have nothing to do with this. He also said he is not leaking fluid, the level is 3/4 full in the reservoir. If he was leaking enough to cause problems then there would be no fluid in the reservoir. His problems are internal to the clutch and the only way to get to it is to remove the transmission. If you put it into 1st, take your foot off the clutch, hold the brake and the motor does not stall, the clutch is not working. There can be several reasons it is not working but it doesn't matter, the transmission and clutch still have to come out.
David Teitelbaum

[David T]

I did not say (or mean to say) you said he had a hydraulic leak. When I answer a post I am not always answering the most recent post, I try to answer the whole thread if possible. I was only trying to point out this did not sound like a hydraulic problem, it sounds like it is a mechanical problem inside the clutch. My advice was to try to stall the motor, if you can't, then the problem has to be in the clutch itself. And if it is in the clutch the transmission has to come out. No sense wasting time chasing phantoms in the clutch hydraulics, that is not where the problem lies. This is not to say there is not a problem with the clutch hydraulics, but it is not causing THIS problem.
David Teitelbaum

[Bill Robertson's Sock Puppet #1]

Even a slipping clutch disc can stall the engine if it's just starting to go. How hard was the OP pushing the engine when he had to rev it to 4,000 RPM before the clutch would grab? If it was a hard acceleration, then yes indeed a worn disc or tired pressure plate could be to blame. Try the same acceleration gently and the clutch disc may grab normally.

[Kerichbe]

Even a slipping clutch disc can stall the engine if it's just starting to go. How hard was the OP pushing the engine when he had to rev it to 4,000 RPM before the clutch would grab? If it was a hard acceleration, then yes indeed a worn disc or tired pressure plate could be to blame. Try the same acceleration gently and the clutch disc may grab normally.

Yep, I believe it must be the clutch itself, I'm thinking the fluid I noticed is coolant. If I accelerate slowly it tends to grab. Guess I'll make plans to get it in for that and that dopey roll pin. Thanks for the help guys.