First post so hope I get all the details right.

I have a 2003 Hyundai Accent with standard (manual) transmission and since this morning I am having tremendous difficulty shifting into any gear from 1st to 5th as well as reverse. This morning, when I got in my car, it was -22c (about -8F). Since then, the temperature has warmed to about -8c (18F) but I'm still having trouble shifting.

When I push in the clutch pedal, to get a half-decent shift (requiring more force than usual but not a shove) I have to almost kick the pedal to the floor. Also, I've noticed that my friction point (departure point) for the clutch pedal is mere millimeters from the floor as opposed to an inch or two prior.

I checked the level on what I believe to be the fluid and seems full. (I think it's the small cylinder, about 1 inch diameter, located at the rear of the hood near the steering wheel on the driver's side.)

I'm additionally worried that I'm going to have clutch problems with all the grinding and forcing I'm using on the shifter and consequentially on the gears.

Is there a quick fix or product available? Am I going to have to see my dealer or a mechanic? Will the problem resolve when the temperature warms up?

Thanks in advance,
Rick

 

the only thing i can think of is there was a TSB about the master cylinder. i cant figure out what is wrong with it, but you might want to ask a dealer about it. it had something to do with the tube, it may be a flaw in it that needs to be replaced, if the car is still under warrenty that will be covered, if not it looks really simple to replace, i can try to send you the info if you want to buy the parts and do it yourself

 

Thanks for the quick reply Seiken.

I won't be going to the dealer so I would appreciate that information just so that I can check that the mechanic I do gosee isn't two-timing me on parts or labour.

Anyone else got an idea?

 

Does the problem go away in warmer temps?

 

Like above freezing?

 

I don't know. I'm in eastern Canada. It doesn't tend to get above freezing in the winter.

When I got to my mechanic, he stuck his fingers and they came out wet. Seems my clutch slave cylinder blew and I'm slated for a new one tomorrow. When I got home, there was a huge puddle of brown fluid in the snow I somehow missed this morning.

They're charging me $66 for the part which seems a little high but the dealer's charging 86 so I'm not going to complain.

Thanks for the help everyone. If it doesn't work, I'll get back to you all

Rick

 

Let us know how it worked out.

I would love to know.

 

I took the car into my local Midas yesterday at 1pm. "Hour and a half" the guy tells me. At 2pm I go back in after some lunch and shopping and he tells me "We have a problem."

They ordered the part. They got the part. The part doesn't fit.

Basically, the piece is a cylinder with a plastic coil on the bottom and a trapezoidal piece jutting out of the top. On the non-dealer part, that piece is at a 45 degree angle for some reason making it impossible to install.

I'm driving their POS loaner 97 Escort until this afternoon when, hopefully, the problem will be fixed.

Ahh, mechanics.