Some of you have probly seen my other posts, but, my car is a 03 5spd. Bought it about a month ago. Previous owner said he put a new clutch in it, which i believe cause it felt really nice. Half way home tonight after work i was coming up to a stop sign so i pushed in the clutch, but there was absolutely nothing there. Pedal just went "over center" and stuck to the firewall. Of course i made the mistake of stopping, trying to get a damn manual to move without a clutch is a pain. But i made it home.

What do i need or what do i need to look at? Clutch never acted funny at all, just all the sudden it wasn't there. I did a little research sounds like maybe a line went or the slave cylinder is shot. But i do not know where the lines are or anything like that. I have very good mechanical skills, just never worked on a cavalier before. So please, if your reply is to check something, tell me where to look for it Thanks for the help guys i really appreciate it.

Fluid under the car? clutch fluid reservoir empty? If you look at the driver side of the motor at the trans, there is only one line running into the trans that it could be. my guess is the slave went, your clutch fluid reservoir is empty, and you need to replace the slave cylinder...

You COULD try bleeding it but if the reservoir is empty, not worth even bleeding. slave is done.

Yeah my guess too slave cylinder blew had a few stick cars and had the same problem happen with them....

After sitting over night there is no puddle on the floor. The reservoir is not empty either, but it looks like someone put trans fluid in it, has a red color to it. Im also guessing that its the slave now too since there the reservoir still has fluid in it. If the line was wore thru i would think the fluid would be gone? Or does it only leak when the peddle is depressed due to the pressure? Im really dreading pulling the trans out to replace the slave, what a @!#$y engineering flaw there.

let me guess, had over 100k miles, he replaced the clutch but not the tob/slave combo or replaced it with a cheap ass one. It always seems to happen with these cars that if you ever do a clutch without doing the tob that the tob goes shortly and you have to pull the whole thing apart again to do the tob, and the clutch likely got soaked with brake fluid and needs to be replaced too (but only the friction disk).


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer

133k miles. And what do you mean by TOB?

throw out bearing. Our slave and tob are integrated, which is why you have to pull the whole thing apart to change the slave and why the slave costs like 150 bucks.


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer

I have a new slave coming. Going to do it today. So the new slave will come with the new tob? It was around 150 at my local auto parts store

The slave and tob are 1 unit.


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer

Good deal. Anything special i need to remove the trans? I have a hoist and a trans jack to make things much easier.

Well, the master cylinder is shot. Tried bleeding the new slave before installing it and got no where. Took master out and it will not pump fluid. Most likely because the stupid kid that owned the car before me put ATF in the reservoir. Im hoping that didnt take out the slave too. Really dont wana pull the trans out. Gonna try the new master tonight.

Wow, Hopefully, a new master fixes it. I know you should never put ATF fluid in a manual, but i'm still surprised if that is what broke the components. Let us know what you find.

well no you shouldnt put atf in a clutch. But your manual takes atf in the actually tranny.


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer

Mine is a 97, 5-speed with 2.2
I'm supposed to use (penzoil) synchrmesh I thought.

2000 and newer J-bodies use ATF.

my 99 calls for ATF too...

Does it have a getrag F23? I think it has more to do with the make of the trans than the year of the car.

hmm. wonder if thats why i have a weird clutch. it clicks as i release it, and i feel it click through the gas pedal. but not the brake pedal. everything still works fine though.

Slave was bad too. ATF is alot more abrasive than brake/hydraulic fluid so i think that took seals out or something. And yes, the manual trans does call for ATF. But the clutch does NOT call for ATF. Even says on the cap "DOT 3 Brake Fluid" but still the moron still put atf in it.

The ecotec engined cars with manual transmission like to "wear out" the clutch actuating hydraulic line. It rubs against a body frame member under the brake master cylinder.
When mine went (at 40 Kmiles) I did not get puddles of fluid under the car, just the clutch was not working. The new line was the same shape, rubbing at the same spot. I put a hose clamp around it, now steel rubs against steel.

Good luck, Peter