Any manual transmission driver likely knows the close relationship that most come to have with the clutch to their vehicles. Quite simply, the clutch handles some of the most important tasks of driving. From getting into the next gear to helping us slow down, the clutch is simply a vital piece of automotive technology. However, the real question is what can be done when something with the clutch goes wrong?
Although the Acura Integra is generally thought to be a fairly long running and reliable vehicle, the cars have been known to have issues with their clutches. However, often these problems are misdiagnosed and are actually far simpler than most would make them out to be. So, before replacing the entire clutch system, it is important to think about the problem and realize what some other possible causes might be.
The first thing to do when attempting to figure out what is wrong with your clutch is simply to play with it. What exactly goes wrong? Does the clutch completely fail to engage? Is there no pressure on the pedal? Does the clutch work fine but the car still does not go into gear? Each of these issues can mean different problems, so it is important to figure out what exactly is wrong before putting out a lot of money to fix something that might not even be wrong in the first place.
One of the most common problems is having no pressure on the actual clutch pedal. This means that while driving, when going to push the pedal in, it will sink most of the way or all of the way down without any real pressure from your foot. This can be indicative of a few things, and thankfully a few of them are cheaper than a brand new clutch. The first thing to do is to pop the hood (turn the car off first), and look towards the right side of the engine bay for the container that holds your hydraulic fluid. If you cannot see the level of fluid than you need to put more in. Simply go to any gas station or auto parts store and (if you have a third generation Integra) pick up some DOT3 brake fluid. Then, fill up the reservoir with the fluid. After this, start the car and pump the pedal a few times, after a minute or so, you should start to feel pressure returning to the pedal. If you know that your car is draining hydraulic fluid, than you have to remember to check it occasionally, especially before or after long trips.
However, clutch problems are not always that simple. One of the most common clutch components to go wrong on the Integra is the master cylinder. Thankfully, there is a simple way to check if this is the problem as well. Get your car lifted up and crawl underneath it. Locate the slave cylinder on the transmission and have someone else get in the vehicle and operate the transmission. If the cylinder operates as it should, and moves according to the transmission, the cylinder is not the problem, and you may have to consider replacing the clutch. However, if the cylinder does not move, then you have just located your problem.
If your clutch seems to be operating in a normal manner, but the car does not go into gear, or grinds heavily between the gears, than it is likely that you have a transmission problem far more so than a clutch problem. However, transmission problems can be difficult to diagnose. For that reason, take your car to a mechanic or transmission specialist. The mechanic should be able to identify your problem and help in finding a solution.
Remember, difficulties with the clutch in an Acura Integra do not always mean that the clutch itself has to be replaced. Rather, it is important that we approach the problem with reason and also consider other options. Remember, it is always best to take your car to a mechanic for a proper diagnosis, although doing this sort of thing yourself can help you build knowledge about your vehicle and also help to rule out other possible problems. Remember to check everything you can when you believe that your clutch is going, the Acura Integra is a great vehicle, and even though it may have occasional clutch difficulties, there is no reason to discount the model as a whole.
