Hey guys, I am new to the forum, but mostly new to the civic scene completely. I just picked up a 94 civic, 2 door, 5 speed, basic dx model. Now I had a couple of cars with a stick but this one seems kinda different. When I push in the clutch and put it in first it feels like the clutch is already grabbing even though the clutch pedal is all the way to the floor. And after driving for a little while, if I let it sit for a few minutes and try to put it back in gear, its a little hard to put it into 1st or reverse gear. My question is has anyone gone thru this, and could it just be that the system needs to bleed and flush, or do I need to put in a new clutch.

Also it seems like it slips once in awhile mostly in 1st or 2nd gear..


This is my first thread, so if I put it in the wrong section, my bad, still trying to get use to everything.

 

Did you check the Transmission fluid level?
Also if you or the last owner(if you know him or her) don't know when the last time the transmission fluid was changed then you should really have it flushed & put a additive in there. I'm hoping that will smooth things out.

 

clutch could be wearing - depends on the age/use. Check clutch adjustment as well (I believe you've got a cable clutch), as well as adjusting your clutch pedal travel (again I believe that this is done separately) Draining/filling the trans probably won't help but if you don't know if/when it's been done - its probably a good idea.

You'll have to search for clutch adjustment though - I'm not familiar with how it's done on the civics with cable clutch. Mine's hydraulic

 

The 94 has a hydraulic clutch which is not adjustable. Assuming the clutch fluid level is OK and there's no air in the system, having to pump the pedal to get the clutch to disengage means the master cylinder is worn out.

Slippage of the clutch is most evident in the higher gears. In low gears the rpm is changing rapidly because the car is accelerating, and it is hard to tell if the clutch is slipping or not. After driving (assuming you're driving properly) if it smells like overheated brakes under the hood that is from the clutch slipping.

 

Well, I finally had a chance to check all the fluids, and everything is up to normal, but it is dirty as hell. So I get paid next friday and I am going to flush out the trans, do a full oil change and flush out the motor, and same thing the with radiator. O yea, no weird smells or anything of that nature.

 

MK - question: You stated the MASTER cylinder could be the culprit. Just checking... did you mean slave cylinder? I'm just wondering because I would think that a bad master cyl would also affect braking.

 

Clutch master cylinder. The clutch system is completely independent from the brake system. The hydraulic clutch has its own small master cylinder on the firewall driven by the clutch pedal.

 

Thanks for the clarification MK. Clutch Master cylinder is what I've always heard referred to as the "slave" cylinder. I just got a little confused that's all.... but hey, I learned something new.

As a wise man said "The day you stop learning is the day you start dying"...