[hardk0re]

So i've got more issues with my winter beater (95 escort). Still the same hard to shift issue. A new discovery tho, when its real cold its more of an issue than when its warmer outside, and I can overcome the problem by pumping the clutch like 20 times. Usually what happens is the clutch slams to the floor without much force, after pumping it It seems to get firmer and I can actually shift.


I'm thinking its the clutch master cyl. or slave cyl.? If so which one, or should I just replace both?

[paolo]

shouldn't this be in technobabble or motorsport?

[ANTHONYD]

Kev:

I would do both. I had similar problems with my Focus a few years back. It got to the point where I just couldn't shift in the cold. AT ALL. Not to mention my floor mat had cluch fluid all over it all the time.

The tech at the dealership explained that generally the pressure of your fluid is what assists the action of shifting, so if the pressure isn't right with one component, chances are it's pooched the other.

They replaced both and I was fine.

Bottom line. have em' both replaced.

[hardk0re]

How much was it to replace both?

[Tiketz]

I have the same problem with my beater and I have a cable clutch so I don't think it matters if its Hydrolic

When its cold outside it has a hard time going into 1st and Reverse

What I do is push the clutch in and shift into 2nd and still with the clutch depressed shift into 1st

This is obviously done when your at a stand still

[Alien-Tek]

Hmmm... This makes me think.

I just had my clutch replaced (whole kit-n-kabootle) about a month ago. When the car is cold, it's hard to shift into first and again into second. After the car gets warm it's not an issue.

Is there something wrong with mine too?

:blink:

[SDPZX3]

i had to replace the master slave cylinder in my focus and it cost me around $1300, but that was my focus not an escort

but my guess would be somewhere in the area,

is there fluid leaking onto the back of the clutch??? or onto the floor??? if so its the master slave cylinder, if the fluid is on the outside of the car its the clutch master cylinder

[Drivesthebeast]

Just the nature of the beast with Ford gearboxes...

My Mustang shifts like junk in the cold too, until it warms up...shifts from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd aren't the easiest...

Same thing with my friends foci too...blew shifts into 2nd more than once one morning when it was really cold...just refused to shift at first.

[habmann]

Mine was pretty rough this morning shifting in the cold. Got better when it warmed up a little bit.

I think i'm gonna have the tranny drained and refilled this week tho, 130 000 on the fluid so that may help ease the problem.

[ex1z7]

Weee! I'm not the only one..

The fluid on the floor mats is from your slave cylinder. Foci's brakes and clutch run off the same reservoir, so if you're leaving hydraulic fluid (dot 3 brake fluid, or dot 4 if you actually listen to the manual for canada.) on your mats, that's why. I had the same problem, 300 dollar fix + parts.

If your clutch doesn't come back off the floor, it's a few things.. You have 0 fluid left and theres no pressure to do anything..

Or.. your clutch itself is toast, but don't count on that.. it takes a while for a clutch to die usually..

Beg it isn't the master cylinder, anything but the master cylinder.. That thing is a PITA to swap, and costs an arm and half, or the whole leg..

A problem we have with our tranny's is the cold, the fluid itself becomes thick like honey.. The fluid actually acts alot like honey - if the car is warm, it'll melt around and be cool, if the fluid is cold, it'll stick and not move easily..

mmm..honey..

But seriously, I've got 81k on my car and I've had the slave cyl replaced, and everything else is fine, and first / reverse is annoying for me in the cold.. I just let my car warm up in neutral sometimes before driving it - when it's super cold at least..

If you're having trouble with reverse.. A trick I use ALOT is stick the car in first, lift the clutch enough to engage first gear and normally move, then stick it into reverse.. shouldn't have a problem if you do that. I have to do it all the time cus I leave my car in second gear cus my driveway is on a hill.. and the car's already gone into the house once.. (Totally my moms fault man.. I swear).

Check your fluid levels to see if you're low... is the first step.