Clutch Fault - plz help diagnose

[jtu100]

Hi guys,

I have got a problem with the clutch on my '88 camry. Here are the symptoms:

1) Clutch pedal frequently gets stuck when depressed. Does not come back up off the floor. Have to pull it back up by hooking foot under.
2) When I take the top off the master clutch cylinder I can see the fluid level go down slightly when the clutch is depressed (~5mm). There is plenty of fluid.
3) I can see no clutch fluid leaks.
4) When the pedal is pumped the slave cylinder does not move.

So obviously its a problem with the clutch hydraulics rather than the clutch itself.

But is it the master or the slave cylinder?

Cheers,
Jack

[TBayToyotaBoy]

If the pedal is sticking down, it sounds like the master cylinder. generally a failure in the slave causes massive fluid leaks as the seal goes (happened at -30 degrees Celcius on my old Corolla).

[jtu100]

Thanks for the reply.

Also the slave cylinder feels very loose on the end where the nipple should push on the clutch arm. Like the nipple can be jiggled if you catch my drift!

[TBayToyotaBoy]

There should not be any play between the end of the slave piston and the outer end of the release fork. That implies the piston in the slave cylinder is recessing too far, almost as if there's vacuum in the line rather than hydraulic pressure. This "could" be caused by a fault in the master cylinder: if the piston in the master is travelling too far (past the valve that leads to the slave), it could cause a back-rush of fluid from the line into the master cylinder...but this is all speculation.

1) Try replacing slave (much easier/ more accessible);
2) If problem persists, replace master.

[fredk]

it sounds like your master is bypassing, it usually happens when you are sitting at a lite and go to pull off and the pedal stays on the floor, if it gets bad enough it will do that on upshifts

[marc780]

If fixing the hyraulics doesnt fix it, maybe your clutch pressure plate diaphragm spring is bad and you just need a new clutch

[TBayToyotaBoy]

Originally Posted by marc780

If fixing the hyraulics doesnt fix it, maybe your clutch pressure plate diaphragm spring is bad and you just need a new clutch

I've never actually had that happen. Probably because (until now) I have always used dealer parts. Is this a fault that many people have had with aftermarket clutch kits? I'm about to put an Aisin clutch/ NSK bearing in my V6, but I won't if they're going to fail in a year or two...

[fredk]

get the pedal to stay on the floor and get out and see if the rod out of the slave is extended, then pick the pedal up and see if the slaves rod is much shorter now, if not you have a master going out

[jtu100]

Guys i still have not got round to fixing this!

Does anyone know if the part numbers for the SV21 clutch master/slave cylinder are shared across any other models of toyotas?

I am having trouble sourcing these parts new at a decent price (repco want $125!)

[TBayToyotaBoy]

Holy crap, man. There's no need to buy new. Go to a scrap yard and remove a slave from a junkyard car with low mileage. Shouldn't cost more than pocket change.

As far as the part is concerned, all I know for sure is that the V6 and I4 Camrys used the same master and slave cylinders. My Corolla has a smaller set-up, so that won't work.