i have a 2004- 4 wheel drive- jeep liberty sport with a manual transmission, it will only go into gear if it is not running.

There is a problem with the clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, or in the slave cylinder, that needs to be investigated to see what is the problem. Your clutch is not disengaging.

Thanks so much for the info... Is there a way to troubleshoot the problem.... Should I start by replacing the slave cylinder?

No, you do not need to start throwing monies at it. It is easy enough to diagnose by someone who knows a little about cars. But at this point, it dose sound like the slave cylinder, but again, it would take a persons with a helper to see if this in fact is the problem. Need someone to push on the clutch while someone under neath watching to see if it is working.

K...... Got my helper! What do I look for...I have read a tun of stuff about this so I "sort of" get how it all works....before my husband passed I helped him work on losts of stuff but never anything with the clutch. I have always driven a manual transmission but never any problems. My jeep has a little more than 111,000 miles on, I had been using 4 wheel drive in the past few weeks but not at the time of the problem. just FYI...should I take the slave cylinder off and have them push the clutch in...guess I should go look and see if I can locate it first!

No don't be taking off the slave cylinder just yet. What you are looking for is the slave cylinder should have some type of linkage, rods, that will move when you push on the clutch. You should be able to see if something moves. Another little test would be to have the vehicle in gear, motor turn OFF, push in the clutch an see if your helper can push, move the Jeep.

Lost my help till later tomorrow but i have a pretty good slope in my garage so I did go out and put it in gear with the motor OFF, put the clutch in and it WILL NOT MOVE !

Hey there Ruth, I just got back from my garage, glad you read my last post. Chances are then it's probably going to be the slave cylinder has gone bad. But still you want to inspect the area for leaking break fluid from the slave, and from any connecting lines. If a line was leaking that would explain the slave not working as it would have lost all its fluid. You just don't want to go and get something you don't need. So the Jeep not being able NOT to move with it in gear and pressing on the clutch is a good thing at the moment. It will cost a lot less monies for repair.

Thanks so much! I will get under it in the AM and check it out and let you no what I find ! At least I feal like I might just be able to figure this out and definitely lurning a lot about my clutch system! Thanks again!

I'll be here checking on you, if you are going to attempt fixing this yourself, there is still more technical stuff for you to do.

Well got a helper and when under my jeep this morning and found what we believe is the slave cylinder and NO fluid leaks from any of the lines or slave cylinder. I did check the fluid in the master cylinder and break fluid resivour and everything is full.....

Sorry took so long to get back, my sugar level was up and needed to rest. So! did you verify the linkage was not moving when pushing on the clutch? It is sounding like the slave cylinder is not working. And you say this one has the reservoir on it, and it was full?

Didn't see anything move when I pushed in the clutch and the master cylinder resivour was full.

I do believe that is the problem. Slave cylinder is by-passing not able to hold, push pressure to disengage the pressure plate, (clutch system inside the bell housing, behind the engine). Are you going to try and replace yourself?

Yep! If I found right thing it looks like 2 bolts...

Sound right, just making sure here, NOT the one up on top on the fire wall, right? That one is for your breaks. Are you going to do the work?

Yep! Me and my mom! The break fluid resivour is full also.

Ok great. You know, I could tell you step by step, but why don't you look it up on you tube and watch a video on how to do it? A picture is worth a thousand words!

Got the slave cylinder off! Not sure if that's the problem.... Moves freely and no fluid on the plunger side...slave cylinder did push out as I loosened the 2 nuts...

It would as there is a spring inside, it shouldn't have ben pushed in, no pressure. As you where doing this, you now have a better idea on what that all looks like. Did you notice any way for adjustment for the rod, or linkage for the clutch? I am not sure if there is.

No..... Not that I could see.

So did you watch a video on how to do this? And I do believe the rod is pushed into the slave as it has to move outward to move the linkage to disengage the clutch. It's just that your old slave cylinder could not do this because of the seals inside not able to hold the pressure. Did you get the new slave cylinder?

I did watch a video and it said that if the slave was bad it would have fluid leaking into the plunger side that goes into the transmission. The fluid was in the side of the slave that the line was hooked to, the side that the spring is in... So I didn't no if you think I should check something else... I sure hope it's just the slave....should I order one...or is there something else you think I could check

I don't believe it necessarily has to leak to be bad. Just like a master cylinder, they go bad and don't leak, just bypasses the fluid. I will check on some things to see if there is anything I'm missing, I'll get back to you in the morning, I get up early.

Thanks so much for your time... I'm crossing my fingers that it's the slave cylinder!

95% sure it is. Talk at you tomorrow.

Ok, hello, I stayed up investigating what you have going on and learned some new things. So to make sure we get you what you need, I see two different styles of slave cylinders. So I am going to give you a web page so you can see what I am looking at. Id send a picture but it is copy write. http://www.carid.com/2004-jeep-liberty-transmission-parts/centric-clutch-master-and-slave-cylinder-assembly-64630467.html This is what I am going to suggest that you get, it would save a lot of head aches. Is this how your slave cylinder would go in? If you scroll down from this there is another style, but the mounting of it looks different. I just want you to be sure in what you need.

Sorry about the wording, tired, I back on like at 7:00am eastern.

looks like the one... With the rod inside. I'm guessing that's why I couldn't see anything moving. The master cylinder is in a really bad location agents the firewall on the drivers side. Looks like I will have to unclip a wire harnes and a few other things to get that darn thing off! Reminds me of changing the starter on our jet skies! Guess I just have to go for it !!! I don't have the physical strength my husband had for this stuff but my smaller hands and patience were always a plus and he taught me how to use a cheater bar!!! Lol! Maybe I will see if I can find a video before I do this...

Good morning! I am up...The reason I suggest this hole unit is because it is already filled and bled out from air. Depending on the style of the slave cylinder, there is a trick to bleeding the system out that can be a head ache to get it to work. And me bad...you are right on the slave cylinder not being bad, it is your break clutch master cylinder that gave out. Now I watched some video on replacing this as a hole unit and it looks relatively easy to do. I believe you can do it! When taking out the old system, drain the reservoir of the fluid, if it hasn't already drained out. Less mess.

K! One more cup of coffe and one more video and I'm going for it! Should I go ahead and get the new one ordered or wait till I get the old one off first?

Ha! I beet you in the coffee, my pot is down...Order the hole assembly, little more expensive but not that expensive, if you account for your time to what you are worth in labor, it would already pay for itself.

How you doing on the Jeep?

worked on getting it out all day Friday ! Wow ! No room for anything ! Was about ready to pull the front seat ! I'm a small women and I no room at all !! Should get the part Thursday and hope to get it put on Friday. Hope that it goes on better that it came off ! Used all my patience that day !!!!! I will sure let you no how it goes!! Thanks for checking on me !

It can be fun being a Mechanic! One thing I should mention is when the master cylinder goes in and hooks back up on the clutch, that piece goes on one way, at least the one I was looking at did.

Noted ! Thanks again !

Good Morning...Did you get the part?

Good morning, I did but no luck getting it on... Yet! Just getting the slave cylinder and line run was unbelievably difficult to say the least!!! No way I could run it the same way.... The line going from the masters cylinder was behind and down under break cylinder! Not a chance that I was going to be able to pull that off.... So I cut the old line and was able to find a different route!!! Thought after that it would go well but NO.... Got the slave on then put the master cylinder on then went to work on getting the clutch hooked back up... Put the rod in but no way can I get that switch back on the rod !!!! Last step and After all the things I pushed threw(and a few tears) I stopped and took a day off from it... I think I am going to have to pull the clutch cylinder back off and try to put the switch on and try to put it on that way... It's going to be so hard but no choice! I should have put the switch on before I pushed the rod in!!!!! To late now... I can't get the rod back out so going to try working on it today! Trying to stay positive.... Just so glad I have a garage and my husbands tools! So hard getting that slave cylinder down through all that stuff... I think it would be better to get new slave and master separate and run the line without the slave hooked to the line... It was so bad trying to get the slave in all the tight places.... I just hope I can get it and I hope it works .... I will get it I have too!!!!! Thanks again for checking on me.

I keep having problems getting replies from CarGurus. Just got back on now. Can you take pictures and post? Can only do one per post I believe. Cause I just can't imagine it being so difficult to do. And what I learned in how to bleed those so they work good, You would have ben putting it all on as a unit anyway. Hope you left the plastic retainer on the end of the shaft while installing. You must have instructions with the new assembly. Talk at you later...

No instructions but found a few videos on line... Anyway, just finished getting it on and NO GO !!!

Did leave the plastic retailer on, herd it snap like video said but it's doing the same as before...

Sorry CarGurus had a virus, couldn't reply, So No Way! By what you had told me this should have fixed it. Thats the down fall from being behind this screen. Well this should be easy enough to check, I should have had you do this before hand, but I was sure it was the hydraulic master & slave. Are there 2 other steel lines running down there running into the bell housing by the slave cylinder? And I will check on some things.

I will go check quick, but first of all would like to take the time to thank you so much for your help!!!

There are three lines that run along the transmission to the rear of the jeep but no lines running into the bell housing....None that i can see only the slave cylinder. Would send you a pic but no clue how to do that either...my guess is the lines that go to the rear are break lines.

Hey your there! I feel bad about this, its hard sitting here. So I am going to send you some pictures & I'll let you know what they are. First tho, is there an inspection plate cover on the bottom of the bell housing? If so take it off so you can see inside. And take note if there is any type of debree inside the cover. This first pic. is of what I had you do, master & slave...

This is the lever the slave goes into, see the dish area for the rod? Push on that, see if it is loose, back and forth, should not be much play but some..

Next is what I am hoping is wrong, It is the pivot ball the other end of that lever hooks to. May be broke and laying in the inspection cover...

This is the pressure plate.

No inspection plate cover... Just the the bell housing.. And yep that's the slave and master

And this is the throw-out bearing the lever pushes on to disengage the clutch.

Then there should be a piece on the bottom of the bell housing facing the motor side that runs vertically that is bolted on, a little cover?

I can't see inside the bell housing.... I put the slave and master on...do you want me to pull the new slave back out....

I will go look...

Ya pull the slave out and out of the way, don't discontent any lines. Try and look for that lever and the dish in it for the rod from the slave. Try with needle nose, screwdriver, anything to see if that moves back and forth and how much movement there is.

K... I tried to look inside(just wanted to see what was in there) when I took the old slave out, was a good ways up in there couldn't look past the hole for the slave! but if I take the new slave off with the plasric strap broken will I be able to get it back in...

"Plastic retainer"

Ok. Gotta look. I just hope the rod is not popped out of the slave.

After I put the new slave and master in the plastic retailer did snap and fell out (as expected)when I pushed the clutch peddle in, but still will not go into gear when liberty is running .... I will wait for your reply before I pull the new slave back out.

Well we know there is a problem inside the bell housing since the Jeep is sitting on an incline, and does not roll when you push in the clutch.Ya pull the slave out and out of the way, don't discontent any lines. Try and look for that lever and the dish in it for the rod from the slave. Try with needle nose, screwdriver, anything to see if that moves back and forth and how much movement there is.

Another thing to try, without the Jeep running, put your foot on the break and pull the shifter to neural, take foot off break and see if the Jeep rolls. When it does, stop it and put the shifter back into first or second gear so it won't roll, We are just checking the trany isn't locked up.

Oh ya so you had the jeep running, so does it roll on your incline?

Got it up on jacks stands first thing this morning so I will take the slave off and get a screwdriver and see what I come up with. yesterday after I got the new master and slave hooked up I did all the previous checks that I did with old slave and master and no difference, still goes into gear with motor off, if motor is running it still wanted to takeoff if I tried to put it in gear(but wouldn't go into gears) shut it off and put it in neutral and have to block the tries to keep it from rolling. Going to have some lunch, I'll get that slave off and let you no what I find...

Got the slave off and was able to move the plate in there with my finger. It moves smoothly and the amount of travel is about 1".

Sorry, just got back, Ok, 1" is way too much. I'll have to do some research to see if that is adjustable or not, and I am thinking not. This is not looking good, This may be a simple fix, but a lot of work to do it. Let me see what I can find out. When you took the slave cylinder off, was there pressure on it, was it pushing out from the bell housing?

Thanks and yes.

We are honoring a fellow Guru who passed away recently, FordNut was his handle, thats why I changed my avatar to the jet, he painted it.

Hey good to here from you, so sorry to here about the loss of your good friend. Thank you so much for all your time! Would you be able to recommend a good repair manual that I could purchase that would help give me step-by-step instructions for pulling that manual transmission on my 4 wheel drive 2004 liberty Sport ? I do plan on keeping, it only has 111,000 miles, still think it's a good vehicle and will probably need the book to do future repairs.

Just look up repair manuals on line, you can find one just for your year Jeep. I can look and find one, then shoot you a link. So what are you saying here? You want to tear into repairing this yourself? I know you have some tools...you are going to need a transmission jack, and a torque wrench for this process. And when it comes time to drop the trany, you still should have help as it is heavy and bulky. If you would like, I would assist you with any questions when doing this. I do enjoy doing this.

You bet I am !!! My mom ask that she be here when I am working under the jeep for safety so I always make sure I do that. She is a great helper ! I have looked at manuals on line but thought maybe you have used them and could recommend a good one. I do have a floor jack, I went out and looked at it, it says it's a 2 1/2 ton hydraulic floor jack . That's what I used to lift the jeep so I could get it up on the jacks stands, Will that work? I do know what a torque wrench is and seen them used before but I can't find one in the garage so I suppose I'll have to get that. I need to find a book that tells me all the tools I'm going to need to do the project then step me through it start to finish. I really want to see if I can do it!! I think I can with your help of course and a good book with pictures ! Lol !

I just got done typing in a longer answer, this sight has problems. Check your garage messages.

Try this again. Problems with this sight. I'd be happy to help. I like projects, and its not like I haven't done this before. Just not on a Jeep, but principals are the same, same things need to be done. Plus there's you tube lol.....You are going to need the transmission jack as the floor jack would be way too shaky for the trany. You'll need a set of standard wrenches, sockets, extensions, ratchets. Then in metric all the same. Screwdrivers, and who knows what else until you get going. To find a book with a list of tools, well good luck on that. The Jeep will need to be jacked up as high as you can get it safely, and won't be in the way of anything you have going on. Well this is a start.

So I looked at repair manuals. I remember now you can spend a lot of money on these. Chilton's, or Haynes repair manuals are good. But you can pay up to like $200 for one. I continued looking and tracked them down in my home town at the local parts stores. I would suggest going to your local parts store to see what they have. Make sure you can get what you are looking for.

Just a note, if you just want to continue on this post then no problem. I found out CarGurus had changed over there data base, and they are keeping an eye out on the problem I have been having. Also, I am just worried about you dropping the trany since the transfer case would come on down with it. It is very heavy and awkward! You would need help other than your mom.

I hate to ask, how are you doing with the Jeep?