Anyone ever experience this? Sometimes when I step on the clutch to shift, when I release the pedal, it only comes up maybe half way or so. I have to use my foot to bring it back up, or it might take half a minute or several minutes for it to come back up on its own. I've noticed this happens more often when its hot outside, or if I'm sitting in traffic.

 

mine did it once. stuck about 3/4 of the way up then popped right back up. never anything that serious.

 

Master cylinder is toast..Gurantee it

 

Is this a common issue, what causes this?

 

Before you go and replace the master cylinder, I would replace the clutch hydraulic fluid. Particularly if this tends to happen when the system is hot. Flush the system to remove that old fluid, which can get contaminated over time. Water can get into the hydraulic fluid and cause it to deteriorate.

If your car's got more than 30k on it and this fluid has never been changed, you should start there.

 

Not sure on the cause but my friend 07' Z went through atleast 4 in the 2 years he owned it. So im going to guess its a pretty common issue with nissans clutch master cylinders

 

I'll start with the fluid. Does it matter what kind I use? Are some better than others? Any recommendations?

 

The fluid is the same as brake fluid, so any DOT 3/4 fluid will work. I use prestone from autozone. If you want to get hi-tech, you can get something that has higher wet and dry boiling points. I say change it at least every 2 years and you'll be fine.

 

It can't hurt to check and try flushing and refilling it, but if that doesn't work you atleast know what the problem is.

 

I have this same problem on my 07 6mt, the clutch will work fine but if i drive it for a long period of time or if i get stuck in traffic it starts "sticking" - i only have about 16-17,000 miles on it but as far as i know, the fluid hasn't been changed....i'll start there

 

I have the same problem. 05 G35 MT

First thing you get in your car in the morning, feel how much free play you have. Then.. when you notice your clutch pedal is sticking, feel how much MORE free play there is. You need to lift the peddal up with your feet. I would say my car has about 1/2'' free play when cold and 2'' free play when the pedal is sticking. What could cause more free play? Its like the push rod in the clutch master is bent or is sticking and not retacting all the way back out. I'll let you know the cause when I have time to work on it.

 

I am having this problem now. It had happened a couple times since new, but now anytime I get stuck in traffic in not weather the pedal drops until it cools down. I flush the fluid annually. I was leaning towards the slave cylinder, but have been trying to figure out what has changed. Wondering if a heat shield has moved or if there is some reason more heat is getting to the system. I am at 130K now.

I can drive a thousand miles on the interstate w/o problem, but 20 minutes at less than 30mph and it happens.

 

seems heat related huh? My first attempt to fix this will be a SS braided clutch line. Im guessing when the engine bay gets hot, the rubber clutch line expands or gets soft thus making the clutch peddal sink down or cause the peddal not to return back to its normal height. First I need to see who sells the SS clutch line. Will let you know what happens.

 

I saw braided cutch lines at either ConceptZPerformance or Fontana (Www.nissanrqceshop.com)

I thought the lines near the slave were metal though.

 

I just got one online for 30 bucks from race tech performance. Should be here in about a week.

The line from the master is metal, until it reaches the bottom of the fire wall. Then its joined to a rubber hose from the fire wall to the clutch slave. Its wrapped up in a aluminum type heat sheild so you cant actually see the rubber hose.