error402

okay, so here is the problem. when i step down on the clutch and keep it down, after about 5 seconds it gradually grabs into gear and wants to go (not like droping it in to gear, just really slowly, so it's not that big of a concern to me). it's just a bit annoying. basically i can't stay in neutral while I have the shifter in any gear because it slowly goes in gear. did that make any sense? i have no problems shifting, starting, going, etc...

any recommendations on where to start?

cjf

iTrader: (1)

i really have no answer for you. But my clutch is similiar but not as bad as yours sounds....kind of a delay after I shift...may be the fluid...don't know....like you..it bothers me but does not seem to be a real problem,,,,,,,,,,yet.....hope someone has ideas...cjf

jimmyv13

If you have your foot on the clutch and the tranny in any gear and it starts moving, then your clutch slave cylinder seals are going bad. Change the slave cylinder. It's not hard or expensive. If you follow the hose out of your clutch master cylinder in goes to the slave cylinder mounted on the bell housing. Read your Haynes manual for the "how to" and good luck.

Blake

If you're losing fluid, then it is likely to be the slave cylinder, but if not, then it is probably your clutch master cylinder going bad (fluid leaking around the piston). You can get a rebuild kit from Mazdatrix for about $20.

BTW, holding the clutch in at lights is not a good idea. This causes unnecessary wear on the throwout bearing and stress on the clutch hydraulics. Just put the tranny in neutral and release the clutch. And, as long as we are talking about elementary stuff, don't rest your hand on the shifter while driving. Most people I've noticed holding the clutch pedal down at stop lights also seem to have other very bad habits like this!

error402

cjf - i had the same thoughts. hoping that it won't cause a problem in the future.

jimmyv13 & Blake - sweet! i looked into it and defiently sounds like the problem and it doesn't look to difficult to fix. *happy little dance*

Blake - heheheh, yeah i'm well aware of holding the clutch in at lights is not a good idea. but i also do stupid things like starting my car in 4th gear with no problems. (5th is a bit to weak to get going from a stop...LOL.) 97% of the time when at a light im in neutral, the other 3% is for the stupid hills in downtown KC has...LOL (you would think it was funny if you lived in kansas) and the 4th gear thing is just me showing off(once in a blue moon).

i'll keep you guys posted when i replace the slave cylinder to see if it fixed the problem.

Pele

iTrader: (28)

Don't just buy parts to see if it fixes the problem.. Diagnose it as best you can at first.

Check the slave cylinder, just look down at it. Is it covered in fluid? Is there a puddle under the car? If not, you just wasted US$30 or more on a slave.

Look up under the dash. See the clutch pedal and where it has a rod roing through the fire wall. That pushes the master cylinder. See any fluid leaking around that rod. If yes, then it's your master cylinder that's bad. That's about US$50

Actually, it's best to replace both at the same time. They tend to wear out at a similar rate and if one's worn out, it mighta gotten crud in the hydraulic lines that'll flow down to the other cylinder and grind up the inside of that. I don't trust rebuild kits as much as I trust a factory rebuild one, so I just got rebuilt cylinders from a parts depot here. Cost me about US$75.

Be sure to clean out the lines to get crud outta there. I used compressed air to blow it out. If that rubber part of the line is cracking, it's also a good time to replace it. A good buy is a stainless steel clutch line. Nice firm feel to the clutch, especially if it's bled well.

Good luck.

error402

I totally agree. I took a look at the master and slave cylinders, and the both look pretty cruddy(it looks like someone threw rust on it as a fashion statement ). Sooooo....I'll just replace both of them and the respectable hoses for them.

The car for me is a fun project anyways. I've learned alot about the 7 and hope to learn even more!!!

clean

Amen!!!!!!! That's what these cars are for! They're for playing with, learning on, having as a project, breaking things and fixing them! And to top it off, they look awesome and feel awesome!

I love working on my car! I don't know what I'm doing much of the time, but I love it anyway!

error402

Right now I have a tradition going where after I finish a project (big or small) I say,"Now watch the car not start." and sure enough everytime it doesn't start. LOL

here are some of the very simple projects:
fuel filter exchange - cost me 2.5 days, bad filter(brand new), i checked everything, and the filter last!! LOL
replaced cracked coolant hose - accedentally unplugged the starter wire.

rx7gslse

What part of KC are you in? I grew up in Overland Park, and have recently transplanted my 7 to the Ft Worth area...

error402

I currently live in Roeland Park about 5 min drive to Overland Park(where I work). Is that Ft Worth Texas? I lived in Texas for five years (Copperas Cove). I think it was like a 45 minute drive to Ft Worth.

hanman

By the way, I am sure that you already know, but you can get parts from Victoria British over in the Overland Park area. I am in Topeka, and run over for parts in KC now and again.
hanman

error402

hmmm....what can i say about Victoria British. I've gotten burned one too many times with them. Nice people but I think they need to check their products.