Hi,

Got a 94 manual Accord DX 4 door.

- Couple weeks ago the clutch pedal started feeling very light
- When starting the car in the morning it was sometimes hard to put gear into reverse, but then was ok
- Last Friday morning it was nearly impossibel to shift into reverse, had to exert a lot of force. Then it was also very hard to shift into 1st gear ( i know i shouldn't have even tried, but really needed the car)
- As the car warmed up it was easier to shift, but never completely smooth
- If the engine is off, i can shift around no prob; as soon as I start it then shifting is no longer easy at all

Friend of mine told me to chk the clutch fluid, and indeed not only is it below the minimum level, it is just absent. I mean i removed the gray lid and there's nothing there. Now, the car is parked uphill, 7 degrees or so but i guess there should be something there. Now:

- Manual says to use either dot3 or dot4 fluid there. How would i know which one is in the car right now? should i flush it all out or is it ok if I risk mixing one with the other?
- If i have to flush it out, how do i go about doing that?

Thanks in advance!

 

From my understanding, mixing dot 3 and dot 4 isn't the end of the world just dot 4 has higher tolerances, but could be wrong. Either way use what you have to get it working and do a flush when you get a chance as that is easy enough. You could cause long-term problems to your trans if you run it on a weak clutch system. Replacing a master or slave cylinder is cheaper than transmission repairs.

 

use dot 3 brake fluid and yes you want to bleed your clutch line. and make usre you bleed it right.
this is the procedure
1. push clutch pedal down
2. open bleeder
3. allow lfuid or air to expell and close bleeder
4. lift pedal if there is no pressure
5. repeat until pedal feel right

and make sure the resovoir doesnt get empty or you have to start all over. any air in the line can cause the pedal get soft quick