97 mazda protege

[facefrench@gmail.com]

I have a 1997 Mazda Protege LX 5 speed. All of a sudden, when I drive the car around or even have it in cruse control the rpm's will quickly rise. They will keep increasing until I hit the break or let go of the gas or put the clutch down. I thought that it might be low on clutch fluid however i found out that the brake master cylinder supplies the clutch with brake fluid to lube it (and i have plenty of brake fluid) Does anyone have an idea what could cause this problem?

Thanks

[Xedosman]

I have a 1997 Mazda Protege LX 5 speed. All of a sudden, when I drive the car around or even have it in cruse control the rpm's will quickly rise. They will keep increasing until I hit the break or let go of the gas or put the clutch down. I thought that it might be low on clutch fluid however i found out that the brake master cylinder supplies the clutch with brake fluid to lube it (and i have plenty of brake fluid) Does anyone have an idea what could cause this problem?

Thanks[/b]

i found out that the brake master cylinder supplies the clutch with brake fluid to lube it

The clutch is not supposed to be lubed, it is a dry clutch. I don't understand what you mean, do you have a brake fluid leak? Or a leak in the clutch slave cylinder?

I'd guess you have either a slipping clutch due to wear (will be worst on higher gears), or the crank seal is shot, in that case the draining hole under the bellhousing should be more or less dripping with black oil. Usually oil on the disc will cause horrible shuddering when engaging the clutch and possibly slipping if bad enough.

To test if the clutch is slipping, drive 50mph in 5th, apply full throttle and kick the clutchpedal quickly to the floor and remove the foot from the pedal before rpms rise too much. Then it should engage again at once, without slipping. If it leaves rpms high, you probably need a new clutch.

[facefrench@gmail.com]

i found out that the brake master cylinder supplies the clutch with brake fluid to lube it

The clutch is not supposed to be lubed, it is a dry clutch. I don't understand what you mean, do you have a brake fluid leak? Or a leak in the clutch slave cylinder?

I'd guess you have either a slipping clutch due to wear (will be worst on higher gears), or the crank seal is shot, in that case the draining hole under the bellhousing should be more or less dripping with black oil. Usually oil on the disc will cause horrible shuddering when engaging the clutch and possibly slipping if bad enough.

To test if the clutch is slipping, drive 50mph in 5th, apply full throttle and kick the clutchpedal quickly to the floor and remove the foot from the pedal before rpms rise too much. Then it should engage again at once, without slipping. If it leaves rpms high, you probably need a new clutch.[/b]

I do not believe that it is supposed to be dry. However I could very well be wrong. I looked in a Haynes manual and it said that the for her mazda years 1990-1998 get lubed by the brake fluid resuvar (sp?). It could be that the book is wrong. I dont think that the fluid is the problem. What do you think would cause the problem?

[facefrench@gmail.com]

Or a leak in the clutch slave cylinder?


what do you mean by that?

[millyowner]

The clutch fluid is used to disengage the clutch. If all the clutch fluid were to leak out, the clutch pedal would fall to the floor and not disengage the clutch. I'm with Xedosman...it sounds like a mechanical problem with the clutch. Either wear or contamination.

A hydraulic clutch uses a master cylinder that is actuated by clutch pedal action, and a slave cylinder that is actuated by the master cylinder to disengage the clutch plate. No fluid or air-contaminated fluid would mean that the master cylinder moves (along with the clutch pedal) but the slave cylinder doesn't move. The clutch pedal is to the floor but the clutch in the transmission is still fully (or partially) engaged.

[facefrench@gmail.com]

The clutch fluid is used to disengage the clutch. If all the clutch fluid were to leak out, the clutch pedal would fall to the floor and not disengage the clutch. I'm with Xedosman...it sounds like a mechanical problem with the clutch. Either wear or contamination.

A hydraulic clutch uses a master cylinder that is actuated by clutch pedal action, and a slave cylinder that is actuated by the master cylinder to disengage the clutch plate. No fluid or air-contaminated fluid would mean that the master cylinder moves (along with the clutch pedal) but the slave cylinder doesn't move. The clutch pedal is to the floor but the clutch in the transmission is still fully (or partially) engaged.[/b]

so you think that the clutch needs to be replased?

[facefrench@gmail.com]

also is it going to hurt anything at all if i keep driving it for say another month or 2 without replacing it or is it going to damage another part on my car?

[millyowner]

If it progresses to continuous slipping, the excess heat could grenade the flywheel.

[facefrench@gmail.com]

do you have any idea how may hours/days i should expect it will take to change out the clutch?

[Xedosman]

I'd guess it is a 4-5 hour job.