We'll it look as if my car is starting to turn into the "Money Pit". Today I have an issue with the tranny / clutch (4+3).

There have been numerous occasions where it has been very difficult to shift out of reverse. Sometimes the shifter looks like it goes into it's normal "H" position, however It cannot find a gear. There is no grinding, just the car won't move.

Sometime I have to get the thing back into reverse and drive a bit then I can get it goiing back into the normal "h" position.

The car is a '86 with 50K, so I hope it's not the clutch and maybe just the shifter is out of wack.

Any help would be appreciated..

--Jeff :confused: :confused: [IMG][/IMG]

 

This probably has nothing to do with your specific problem, but make sure you change the overdrive fluid/filter regularly with Mobil 1 synthetic ATF. I'm sure Scorp or someone will chime in and help ya out about that linkage problem! :)

 

Have you ruled out a problem in the clutch hydraulics? If you have a bunch of air in the system or it leaks really badly then the slave cylinder won't be able to push the clutch release fork all the way. That could cause the problems you're describing.

 

jmr302 - Thanks for the reply. I have not ruled anything out yet. This seems like a sporadic problem. After I sent the initial post regarding this problem I had more issues.

The car is at a dead stop, I press on the clutch down to the floor, shift into 1st and I'm hearing grinding , as if the clutch was not fully depressed, so air in the line could very well be the culprit.

I checked out the fluid and it was clean and filled up to the --FILL-- level on the indicator, not that that means anything except that I don't need fluid, so hopefully that coukd / would rule out any leaks.

I'm also thinking that there may be a "bad seal" in the hydrolics somewhere so it's not holding it's preasure, but the question is how do you test this?

--Jeff

 

Sounds like you need to overhaul your master and slave cylinders, try the slave first it's easiest. If the car sits for long periods this can happen quite easily. I have had good luck with DOT 5 (silicone) in my clutch system. It won't mix with water and it's a cool purple color. HTH

 

How long have you owned this car? Sounds like you haven't had it very long but maybe I'm just presuming. Could be the previous owner just kept topping off the clutch m/c reservoir.

I would inspect all the hydraulics closely. Maybe the previous owner just kept topping off the m/c reservoir. Stick your head under the dash and see if the master cylinder is leaking. There's a rubber boot on the push rod coming out of the m/c so it may be hard to see if there are any leaks. If the m/c piston is not sealing this is where the leaked fluid will show up. While you're under there check how much play the clutch pedal has between the pushrod and the pedal. It may be that the hydraulics are fine but the connection between the pedal and the pushrod is very worn. Mine really had some slop in it. This causes the m/c piston not to travel as far as it should therefore reducing the distance the clutch fork moves. I'm actually going to replace the m/c today because of this.

Another thing you might do is drive the car up on ramps, get a helper to push the clutch pedal then get under it and watch how far the release fork is moving. I'm not sure what the total distance is going to be but if you're really getting all the grinding you say you are it's probably barely moving. While you're there pull the boot back from the bellhousing and make sure the slave cylinder isn't leaking. Look at the hose and see if any fluid is being pumped from a small crack in the rubber.

 

You and others in previous post arre correct. I have not owned this car for long (1 or 2 months). The previous owner had the car for several years and he averaged 1000 - 2000 miles a year.

I will attempt to get this car up on ramps witht he help of my friends and check out both the master and slave to see whats going on.

Thx for all of the help and advice. I will keep you up to date.

==Jeff