Car died

Fizban140

We went to the families place for Thanksgiving, car was working fine, parked around noon. About seven hours later we went to leave and the clutch was really loose, as in no resistance at all and it was impossible to put into gear. It was about 10 degrees outside the whole day, not sure if that would affect it. The fluid was a little low so we put more in and that didn't really change anything so we had to spend the night.

97 Mitsuibishi Gallant btw

Zeon

How low was the fluid? You need to bleed hydraulic clutches after you add more fluid, but the fluid doesnt get used up so if its low its indicating a problem. Its possible the clutch master cylinder is broken, or that you cracked one of the hydraulic lines and now theres no pressure in the system. Impossible to tell without looking at it.

Ruckus

Sounds like the clutch master cylinder/hoseline/slave cylinder to me as well. You won't be able to tell until somebody looks at it.

In case you were wondering, pushing down on the clutch pushes down on a piston in the Clutch Master Cylinder, translating your mechanical force to compress and push fluid down the hose to the Slave Cylinder, where the fluid pushes another piston, which in turn is translated into mechanical force that seperates the clutch plate from the flywheel.

A broken clutch hose or either cylinder usually means 0 back-pressure when you depress the pedal, as the fluid system is now breached and can't maintain pressure (or even contain fluid depending on what broke).

IronKnuckle's Ghost

If the fluid system is compromised there'd be a nice big puddle under the car, which presumably the OP would have noticed. It might be possible that the extreme cold caused something to shrink and crack, but given his listed location I'm assuming this isn't that Galant's first cold winter.

Fizban140

There is no way I would have noticed a pool of liquid under the car, the fluid was a little low but not too low.

We didn't bleed it so we are going to do that today but it is just so cold we might end up getting it towed.

Donovan Puppyfucker

Might have a perished hose. The reservoir wouldn't be too far down, because the fluid only comes out when you push the pedal. Would also give the mushy pedal and lack of clutch action.

Fizban140

Well we got it working, not sure why but we went back to it in the morning and it was just working. Really strange...

MushroomStick

There might have been moisture in some line somewhere that froze.

Donovan Puppyfucker

In which case you need to flush the fluid and replace with new. A high enough water content to be able to allow that will also be allowing corrosion inside your master, slave, and hard lines.

Fizban140

We did get the air out of the system after it worked just to make sure, but the liquid was coming out almost black and it was almost clear going in. It was also black in the spot you pour it into.

Donovan Puppyfucker

Your seals are fucked. And by that I mean the rubber seals on the master and slave cylinder pistons.

Time for a rebuilt master and slave, and replace the flex while you're at it. Only way to be sure your clutch will work as it should for another ten years.

Fizban140

How much will that cost?

Donovan Puppyfucker

I can't honestly say.

In Australia, for a popular car like a Falcon, about $300 in parts from Repco.