Clutch Going Soft (air in the system..)

[strykeone]

97 xe 4x4 5spd

 

I will make this as short as possible. About 2 weeks after the cold weather started my clutch started going soft, slowly at first until it made it nearly impossible to drive. I took it to the dealership, they bled the clutch and sent me on my way.

 

A few days later the clutch began to go soft again, so I took it to the dealership. They installed a new master cylinder.

 

After that, the clutch still went soft after a few days of driving. I returned it to the dealership, they installed a new slave cylinder. They said that a seal went likely because the person that installed the "new" clutch (it's on it's second clutch, installed 5 years ago) didn't use Oem parts and/or didn't install it properly. I found that funny, because the clutch was done at another Nissan dealership...

 

Though disappointed at the fact that I put out $700, for a $300 repair, I didn't let it bother me because I was just happy to have my Pathy in tip top running condition again. Two days go by, I'm driving home from work and the clutch feels a little soft...dreaded air in the system again. Finally by tonight there is enough air in there to make the vehicle almost impossible to drive.

 

So what do you guys think? It could be the clutch itself, but that clutch is only 30,000km old. And are these guys way out to lunch? I asked for my $700 back, and they are claiming they didn't do anything wrong so they won't refund it. Didn't they go wrong when they didn't properly identify the problem?

[Pavelow Leaks]

If it was the clutch itself, it wouldnt feel good then go soft, a bad clutch is a bad clutch.

[unccpathfinder]

Didn't they go wrong when they didn't properly identify the problem?

 

thats the beauty of having issues with the car...they fixed what should have been the symptoms...the slave cylinder should have been done 1st i would believe if it were visually leaking from the boot...

 

I would check the bleeder valve to make sure its not somehow backing off of or leaking and then I would check the lines for leaks b/c thats the only thing left to change in the system...

 

30000km and on a 2nd clutch gyees....

[sammyb33]

30000km and on a 2nd clutch gyees....

 

no since it was replaced the actual clutch only has 30000 kms....

 

 

and yes, check the lines for leaks, although that should be easily identifiable by the dealership, so i think they would have checked the lines....

 

otherwise, maybe it wasnt bled right? i know on my WD there is a bleeder valve up on the firewall, and down on the slave...check to make sure both are tight...and now allowing air in the system....

[strykeone]

Apparently the mecahnic has 20 years experience with Nissan, and is the best in the city. Sounds like rhetoric to me.

 

Lodge my complaint above the dealership...

[Chriskaw440]

The local Nissan Dealership here in Columbia SC was too cheap to remove my flywheel and have it resurfaced when I had my clutch replaced on my '90 SE when it had 221,000+ miles on it. They said they have a tool that does the job so it doesnt have to be removed from the vehicle....in other words, just a drill with a metal brush bit on it to polish it somewhat.

 

I raised hell (because the new clutch shuddered like crazy when engaging) , they wouldnt budge, but I got other service done for free...the clutch eventually "softened up a bit" and drives more normally.

 

It's not the first issue I've had with dealership repairs, and since they SHOULD be the experts with NISSANS, I won't go back. Found much better and more honest service elsewhere.

[5523Pathfinder]

See, these "mechanics" at the dealerships are the ones giving me a bad name. There a lot of older techs that cannot keep up with newer vehicles. I would never do a clutch without removing and turning the flyweel. Its only six bolts!!! As for the soft clutch feel, someone didnt bleed both bleeders in the system. When my slave went out, I pressurized the system to bleed the clutch system and it made a ton of difference. Now when I do a customers vehicle, thats what I do. Like at any repair facility, ask to see the broken parts, leak, damage or whatever. If they have a problem with doing so, go somewhere else.

Edited January 15, 2007 by 5523Pathfinder

[Chriskaw440]

Well as the old saying goes, a good mechanic is hard to find! I would have thought that if the odometer shows over 200,000+ miles, yank the flywheel and machine or replace it no questions when doing a clutch job.

 

That was my argument also, it's only 6 bolts and it's all right there anyway once the tranny is dropped....and only about an extra $80.00 for the work...(as it would be outsourced to a machine shop) but it would have been done RIGHT and that is what's more important to me. Their main interest was time.....get it in and get it out, get the next car on the rack.

 

If things aren't bled right then they will never feel right. Shortcuts don't work with hydraulics.

Edited January 15, 2007 by Chriskaw440

[unccpathfinder]

for $80 extra just buy a new flywheel...then u dont have to mess with adjusting the pushrod (not that its hard to do)

 

i did notice when i changed the clutch this time and in my 87 that the pedal was way softer (all the time) than what it used to be which just means the forks on the pressure plate were less stiff (not sure if thats good or bad yet)