Where's the Knight Bus when you need it?

[pegkerr]

I was driving to a doctor's appointment today, when suddenly I was unable to shift gears at all. I pulled out and checked the clutch reservoir. Empty. I swore, not under my breath. I'd taken the car in for servicing this week, to be SURE it was fit to drive from Minnesota to Florida next week. So why did the service station, who was supposed to check all fluid levels, give it back to me with that reservoir empty?

I had brake fluid in my car. I poured it into the reservoir and made it to the appointment all right, but driving home it was clear that all was not well. Shifting into first and second gear was extremely difficult, and it was possible to shift in reverse, if you don't mind the horirble grinding noise the gears were making.

Best guess: clutch? Or transmission?

If we have to rent, we'll rent. We'll get there. But suddenly have money issues I didn't plan on having.

Aaarghhhh.

P

Comments

[aome.livejournal.com]

My car-buff husband says clutch.

Transcribing what he's telling me: You probably have a leak in the hydrolic system, which is why you ran out of fluid. Because it ran dry, you probably have an air bubble in the line, and thus the clutch is not disengaging properly. It's supposedly not *too* expensive to fix. You shouldn't have to replace the clutch - just the slave cylinder and/or the hydrolic line.

If you trace the metal hydrolic line off the clutch reservoir (will probably turn to rubber, then back to metal) - if that line is wet anywhere, that's where the leak is. If not, then - the point where the line connects, there should be a rubber 'boot'. Pop it off, and if it's wet underneath, *that*'s where the leak is. (That's where the slave cylinder is.) He's betting it's there.

What kind of car is this?

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

The problem with a leaking clutch reservior, cylinder, or hose is that the leaky bits will continue to leak... and there'll be air in the system, and it won't hold full pressure. Like brakes that leak.

It's not dangerous, just not so good for the life of the clutch/transmission: it won't fully disengage the engine from the tranny if the pressure won't build up properly. You can do what's called "double-clutching," which is sorta pumping the clutch and moving the gear-shift part way before really shifting.

That'll help keep from grinding gears until you can get it repaired. Meanwhile, keep the proper fluid (a can or three) in the trunk.

Hugs,
Chris