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2001 9-5 aero clutch problem?

4K views 78 replies 8 participants last post by  Joshinator99 
#1 ·
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?
 
#2 ·
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.
 
#7 ·
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
 
#11 ·
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
 
#13 ·
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
 
#17 ·
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
 
#21 ·
Yeah that last "advice" wasn't much help!
That was my "advice" because the OP needs to get in there with a flashlight/torch and look around and learn, trying to give direction remotely can only help so much.

Cooley, the master cylinder is attached to the top of the clutch pedal, you can see it inside the car, follow it's location to follow the pipes to trace your leak.

There is a connection on top of the transmission that can leak there is also a small access hole that you shine a light in and see what is going on.

You don't need a "Saab specialist" any competent transmission mechanic can help you diagnose and estimate repair costs.
.
 
#19 ·
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
 
#20 ·
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?? ?
 
#23 ·
So bob, I’ve seen other members on here say slave cylinder then master cylinder I’m just confused I get everyone’s frustration, it has just been consistent with rain, I don’t have a garage to work in.

Do you have any links for the parts I would or should need ? Or just go right away to shops and ask for a quote on a slave cylinder replacement? Or master cylinder replacement? Thank you all for the diligence, I just love my saab dearly but I don’t think I can tackle this problem by myself
 
#24 ·
So bob, I’ve seen other members on here say slave cylinder then master cylinder I’m just confused I get everyone’s frustration, it has just been consistent with rain, I don’t have a garage to work in.

Do you have any links for the parts I would or should need ? Or just go right away to shops and ask for a quote on a slave cylinder replacement? Or master cylinder replacement? Thank you all for the diligence, I just love my saab dearly but I don’t think I can tackle this problem by myself
If you can't tell exactly where the leak is coming from, how can we?

It could be as simple as a leaky pipe. In my opinion it is not likely to be a leaky master cylinder because they rarely fail this way with brakes, but I could be wrong.

You have to take it somewhere where it's dry, and start looking carefully above and below the car with a light, while someone else pushes the clutch. There is no shortcut to determining the location of the leak.

If you can't do this, you have to take it to a shop that you can trust to do a proper job, and have them diagnose it. They they will tell you what needs to be replaced, and what parts are required. If you go in and tell them "replace the master cylinder", and they do exactly that, and it still leaks because your diagnosis is incorrect, you will still have to pay them because they have done exactly what you told them to do.

Finally, from my perspective, the oil filter is nowhere close to the clutch hydraulics.
 
#25 ·
Thank you so most likely the master cylinder or the slave cylinder? I read that if your car has leaked onto the ground its potentially the slave? If that’s the case my car has leaked onto the ground but like you have all stated I need to be somewhere dry, here in Florida weather has been spotty thanks SC
 
#26 ·
I had this same problem with my 9-5 Wagon at approx. 161K miles. Except, when my pedal went to the floor and I pulled it back up, I had no pressure, so you're lucky in a sense that you still had some pressure.

Like others have said, you have to explore all of the cheap possibilities first, a clutch hose with a "rub" hole or split in it, a bad clutch master cylinder, (do you have any fluid inside the driver foot well near your pedals)? After you're sure your brake master cylinder has the proper amount of fluid in it, someone needs to put pressure on the clutch pedal while another person with a flashlight looks for leaks near the clutch hose or fitting at the top of the gearbox housing, or where the clutch hose connects to the clutch master cylinder. If you're lucky, you'll find a split hose that's leaking, (that would be a cheap fix).

With my car, a prior mechanic had forgotten to replace a retaining clip that attaches the clutch hose to the clutch master cylinder, that may have been my issue, but we never really figured it out. I ended up pulling the gearbox, replacing the clutch, slave cylinder, clutch tube, clutch hose, rear main seal and all related seals in the gearbox, plus subframe bushings and more when I was in there.

You can always put an unfolded cardboard box on the ground under your car overnight to try to determine which area the leak is coming from.
 
#27 ·
I just want to add, the difference between master and slave the symptoms, if my saab is in reverse right now and the clutch pedal isn’t to the floor does that mean it’s ultimately the slave? I’ve read if the pedal is to the floor it’s more than likely the master and if the car has leaked onto the ground it’s potentially the slave?does this hold any relevance?
 
#28 ·
It’s been constant with rain I was just earlier able to get into my car before the rain hit, and I checked around my pedals there was no fluid that leaked onto my carpets, from inside my dad also pressed the clutch in and said there was no fluid running down from inside while he pressed it, but then it started downpouring again before I could remove the covering, to really look at the pedals better.
 
#29 ·
UPDATE: I’ve just been quoted for 1200$ Including the clutch kit or possibly without the kit, I’m not sure sadly I don’t think I’ll Be able to come up with the astronomical laboring, so is there anyway you can replace the slave cylinder In your saab 9-5 and not spend a fortune? Or should it be best to try just cut my losses and junk the car?
 
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