[Cooley]

Hey sc: I’m really nervous rn idk what the problem is but, I just got some gas, started driving home, then started feeling my clutch pedal felt different, like it wasn’t coming up when my foot was coming up.

It then actually stayed at the floor board I panicked abit, because I was on a main road, but I reached down and lifted the pedal enough to shift into gear and get my way back home. I’m really worried any help?

 

[Cooley]

Update: I checked under my car and it has leaked some sort of fluid out from under my car now it seems to be kind of in front of the oil filter possibly?

but as of right now my car is in reverse, I was able to take my key out, and I pressed the clutch pedal with my hand, it has pressure and buoyancy still, it’s not stuck to the floorboard but it did while I was driving, could I need more transmission fluid or what? I am at loss of knowledge, thanks.

 

[Cooley]

Could I need clutch master cylinder or brake master cylinder? Brake booster? I’m new to saabs this is my first car, I don’t know where to begin to look please I need saabthusiast expertise thank you dearly

 

[Cooley]

Any insight? Slave cylinder? Master cylinder?

 

[redaero-wagon-2000]

check the hose. the clutch hose has been known to blow or spring a leak. Look for brake fluid under the master or below the clutch hose.

 

[Doug]

Is the brake fluid up to the level in the reservoir?

Brake fluid also serves as hydraulic clutch fluid. The pipe coming off the reservoir leads to the clutch master cylinder.

 

[Cooley]

any pics on where it is located? The clutch hose and or the spring for it because if that’s the problem I’m hoping it would be a simpler fix then a new clutch or new master or slave cylinder I’m not sure, I had opened my brake fluid reservoir it had fluid in it it seemed to be the same fluid that was leaking under my car. If any more insight thank you

 

[Cooley]

is there a sure way I can tell the problem is just my clutch hose? And if that’s the case what the symptoms would be compared to a failed clutch or something like that

 

[Cooley]

let me know as soon as possible saabthusiasts thank you SC

 

[bob3000]

Where is the leak located under the car?

Do you know for sure the leak is clutch problem related i.e. is it brake/clutch fluid or something else?
.

 

[Cooley]

From where I looked it wasn’t far infront of the oil filter so possibly directly down from the gear box? I assume it is the brake fluid that was leaking out my dad had touched it and felt the consistency and had similarities, i just hope it can be a clutch hose or something cuz I don’t have the equipment to dismantle my engine and or transmission, sub framing etc, thanks sc

 

[bob3000]

If the leak is in the clutch area then you are most likely looking at a slave cylinder repair, a shop will charge you around $1200.00 for the work, parts included.
.

 

[Cooley]

Wow how can I tell if it isn’t just the clutch hose ? That’s a substantial amount of money I don’t know what to do, my clutch pedal was stuck to the floorboard but I lifted it up with my hand and then got into gear and back home where I was then able to get my car into reverse and the key out. And as of right now my clutch pedal isn’t to the floor it’s up like my break and gas but I’m sure that would change once i turned my car on

 

[Cooley]

You say if the leak is in the clutch area,does that mean the gearbox area? I can’t tell yet I have just noticed a leakage on the ground now and it looks to be ahead of the oil filter if I could try and give you a general location

 

[bob3000]

Diagnose the problem, research the solution, move on.
.

 

[Cooley]

I have diagnosed it’s leaking and my clutch pedal isn’t functioning I’ve come to saab central for the research because I don’t know where to begin any chance it isn’t the slave cylinder and just the clutch hose?

 

[Doug]

Yeah that last "advice" wasn't much help!

Just looked at mine. The clutch supply hose from the reservoir goes to the clutch master cylinder, which is on the bulkhead near the clutch pedal. From there the hard pipe to the slave cylinder goes to the gearbox and enters on top of it. The slave is inside the gearbox bell housing, so the actual joint to the slave is inside.

All the above takes place behind the engine on/near the bulkhead. The oil filter as you know is under the front of the engine. Yes, fluids can leak then sometimes migrate across/around the block before they drip off, but I don't see how clutch/brake fluid could drip off near the oil filter, unless its leaking onto the top of the gearbox and dribbling down. Or perhaps leaking inside and out the bottom of the bell housing if there's a vent there? Some boxes have them I believe.

Although I once read of a gearbox being taken out of a 9-5 on its own, I believe that a clutch or slave replacement is generally an engine out job, hence the cost. If you don't have a Saab specialist nearby, a decent "ordinary" shop can surely deal with it. The clutch hydraulic operating system is not unique to Saabs.

Doug

 

[redaero-wagon-2000]

not and engine out job but it is complex. Lower/remove subframe, axle out , remove trans.

 

[Cooley]

Thank you all so with a slave cylinder replacement is what I’m narrowing it down to now, is there a specific part that fails or are there multiple parts that will need to be accessed? Because I don’t have a Saab specialist around me, but I can’t tackle this problem by myself, so it’s either get to a shop hopefully they can do it, quote me not too bad, or get rid of my dear saab ?, if you @doug or anyone has links to the parts I’d need thanks

 

[Cooley]

I just want to know if the problem is the clutch master cylinder? Or just the slave cylinder? Or you can’t do one without doing the other? I have to plan on taking my saab to a shop so I want to be exact as I can with the diagnosis. What should I ask?? ?