97 Nissan 200sx

Look at the BRAKE master cylinder reservoir. If the brake reservoir is feeding the clutch master, there will have to be an extra line running out of the brake master reservoir to the clutch master. If there is a feed from the brake reservoir, the clutch master will be hard to find. Good luck. And look hard to be sure.

Clutch master cylinder should be on the engine side of the bulkhead behind the clutch pedal, try following the clutch linkage form the pedal?

Check near the firewall under the hood. It does take brake fluid but should have it's own reservoir. Follow the hose back from the bell housing on the transmission.

My search shows that this vehicle uses a clutch cable. 32" long. NAPA # BK 6151890 If the clutch will not release sufficiently, the first problem should be engaging any transmission position after being in neutral with your foot OFF the clutch pedal. Without the clutch fully released, you will not be able to stop the input shaft of the transmission. This will feel as though the shift lever will not move into the gear that you want. As a check, try reverse. It will grind no matter what you try. DO NOT grind it to death. If this is the problem you have, proceed. If not the rest of this thread is for my amusement.

Try to find the clutch cable end that is located between the motor and the transmission. There should be a threaded clevis on it. You need to shorten the cable about three to four turns. That should allow the clutch to release now. Be warned, if the clutch wore this much, it will probably not last too much longer. Good luck.

One other option you may want to look at.

Is the shifter linkage a cable or lever mechanism?

If it is a cable mechanism it could very well be your problem. as these cable get older they begin to fray inside the casing and create a hard to shift problem. If indeed it is a cable shifting assemble there are 2 cables. one for high and low range and one for the gears. I had a very similar problem on an 89 cavalier. I am assuming that since you are looking for a clutch master cylinder that this is indeed a standard shift vehicle.

At any rate its worth looking into. Simply pop the clip that holds the cable onto the shifter assembly on the tranny and check the movement of the shifter itself if there is binding you have found you problem.

If its a lever mechanism look for binding but I think it is unlikely that is has levers.

Hi Chaps

We appear to have missed the obvious, in that the clearance within the clutch release cable errodes as the clutch plate wears and if not periodically adjusted results in a slipping rather than holding clutch.

"If" the problem is with the clutch I would venture to suggest that the most likely cause is oil contamination of the clutch plate making it adhere to the flywheel, a remote alternative is a worn or siezed release bearing getting entangled in the three diaphram release prongs.

Should the above not bear fruit I stronly suggest a worn out gear box.

In either event if my wife were pregnant and in this situation a hire car until her's was 100% would be in order

Hope this assists and good luck

If by now you haven't gotten your clutch cable problem fixed yet feel free to e-mail me and I will give you a web site address where you can get a free copy of a Nissan Factory Service Manual for your 1997 Nissan Sentra/200 SX. This will be the same service manual as used by a service tech in a Nissan Dealership to repair your car.

Ronald Slate

RSlate1282@aol.com