I have a 5-speed manual 99 accord with 160,000 miles on it and original clutch system.

While driving the clutch went completely limp on me. I quickly pulled over to diagnose the problem.

I don't see any break fluid under the driver seat indicating the 1st seal in the master cylinder failing. I don't see any oil underneath the slave cylinder boot. The brake fluid was clean and between min and max before I started diagnosing the problem right after pulling over.

After bleeding the slave valve pressure came back for the 1st 75% of travel of the clutch. But the last 1/4 of travel towards the floor, the clutch goes limp with an air hissing noise while pushing in.

When I pump the clutch the brake fluid rises on push, and falls on release in the master cylinder.

Anyone have any ideas on what the problem could be and or how to proceed?

Thanks!!!

 

Bad master cylinder?

Sounds like the main piston seal leaking. The fluid behind that main piston seal is connected to the reservoir. The piston shaft seal isn't leaking so that's why it doesn't leak OUT.

 

I got the master cylinder out. What a pain in the butt in a 4 cylinder honda accord. I would have thought there would be more room under the hood. Got the new master cylinder in, but Autozone forgot to give me the custom O-ring so oil was spurting out the hydrolic line. Also this retention clip is a pain in the butt too. Hard to get pressure on the clip while it's in the car.

Does anyone know if the o-ring just goes in the hole and then the line goes in, or if the o-ring goes on the line and then the line in the hole?

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/F2...4=w532-h945-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/CA...Q=w532-h945-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lY...M=w512-h328-no

 

Oiled the retaining clip and put the O-ring on the hydrolic line nozzle. Noticed that while bleeding i over tightened the purge valve on the slave so I replaced the slave too. After bleeding, the clutch is working beautifully. Two years of a slowly degrading clutch, the hydrolic system has now been repaired and the car is driving beautifully.

Short of the possibility of an unnoticed leak in the line, the car is probably golden again.

 

I'm tempted to say the ring goes onto the tube then the tube goes into the MC. But I'm not completely certain.

(guess you beat me to it...)

 

Quick status update. Car has been driven for three days now. It's shifting beautifully. Wished I had replaced this 2 years ago when it started dying.