My clutch won’t let me shift into gears, and my clutch feels soft when pressed down.
Here's my issue, I can't shift gears when I press down the clutch. Instead when I try to shift, it doesn't go into gear and I hear a loud gear grinding noise every time. Although I can shift when the car is off and it moves. I checked my reservoir (which holds both brake/clutch fluid) and it was on the minimum line. I filled it up, and so far it hasn't drained any fluid. Certain people tell me it's the master clutch cylinder and some people say it's the slave cylinder, but I can't really tell. There might be air in the rubber tubes, that doesn't give pressure fo
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there. The inoperative clutch and soft clutch pedal could be, a faulty clutch master cylinder and/or a faulty clutch slave cylinder. Proper diagnoses should be performed to avoid unnecessary repairs. The brake fluid leak at the left rear wheel is a separate issue. The clutch hydraulic system and brake hydraulic system are two different hydraulic systems. I recommend having your vehicle’s inoperative and soft clutch pedal and brake fluid leak be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
A soft clutch can be a clear sign that a replacement is in order. As your vehicle`s clutch wears down, it may begin to feel soft and spongy when you press down on it. This inconsistent feeling is a sign that you should bring your vehicle into a shop to get it looked at.
If your clutch pedal feels soft or `spongy` at any point as you press it to the floor, it`s a sign your clutch fluid is low. That spongy, inconsistent feeling is due to air in the clutch line from the master cylinder to the slave cylinder.
The first thing to inspect is your entire clutch cable. They may be worn out over time, or simply need to be lubricated with special oil or powder. After the cable is lubricated, you also need to re-set the cable and adjust it to your convenience.
Broken Clutch Cable: The most common reason to have a clutch pedal that goes all the way to the floor is a broken clutch cable. This is extremely common, particularly on older cars. Replacing the cable will allow you to engage the clutch and change gears once more.
A clutch that doesn`t engage fully, or slips under heavy load, is the normal failure mode of a worn out friction disc of pressure plate that has lost its tension. When you press the clutch, your foot counters the diaphragm spring which presses the friction disc to the flywheel.
Air as cause of malfunction
As far as the hydraulic clutch is concerned, the following symptoms may occur: Change of the pedal travel. Difficulties in disengaging the clutch. Imprecise pedal feel.
Spongy Clutch
This feeling could also be an indication that air is making its way into the clutch line, which is a part of your gearbox system. You can remedy this by refilling your brake fluid after bleeding the clutch – a process in which you remove pockets of air from the hydraulic system.
The clutch feels soft
If the clutch pedal feels `spongey` or feels like you`re pushing it into a block of warm butter, your clutch is likely going to need to be replaced soon. Like everything, clutches have a lifespan, and this is the earliest sign that your clutch is on its way out.
Over time, dirt, debris and other tiny particles can accumulate in the transmission fluid, affecting its fluid properties. This can cause the vehicle to die when you shift into drive or reverse, allow a loss of power, transmission slip, rough shifts or even prevent the vehicle from shifting into gear at all.
Grease, dirt and moisture can collect in or on the interlock and brakelight switches as well as on the shift cable and related parts, hampering their operation and making it hard to shift into gear.
If your clutch pedal feels different it`s time for an adjustment at a minimum. If it`s loose, spongy, sticking or vibrating, you may need more than an adjustment. Your clutch pedal should operate smoothly and you should be able to feel the catch at about the same place each time you change gears.
Here are some of the main signs your clutch is starting to fail. When you press the clutch pedal, it`s spongy, sticking, vibrating or loose. There`s a squeaking or grumbling noise when the clutch pedal is pressed. You`re able to rev the engine but notice that it`s difficult to accelerate.
Misadjusted, damaged or stretched shift linkage or cables can keep an AT from going into gear when moving the shifter. Check your owner`s manual, because some vehicles have shift cables that are adjustable. Adjusting a cable is a one-time fix you can make before taking your car in for service.
Misadjusted, damaged or stretched shift linkage or cables can keep an AT from going into gear when moving the shifter. Check your owner`s manual, because some vehicles have shift cables that are adjustable. Adjusting a cable is a one-time fix you can make before taking your car in for service.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My clutch won’t let me shift into gears, and my clutch feels soft when pressed down.
ANSWER : Hi there. The inoperative clutch and soft clutch pedal could be, a faulty clutch master cylinder and/or a faulty clutch slave cylinder. Proper diagnoses should be performed to avoid unnecessary repairs. The brake fluid leak at the left rear wheel is a separate issue. The clutch hydraulic system and brake hydraulic system are two different hydraulic systems. I recommend having your vehicle’s inoperative and soft clutch pedal and brake fluid leak be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.
I can’t go into 4th or 5th gear and clutch does not engage after a recent clutch job, clutch release while in gear does nothing.
ANSWER : I would rule out the axle not being pushed all the way in. That would effect all speeds and gears. That you can engage gears other than 4th and 5th leads me to 2 m possibilities:
1. Shift linkage mis-adjusted.
2. Possible bent shifter fork internally.
1. Shift linkage mis-adjusted.
2. Possible bent shifter fork internally.
If it feels like you can engage 4th and 5th with the engine OFF, then I would lean towards a clutch release issue.
My truck won’t allow me to change gears even when pressing the clutch. No gears go in at all. Makes it impossible to drive.
ANSWER : Hello, this concern is possibly the slave or clutch master cylinder failure. These two components use brake fluid to apply pressure for movement of the clutch system. This fluid breaks down in time and causes the seals to fail (leak). A low fluid level would cause this concern as well as internal leakage. Replacement of components would be necessary. This type of concern would need to be inspected. If you’d like, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your location to diagnose your vehicle, and possibly replace your clutch master cylinder if need be.
Sifter floats from gear to gear and when letting out the clutch there is no response.
ANSWER : Hi there. Either the clutch has failed causing the transmission not to engage in any gear, or the transmission shifter plastic rings broke and will not engage the shifter. Check the clutch and make sure that it is moving when the pedal is pressed down. If the fork on the bell housing is moving and the wheels can be moved when the clutch pedal is depressed and then the wheels not moving when the pedal is let up, then the clutch should be in an okay shape. Most likely the plastic rings on the shifter housing has broke and making the shifter move around. If you need further assistance with the shifter moving around too much, then seek out a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, to help you.
My manual car won’t go into gear, it turns on and the clutch goes down perfectly fine. It happened after my gears grinded, the car
ANSWER : If the clutch mechanism is releasing properly, and the shift linkage is not malfunctioning, your transmission will have to be removed from the vehicle and inspected. Once a transmission has been removed from a vehicle, if the problem is a broken or worn part or parts, and the transmission has 100,000 miles or more, the most cost effective approach is to just simply rebuild the whole transmission. There are transmission rebuild kits that are sold just for this purpose. Rebuilding a transmission is no big deal and is indeed easier in many respects than rebuilding an engine. You can rebuild your transmission right in your own garage. You can NOT rebuild an engine in your own garage due to the highly specialized, and extremely costly, machine shop equipment required. Occasionally, mobile mechanics will take on a transmission rebuild job especially as once the mechanic removes the transmission from the vehicle, it is just simply a modular unit that can be easily transported to a mechanic’s shop and rebuilt right there and then returned to your vehicle. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Clutch engaged with pedal up or down issue? 2006 Mazda 3
ANSWER : Hi there – there are several possibilities here – none of them pleasant, and all will require removal of the transmission to get to the failed bit. It is possible the pilot bearing has seized up – which would make it seem as though the clutch were engaged, regardless of whether the clutch pedal was depressed (and working properly) or not. It’s also possible the clutch pressure plate "fingers" where the throwout bearing applies forced from the clutch pedal and hydraulics are damaged in some fashion, and will not compress to release the clutch disc. Last and least likely is a failure of the clutch master cylinder – internally – since there doesn’t appear to be any fluid loss. I recommend a clutch inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
Won’t shift out of first unless you let go of gas but it will shift back down and never grab second
ANSWER : If you have all the drive shafts in the front and rear, then you will damage the transfer case or one of the axles if you drive the vehicle and engage the front end. The two different gear ratios will do this. As far as the transmission goes, you have a problem with the governor inside the transmission and may have bad second gear parts. Have a mechanic pressure test the transmission and diagnose the shifting issue for you.
Car won’t go into gear. 2002 Audi A4 Quattro
ANSWER : Hi there – Your symptoms describe the behavior to expect when your clutch hydraulics go out (clutch master and clutch slave cylinders). Check your clutch fluid level – it may be low. If the fluid level is low, this usually means your clutch slave cylinder has worn out, not unusual with your mileage, and should be replaced. I recommend a malfunctioning clutch inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
