no clutch pedal (no pressure)

raymond338 · Aug 8, 2017

We were driving to Savannah, GA, for a concert when the wife decided to stop for gas. When she pushed the clutch to downshift on the off-ramp, nothing happened. I told her to pull over to the shoulder.

No resistance in pedal. Wouldn't go into gear. No sign of leakage anywhere.

We were 30 minutes from our destination, and 90 minutes from home. So we 'uber-ed' the rest of the way ($34 minus a $20 off offer so only cost us 14 bucks).

Got to the show just in time, meanwhile my teenager drove down to pick us up. We stopped by the jeep, and we managed to push it to get it rolling and I got it into first gear.

Got back on the interstate shifting up to 4th gear without the clutch (had some practice years ago on an s-10). Had to run a few red lights to avoid stopping, but it was after midnight and traffic was light.

Inspected further the next day. Did see a drip of fluid coming from the brake pedal where the booster connects. No other signs.

Brake fluid was a little low, not sure if significant.

I have read that the brake master cylinder can go bad and cause the clutch pedal to go out. Figure I'd try to replace that first, then the clutch master cylinder. Slave cylinder as a last resort.

I did try bleeding the clutch line at the tranny. Ran a pint through it. A lot of air did come out, and then stream was solid, but still no pedal.

Any ideas/suggestions...???

nth256 · Aug 8, 2017

I've have three master cylinders in the time I've owned my Patriot. They're made of plastic, which cracks with the heat of the engine bay, and they suck air in. I don't know where the fluid escapes to, since I don't see it leaking from the master cylinder either, but it does leak, obviously.

Sorry i can't offer a solution, but I can definitely confirm your issues.

Treegrower · Aug 8, 2017

Google this and study some of the threads: https://www.google.com/search?q=pat...iot.com&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwic_-Kn08jVAhWR2YMKHatLBJIQrQIIrQEoBDAA&biw=1920&bih=922

This one from nth256 has pictures: http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/15...e-drivetrain/196505-here-we-go-again-2nd-tranny-failure-since-march-2013-a.html ...actually is master cyl. failure

The clutch and brakes share the same fluid resevoir (#1), but each system has its own master cylinder (piston) (#2). The tranny also has a slave cylinder (piston)(#3).

Look for a leaking line before you consider anything else. Both the master cyl. and slave cyl. are what provides hydraulic pressure to move the clutch.

2 is the clutch master cylinder. 3 is the tranny slave cylinder. The big thing behind #2 is the brake master cylinder

raymond338 · Aug 11, 2017

First thing I did was look for a leaking line. Unless its in a hidden location, its not leaking.

Then I looked through as many threads as I could find before posting.

I finally found a reference that mentions having to remove the master cylinder and hold it (piston pointed down) for 10 seconds to get out air that is trapped when the clutch master cylinder is in the standard mounted position.

So I could bleed it for days with the bleeder screw and probably never get all of the air out. I am mentioning this here again so that the next person has a greater likelihood of finding this information. Now its posted in more than one location.

Hunted for a description of removal. No very clear instructions anywhere (not even in the factory manual). But the new part arrived, and now that I can see it, I understand how it comes out. The hydraulic line is held in place with a clip similar to what holds on the hold crank style window handles. Not sure how easy to access it will be, but I'm sure I can find something to reach it. After removing that line and the connection to the pedal, it appears that the whole unit just twists out like a headlight.

Not a great description either, but don't have a camera handy. Maybe I can get someone to take some pictures for me before I get it all done.

The new brake master cylinder piston is a LOT stiffer than the one I took off. hopefully that's a good sign that the original is worn out. The new one didn't come with the bench bleeding fittings, I guess they expect you to buy those separately these days.

Unless I see a crack/leak from the master cylinder, I'm guessing its not the problem. But if I have to take it out, I'll go ahead and replace it. I got the both the clutch master cylinder and brake master cylinder online for the price of just one of them at the local parts store. Most places didn't even stock these parts, which I thought was strange considering how long these vehicles have been produced.

I purchased a LUK clutch master cylinder. I could find no personal testimonials on this part. but my F250 has had a LUK clutch setup in it for the last 120,000 miles with no problems. Paid about $50 bucks for it with free shipping.

I purchased a Centric brand brake master cylinder. Found no testimonials on it either. Didn't come with the bench bleeding fittings. paid about $60 bucks for it with free shipping.

Most parts stores sell bench bleeding kits for $7 to $10.

raymond338 · Aug 19, 2017

So the brake master cylinder was leaking. And weak. Replaced that.

The clutch master cylinder had been replaced before (also with a LuK brand). What a pain it is to get to that thing.

However, replacing these two parts didn't solve my main problem, which is not having a clutch pedal. Pretty much only left the slave cylinder as the culprit.

So the family took my truck on vacation for the week. I knew I couldn't get the slave cylinder done in time, so I was hoping it was the brake master or the clutch master (which i could get done in the short time I had before they were scheduled to depart). I took the week to pull the transmission in my evenings after work.

There is an access port in the bellhousing, mine has a plastic cover. Used to remove the bolts that hold the modular clutch assembly to the flywheel. When I loosened the cover (just poking at it, really), brake fluid poured out. I guess it was sealed up well enough not to show me the leak before. That is where I should have looked to begin with.

There is amazingly few bits of information on the internet for the removal of the transmission. Dug through the factory manual, but it recommended pulling the exhaust to remove tranny. Exhaust is something I avoid messing with if at all possible. Found another single post describing how to remove the PTU from the transaxle allowing it to be small enough to remove. Not much else out there that I stumbled across.

In the end it wasn't too bad. Slave cylinder was toast. Went ahead and replaced the modular clutch as well while I was there.

Unhapyadd1ct · Mar 19, 2022

raymond338 said:
So the brake master cylinder was leaking. And weak. Replaced that.

The clutch master cylinder had been replaced before (also with a LuK brand). What a pain it is to get to that thing.

However, replacing these two parts didn't solve my main problem, which is not having a clutch pedal. Pretty much only left the slave cylinder as the culprit.

So the family took my truck on vacation for the week. I knew I couldn't get the slave cylinder done in time, so I was hoping it was the brake master or the clutch master (which i could get done in the short time I had before they were scheduled to depart). I took the week to pull the transmission in my evenings after work.

There is an access port in the bellhousing, mine has a plastic cover. Used to remove the bolts that hold the modular clutch assembly to the flywheel. When I loosened the cover (just poking at it, really), brake fluid poured out. I guess it was sealed up well enough not to show me the leak before. That is where I should have looked to begin with.

There is amazingly few bits of information on the internet for the removal of the transmission. Dug through the factory manual, but it recommended pulling the exhaust to remove tranny. Exhaust is something I avoid messing with if at all possible. Found another single post describing how to remove the PTU from the transaxle allowing it to be small enough to remove. Not much else out there that I stumbled across.

In the end it wasn't too bad. Slave cylinder was toast. Went ahead and replaced the modular clutch as well while I was there.

So was it the slave cylinder in the end? I know we're nearing 5 years but I to am having the same issue.

2008 jeep patriot 2.4 manual awd

no clutch pedal (no pressure)

raymond338

nth256

Treegrower

raymond338

raymond338

Unhapyadd1ct

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