mopa

Thanks Tegger

I got confused with pressure, and pressor. as with "Master Cylinder
level ever drop over time?"I am not quite sure what you mean by does
the level ever drop over time.

As for brake fluid the only place I put some is as whats located in
this picture:

http://home.iae.nl/users/fhoutert/images/Underhood_1.6i.v-tec_1.JPG

If you look at the very top right corner (drivers side) there is the
white brake fluid holder with the grey cap. I would think this is the
BRAKE Master Cylinder reservoir, right?

The firewall is what faces againest the dash board correct? and where
does this cylinder sit with the rubber hose? is there a place I can
pour fluid into it?

Thanks for your help, and please excuse my ignorance for this matter.
I'm trying my very best to learn as much as possible, so I can help fix
my car, and help anyone else.

Thank you!
Johnny

tegger®

"Does the amount of fluid in the reservoir go down as the days pass on the
calendar?" That's what I mean.

By "go down" I mean the sort of phenomenon experienced as you consume a
drink in a glass. Eventually the level goes down so that there is no more
drink in the glass and you need to go to the fridge and get more.

Bad pic. Great big strut bar impairs the view.

Also, judging by the riot of aftermarket gingerbread dressing up this
scene, I'd say there's a chance the clutch master cylinder has been
relocated out of view.

You have a '93, do you? Then you should see more like this:
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/Honda_Civic1992-1995_%20clutch_hyd.pdf

(all on one line)


Yes.

The "firewall" is the enormous steel sheet that sits between you and the
engine. Many cables and wires pass through this on their way from you to
the engine, and it's decorated with parts bolted to it (such as the big
black round cake-pan called the brake booster"). Some cultures refer to
this as the "bulkhead".

If you're unfamiliar with this term, you need to go to the library and get
some very basic books on cars.

Check out that PDF.

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

tegger®

After palavering with this fellow some more, I'm starting to think your
hunch may be right on.

If he cannot find the clutch master cylinder at all, there's a good chance
it's completely empty, having probably been ignored for years.


--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

mopa

Thank you for the Diagram Tegger. I just looked and it and now get the
whole picture. Without any visual graphics, then I can be completely
clueless.

I just checked the reservoir thats connected to the clutch master
cylinder and realized that it was barebone dryed. There wasn't a single
drop of any DOT4 in that thing. I just poured some into the reservoir,
and pumped on the pedal about 25 times to see if it would get some
"pressure" and it seems to be a little tighter.

I doubt the reservoir has been capped off anytime lately. This is only
my 2nd car I have been driving, and only have been driving for 4 years.
Any help is greatly apprecitated.

I don't really know what products on a car need to be replaced year
after year. The lady who I bought this car from in June 2004 probably
didn't change much. When I bought it was just sitting in her driveway,
because she didn't want to spend money on a new timing belt, because
her husband and her just bought a new dodge durango.

Thanks

tegger®

I figured pictures were needed. Sometimes that's the best.


You need to bleed it. There is air in there that will prevent the pedal
from feeling proper.

Also, there is a good chance the master cylinder seals are bad and it won't
hold pressure anyway. Those seals are meant to be lubricated with fluid.
Runnng them dry will chew them up very quickly.

And you should study the slave cylinder (follow the steel line back from
the MC to find the slave). That missing fluid went somewhere. You may need
to replace that, too.

Check under the dash in front of the clutch pedal for wetness and fluid
staining to see if it's been escaping out the back of the MC.

You might as well consider this your "learning" vehicle. the one you'll
make all your mistakes on.

If you want tips on bleeding, post back here. Somebody will help.

Good luck.

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

mopa

Hi Tegger,

I just checked for leakage, and it doesn't seem there was any fluid
leaking out of the mc. There is enough grease on the end side of the mc
by the pedal, so it all seems to be fine. All I can think of is maybe
the fluid on the MC was never filled back up, and it damaged the seals
on the MC.

AutoZone just received my parts, so I'm going try and have this guy
install them tomorrow, but for the time being, I'll just keep pumping
on the clutch pedal.

I don't see anywhere that its possible to bleed the mc though.

Thanks again for your help. You've been so very helpful.
The labor will be about $80.00 the guy said, just for future reference
for others who may have to have someone else do it.

Respectfully,
Johnny

jim beam

you don't bleed the master, you beed the slave - down at the gearbox
end. just open the bleed nipple & let the air come out. keep the fluid
reservoir topped up while you do this. wash any spillage with plenty of
water - never wipe.

btw, honda recommend dot3, not dot4. some dot4's have been problematic
with seals after they've been used with dot3, the factory fill.

mopa

Thanks Jim. Darn, and I had just bought the good synthetic dot4

tegger®

Synthetic is DOT5.

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

jim beam

silicone is dot5.

dot3 & dot4 are glycol-ethers.