I Lost my Clutch Pedal...

[Darbji280z]

So I was driving down the road enjoying my awesome car. I stopped at a sign and continued on. Once I took my car out of first, I could not get her to go into second. She just made that aweful ratcheting sound. It was then I noticed that I had no pressure in my clutch pedal. So here we are rolling down the road in first. I pulled over to see what was going on and noticed I had no fluid in my clutch master cylinder. I followed the line to the slave cylinder, which was soaking wet and dripping. The boot was entirely gone. And I was about 15 miles from home. So I put the car in first and started it. Once I got going, I could shift without using the pedal. The only hard part was stopping and starting again. I had to shut the car off (otherwise she would die anyway) and restart it. In doing so, the lock cylinder (which already needed to be replaced) got itself stuck in the "start" position forcing me to shut the car off and keep restarting it until it didn't stick. It's needless to say she's going away for a while. She needs valve stem seals pretty bad on two of her cylinders, the ignition lock and now a slave. I think I need a break from my Z. At least until I get paid again.

So all in all, it's been a pretty bad day. Wish me luck.

[76Datsun280z]

Sorry to hear about that! As I have found, you always have those up and down days with old cars. I have just tried to play that into the fun of maintaing the car. Another way you can think of it, the more parts you replace, the more reliable it will be and less parts to break and go out in the future! Save up for a while, take a break and get er' back on the road again:D.

[EScanlon]

Darbji:

We haven't had enough women on the forum to be able to ascertain the applicability of a well known phenomenon amongst us male Z owners as to you women.

I don't know if you carry a purse, or a billfold or some type of small clutch purse or even a regular fold wallet, but do not, I repeat, DO NOT put it on the console. Especially if you have any money in it, or you've recently been paid.

We men do not put our wallet on the console for the same reason.

The Z can SENSE if you have money .... and if it does .... BLAMMO... something breaks, or suddenly needs urgent and expensive replacement.

Don't laugh. It's been documented ... OFTEN!!

This is NOT, repeat NOT, a gag, prank, or otherwise "inside" joke where we all get the "newbie" (meaning you) to go find a "Skyhook", a gallon of "jet wash", catching "snipes" in pillow cases out in the woods late in the evening on camping trips or some other made up item.

This, as unbelievable as it sounds..... is true.

You'll see.

There will be others who will post similar experiences, and all have the "I put my wallet on the console for just a few seconds, and all of a sudden ...." ring to them.

This isn't limited to any one year, nor any one country either, although there have been some who claim it's mostly a North American market phenomenon than other countries or that it happens more often here than in other countries..... doesn't matter. The point is, the car can SENSE money.

I had a driver's side rear tire decide to pass me at 65 mph, not two weeks after she'd been to the mechanic for a COMPLETE check up, tune up, valve adjust, brake pads (all 4), brake bleed (needed 2 new rear wheel cylinders), and a general intensive check it and replace it or fix it if the item is questionable. I had specified that I wanted absolutely NO WORRIES when I got the car back. Know any mechanic that would ignore anything then?

Well, on my way to the Dentist that morning, I put my wallet on the console while I ran inside to get my cell phone charger. On the way to the Dr., the driver's side half shaft decided to come loose and rattled the wheel so badly that the lugnuts were literally rattled OFF the car and blammo.... one rear tire that passed me at 65 mph. That was 5 years ago.

I've NOT put my wallet on the console ever again. The only problem I have had since was a couple of stuck rear wheel brake cylinders due to not driving the car for long enough distances. I drove her weekly, just not for long distances, so the cylinders got rust on their exposed surfaces (we're in the PacNW).

There will be others who will post similar stories. Believe me, you WILL believe, and once you believe.... you'll practically be immune.

FWIW

E

[240Z-Fan]

Darbji,

If you had enough sense to trace a hydraulic line, and correctly identify the problem, you can probably fix it yourself. For reference, Rockauto.com is selling slave cylinders for $10-$18.

The Lock: You could take the lock apart and see if it is fixable. Again for reference, Rockauto.com has a lock cylinder for $25. A more complete assembly is $90-$118. I would look at the original and see if the $25 fix is easy enough. In a Z I used to own, the previous owner gutted the cylinder. This means ANYTHING could be used to start it, including a screwdriver. But, the car was ugly and tired, so I had no concerns about it being stolen. :-]

Valve stem seals appear to be $1.

Anyway. I think it is great that you figured out how to drive the car without a clutch! Nicely done!!! :-) (I had to do the exact same thing once)

Let us know how the repairs go.

Al

PS. I have never purchased anything from Rockauto. It is just a quick way to get a handle on prices.

[Jeff G 78]

Every Z I've owned has puked a clutch slave cylinder at one point or another. I don't even think twice about it. I drive it without the clutch to get it home and buy a rebuilt one for $10-$15. The rebuilt ones seem to last fine. It is always the 20+ year old slaves that have crapped out on me. They take less than 1/2 hour to replace and I've never even had to bleed one due to the simple design and position of the system. I simply gravity bleed the new one for a few seconds and button it up. I've never had any air in the line.

As far as Rock Auto goes, I've bought several things from them with great success. Prices are good and shipping is quick. I have a good import auto parts store locally though that almost always has most Z parts in stock. Unless I need a special item, I can pick it up the day I need it.

Good luck with the car and hang in there.

[Darbji280z]

EScanlon: I have heard this before and dind't take it seriously. However, the only times the car has done something like this to me was when I left my wallet in the car unattended. For example, yesterday, I pulled the car out onto the driveway and left money in her. I had a second thought but only had a little more than a 20 in my wallet at the time. So I didn't think it was a big deal. And ten minutes down the road... there she goes.

It's nice to know the lock cylinder might be repairable. I can already start the car with any key or even a screwdriver. So I just as soon thought it was shot. We sell them where I work but they are ugly and don't look original.

I've already purchased a new slave cylinder and will be replacing it tomorrow. I love my car far too much to take a break from her.

Thanks guys!

[zbane]

What has been said about cash and our Z cars is too true.

I just received my refund check from my financial aid and knew immediately that there could be serious repercussions from its presence.

To avoid potential problems, here is what I have done, and I hope it works...

First, I went to the bank to deposit most of the amount. I kept $50 out and went straight to the parts store and bought a new fuel filter and ordered a new fuel pump.

I had to show the little one where my priorities lay, and I think it has worked. Just to be safe, I will be picking up a few "surprises" at the store today, in the form of new fuel lines and vacuum tubing, and I may be ordering an aftermarket fuel pressure regulator...

You've done it right so far, in that you have already ordered the replacement parts-ignoring Kharma's wants and needs will only lead to bad kharma from Kharma; what you do now and how you act will either build trust or destroy it.

[zbane]

Here's a thread that delves deeply into the cash + car equation:

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22084&highlight=ghost

Happy reading

[KDMatt]

Darbji, I thought I warned you about the Ethereal money-detector my dear? ...

That's lame that Kharma quit on you... and I'm glad you're getting her fixed.

My advice to you, is to carry a debit card instead of cash. Lindsey isn't able to read cards, loose change, or checks/money orders... at least not in the 2+ years I've owned her.

The Z only seems capable of reading cash as far as I can tell...

Oh, and in terms of the valve seals, that is a pretty common problem, and there is an article (somewhere, I'll have to find it) that explains how to replace them without popping off the cylinder head... I've personally opted for some of that Lucas Oil Stabilizer as a quick 'band-aid' fix and the effects, thus far, have been quite positive.

[sakijo]

Yes, my car knew all too well that I had money. Brake job, valve job, shocks, ball joints . . . . and in JAPAN, the parts can be expensive. Now that the car is in America, it doesn't seem to have that problem since I don't carry JAPANESE money. It does, however, seem to not want to be or become American. Driving it down to the local City Hall last Friday, all was well and the POOF! The car just quit running on the freeway. It wouldn't start back up, so $78.00 for a tow back home. Saturday morning, I go out to try and troubleshoot it, and it started right up as if nothing was wrong.

Darbji, keep plugging away. The car just probably wants attention and is jealous of KD Matt.