I picked up my 2001 F150 4x4, V6, 5 speed flareside about 5 weeks ago. I have brought the truck in to have the clutch checked out because the free play would go from 0 inches( pressure as soon as you press the clutch) to about 2 inches( no pressure for about 2 inches). This would vary during the day as I drove. I could "pump" the clutch up and this would last for a while. The dealer has already bled the clutch. Any suggesions. Thanks. Other than that I love the truck.

Joe

 

Joe,

Must be a leak somewhere in the fluid resevoir, tubing, line, or clutch release cylinder, as clutches are hydraulicly self-adjusted nowadays.

I had a similar situation with my brakes years ago. The leak was slow, so at first my primary piston was hitting my secondary and I could "feel" the travel and the awkward breaking (it was a diag. system on my Acura, the F-150's are front & back systems). Since the leak was slow and small, after pumping it quite a bit, the resevoir fed enough fluid back into the primary piston system to get the braking back.

 

Thanks for the input. I tend to agree, but I cannot find any evidence of leaks. I'll try to bring it in for service this week

 

My truck does the same thing. I have 32000 miles on it and it has never given me a problem. The clutch firms up after the fluid gets warm. My dad's 89 does the same thing. I think it is just the expansion and contraction of the fluid with temperature change. Mine has tons of play when I first get in it in the morning but if I drive around town for awhile it all goes away. No leaks here either, fluid hasn't dropped any since I got the truck.

 

ffdemoss,

I too have experienced that phenom in some vehicles. What I find (and I think Joe finds) unusual is that, per his post, that this would vary during the day (i.e. not just in the morning) and that he could alter the effects of it by pumping the clutch and that those effects would last for "awhile."

Since the effect that only lasts for awhile, that suggested to me that there might be a small leak, since the only thing pumping does that would cause those characteristics (like brakes) is fill the line with fluid from the resevoir again if it had been empty.

Also, I have the exact same truck as he does, except 2000, and have no such symptoms ever.

 

It's the clutch master cylinder.made of plastic p.o.s. Had the same problem no leaks.the dealer relpaced the slave cylinder twice and the master cylinder once,also the whole pedal assembly thinking this was the problem.finally convinced them it was the master cylinder.you really have to bleed them well.it seems air gets trapped in the master cylinder.bleed mine twice,finally fixed the problem.when you bleed the system don't pump it up in in between bleeds. if you do,do it very easy and slow so as not to suck the air back up into master cylinder.if possible try not to pump it up at all.wait a couple of days and repeat if the pedal goes down a little again.worked for a friend of mine also.do a search will find alot of people have this problem.

 

Folks,
Thanks for the suggestions. The most frustrating aspect is the inability to convince the dealer that I have a problem. If I decide to bleed the system myself should I use a vacum pump or by pressing down the pedal and then opening the valve(being careful not to "pump" in between bleeds. It's comforting to know that others acknowledge the problem.