Having clutch issues, need help

[270+Camry]

Hi all. So the last couple of days if realized that my clutch pedal feels.."too light" when i first start the car. It still engages and there is no slip, i can spin the wheels if i tried. At first it didn't bother me. Couple days ago the clutch felt light and was engaging way at the bottom of the pedal. Usually i got about an inch of travel from the bottom up before the car starts moving. That time the car started moving as soon as i started releasing the clutch. after a couple shifts, the clutch went back to normal, like it always acted. Today when I first started the car after not driving it yesterday, the clutch was real light again, and it wasn't going into first. If i tried jamming it into first, it would move the car slighly forward, but without actually going into gear. I didnt hear or feel any grinding whatsoever. I tried rev matching, pumping the clutch several times and couple other things. After like 5 tries, it went in and the clutch was grabbing all the way at the bottom. Drove it for a bit and clutch went back to normal. Also realized couple days back that reverse actually did grind some, but nothing too crazy. Grinded like when u pop it into reverse while still rolling forward some. Like i said though, no slippage. Anyone got a clue as to what might be going on?

Im thinking linkage cable or grimmy fluid? haven't checked the fluid due to the fact that anytime i go outside, it is pouring. hope my description made sense and i hope to hear from you guys.

the only thing that i can point out as to anything else that my gearbox has done is since I got the car, It pops out of 5th sometimes. used to pop out more often but the more I drive it, the less it pops out. Usually just does it when i let go abruptly of the gas after i've been standing on it.

[stanno]

Originally Posted by 270+Camry

Hi all. So the last couple of days if realized that my clutch pedal feels.."too light" when i first start the car. It still engages and there is no slip, i can spin the wheels if i tried. At first it didn't bother me. Couple days ago the clutch felt light and was engaging way at the bottom of the pedal. Usually i got about an inch of travel from the bottom up before the car starts moving. That time the car started moving as soon as i started releasing the clutch. after a couple shifts, the clutch went back to normal, like it always acted. Today when I first started the car after not driving it yesterday, the clutch was real light again, and it wasn't going into first. If i tried jamming it into first, it would move the car slighly forward, but without actually going into gear. I didnt hear or feel any grinding whatsoever. I tried rev matching, pumping the clutch several times and couple other things. After like 5 tries, it went in and the clutch was grabbing all the way at the bottom. Drove it for a bit and clutch went back to normal. Also realized couple days back that reverse actually did grind some, but nothing too crazy. Grinded like when u pop it into reverse while still rolling forward some. Like i said though, no slippage. Anyone got a clue as to what might be going on?

Im thinking linkage cable or grimmy fluid? haven't checked the fluid due to the fact that anytime i go outside, it is pouring. hope my description made sense and i hope to hear from you guys.

the only thing that i can point out as to anything else that my gearbox has done is since I got the car, It pops out of 5th sometimes. used to pop out more often but the more I drive it, the less it pops out. Usually just does it when i let go abruptly of the gas after i've been standing on it.

Had a friend with a similar problem... turns out it was his clutch hydraulic fluid level that was low. I'd first check that. If it's not that, perhaps it may be the clutch disc.

[white90dx]

If the fluid level is low (likely), check for leaks - inside and outside at the master cylinder and at the slave cylinder. Replace as necessary.

-Charlie

[270+Camry]

thanks for the input guys. turns out the reservoir was dry, not low, just flat out dry. oops. added some dot 3 in there which will do untill i bleed my brakes and bleed the clutch line probably this weekend. figure might as well bleed all the dot 3 things at once. quick question, what the hell is that black floaty button thing??? if none of you have it floating in your reservoir I will post a picture.

[white90dx]

All the manual trans Camrys should have that disk. Its there to keep the fluid from sloshing around to much, I think.

Check for the leak location - its probably inside the car. Fix that before you do any bleeding... Brake fluid doesn't just evaporate.

-Charlie