won't shift
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: westland Michigan (MI)
won't shift
i have a 1984 4-3 manual,parked it in December,covered it.went out today to move it,starts right up,but clutch peddle goes all the way to floor with no hesitation,car is running,but wont shift into any gear when peddle is pressed to floor.if i turn off car,i can move shifter into reverse or 1st then start car and car lunges forward or backward.it was fine when i parked it.any clues on what might be wrong or how to fix it?is there some way to check the fluid and where to check the fluid?clueless,
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
i have a 1984 4-3 manual,parked it in December,covered it.went out today to move it,starts right up,but clutch peddle goes all the way to floor with no hesitation,car is running,but wont shift into any gear when peddle is pressed to floor.if i turn off car,i can move shifter into reverse or 1st then start car and car lunges forward or backward.it was fine when i parked it.any clues on what might be wrong or how to fix it?is there some way to check the fluid and where to check the fluid?clueless,
Look for the clutch master cylinder mounted on the firewall. A small black round plastic cap about the diameter of Red Bull can. Should have CLUTCH written on it in raised letters...if my memory serves me correctly USE DOT 3 brake fluid.
If you are mechanically inclined...you might want to buy a GM service manual...and NOT a Chilton, Haynes or Mitchell book. If you are not mechanically inclined and "clueless" as you have mentioned...and do not have a good tool selection...you might be heading down a path that you might not want to venture.
DUB
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
Oh boy, this is a PITA in this situation.
I agree with what DUB said.
It's possible that you have a leak, so what you are looking for is either a gold or brownish-black colored fluid dripping somewhere when you hit the clutch pedal.
You need to find where it is leaking from and replace that item.
Be careful not to get the fluid on your paint as it will eat it off.
Brake fluid is used in the clutch master cylinder, the best way to neutralize brake fluid is with water. If you get any on your paint, hurry up and get water and you may be able to save it.
Aside from that, there is a bleeder screw on the slave cylinder, which is on the side of the transmission bell housing. This is just like bleeding brakes.
However, a lot of people find that these hydraulic clutch systems on these cars don't like to let the air out easily, so you will probably have to use another method along with the regular method to bleed it out.
What was successful for me is I closed the bleeder and removed the reservoir cap on the clutch master cylinder and just pumped for 5 minutes straight. The air rose to the top and eventually I got a pedal.
Good luck!
I agree with what DUB said.
It's possible that you have a leak, so what you are looking for is either a gold or brownish-black colored fluid dripping somewhere when you hit the clutch pedal.
You need to find where it is leaking from and replace that item.
Be careful not to get the fluid on your paint as it will eat it off.
Brake fluid is used in the clutch master cylinder, the best way to neutralize brake fluid is with water. If you get any on your paint, hurry up and get water and you may be able to save it.
Aside from that, there is a bleeder screw on the slave cylinder, which is on the side of the transmission bell housing. This is just like bleeding brakes.
However, a lot of people find that these hydraulic clutch systems on these cars don't like to let the air out easily, so you will probably have to use another method along with the regular method to bleed it out.
What was successful for me is I closed the bleeder and removed the reservoir cap on the clutch master cylinder and just pumped for 5 minutes straight. The air rose to the top and eventually I got a pedal.
Good luck!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
Oh boy, this is a PITA in this situation.
I agree with what DUB said.
It's possible that you have a leak, so what you are looking for is either a gold or brownish-black colored fluid dripping somewhere when you hit the clutch pedal.
You need to find where it is leaking from and replace that item.
Be careful not to get the fluid on your paint as it will eat it off.
Brake fluid is used in the clutch master cylinder, the best way to neutralize brake fluid is with water. If you get any on your paint, hurry up and get water and you may be able to save it.
Aside from that, there is a bleeder screw on the slave cylinder, which is on the side of the transmission bell housing. This is just like bleeding brakes.
However, a lot of people find that these hydraulic clutch systems on these cars don't like to let the air out easily, so you will probably have to use another method along with the regular method to bleed it out.
What was successful for me is I closed the bleeder and removed the reservoir cap on the clutch master cylinder and just pumped for 5 minutes straight. The air rose to the top and eventually I got a pedal.
Good luck!
I agree with what DUB said.
It's possible that you have a leak, so what you are looking for is either a gold or brownish-black colored fluid dripping somewhere when you hit the clutch pedal.
You need to find where it is leaking from and replace that item.
Be careful not to get the fluid on your paint as it will eat it off.
Brake fluid is used in the clutch master cylinder, the best way to neutralize brake fluid is with water. If you get any on your paint, hurry up and get water and you may be able to save it.
Aside from that, there is a bleeder screw on the slave cylinder, which is on the side of the transmission bell housing. This is just like bleeding brakes.
However, a lot of people find that these hydraulic clutch systems on these cars don't like to let the air out easily, so you will probably have to use another method along with the regular method to bleed it out.
What was successful for me is I closed the bleeder and removed the reservoir cap on the clutch master cylinder and just pumped for 5 minutes straight. The air rose to the top and eventually I got a pedal.
Good luck!
