Having trouble shifting into gear
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 3
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Having trouble shifting into gear
Anyone ever have trouble on a 6 speed manual putting car in gear while car is on? I can’t put car in any gear while car is on but when it’s off it will go into all gears. Clutch fluid levels are good. No signs of any trouble just kind of happened out of no where here recently. I’m a first time owner of a manual corvette & the previous owner says the clutch is new with about 1200 miles on it. Any help is appreciated.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
Is it hard to get into all gears, or is it just being a pain getting into 1st and Reverse? The latter is pretty common for those of us with older, worn cars.
The first suspect to take care of is the clutch master and clutch slave, and bleeding the system. Making sure the clutch hydraulics are healthy is the most important thing for the ZF6, above all else. Once you can be sure the hydraulics work properly, then you can start wondering about things deeper inside. A clutch job on a ZF6 isn't a simple affair like, say, a Honda, so I'd immediately be wary of just what the previous owner had done and who did the work.
The first suspect to take care of is the clutch master and clutch slave, and bleeding the system. Making sure the clutch hydraulics are healthy is the most important thing for the ZF6, above all else. Once you can be sure the hydraulics work properly, then you can start wondering about things deeper inside. A clutch job on a ZF6 isn't a simple affair like, say, a Honda, so I'd immediately be wary of just what the previous owner had done and who did the work.
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Welcome, First things first Check the clutch master cylinder fluid level.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-location.html
http://www.zfdoc.com/clutch_hydraulic.htm
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Is it hard to get into all gears, or is it just being a pain getting into 1st and Reverse? The latter is pretty common for those of us with older, worn cars.
The first suspect to take care of is the clutch master and clutch slave, and bleeding the system. Making sure the clutch hydraulics are healthy is the most important thing for the ZF6, above all else. Once you can be sure the hydraulics work properly, then you can start wondering about things deeper inside. A clutch job on a ZF6 isn't a simple affair like, say, a Honda, so I'd immediately be wary of just what the previous owner had done and who did the work.
The first suspect to take care of is the clutch master and clutch slave, and bleeding the system. Making sure the clutch hydraulics are healthy is the most important thing for the ZF6, above all else. Once you can be sure the hydraulics work properly, then you can start wondering about things deeper inside. A clutch job on a ZF6 isn't a simple affair like, say, a Honda, so I'd immediately be wary of just what the previous owner had done and who did the work.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Welcome, First things first Check the clutch master cylinder fluid level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XLT8hece5g
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-location.html
http://www.zfdoc.com/clutch_hydraulic.htm
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
The level is fine and all, but it doesn't tell you if the actual hydraulics are working, it just shows that the reservoir has sufficient fluid. If I didn't know the history of my car, the first thing I would do is bleed the system and see if that caused any change in operation. If bleeding didn't fix it, I'd move on to swapping in a new clutch master with a new clutch slave, and bleed it again.
Unfortunately it's kind of a pain to bleed these cars, which is also why it's the first thing to try if you're having trouble shifting. That said, if everything was working great and then all of a sudden it wasn't, that does lead me to wonder if the actual clutch master and clutch slave have failed.
Unfortunately it's kind of a pain to bleed these cars, which is also why it's the first thing to try if you're having trouble shifting. That said, if everything was working great and then all of a sudden it wasn't, that does lead me to wonder if the actual clutch master and clutch slave have failed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,895
Likes: 592
From: New Port Richey FL
The level is fine and all, but it doesn't tell you if the actual hydraulics are working, it just shows that the reservoir has sufficient fluid. If I didn't know the history of my car, the first thing I would do is bleed the system and see if that caused any change in operation. If bleeding didn't fix it, I'd move on to swapping in a new clutch master with a new clutch slave, and bleed it again.
Unfortunately it's kind of a pain to bleed these cars, which is also why it's the first thing to try if you're having trouble shifting. That said, if everything was working great and then all of a sudden it wasn't, that does lead me to wonder if the actual clutch master and clutch slave have failed.
Unfortunately it's kind of a pain to bleed these cars, which is also why it's the first thing to try if you're having trouble shifting. That said, if everything was working great and then all of a sudden it wasn't, that does lead me to wonder if the actual clutch master and clutch slave have failed.
I agree just because it's full even Bled, if the system is Stroking or not holding pressure thru its Function the clutch will Not full Disengage and make it hard to shift with engine running. So start giving the master and slave a look at for leakage, not to worry both are not super expensive and can be done by a fairly/basic skilled owner, its not a technical job but it has its challenges.
Last edited by s carter; Aug 16, 2020 at 09:30 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,759
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From: Fairfax Virginia
On other makes of cars I have seen shifting getting tough as a sign of a faulty or worn out Clutch Plates. If you can't get into gear with the engine running especially.
Bleeding the Corvettes seem to be more challenging than other vehicles. I would try a Phoenix Reverse Bleeder as that was pretty much the only tool to be able to bleed my Chevrolet Silverado's clutch.
Unless receipts are there to prove that the clutch was in fact replaced I would doubt it was ever done.
I hope it is something simple that doesn't cost a fortune to fix!
Bleeding the Corvettes seem to be more challenging than other vehicles. I would try a Phoenix Reverse Bleeder as that was pretty much the only tool to be able to bleed my Chevrolet Silverado's clutch.
Unless receipts are there to prove that the clutch was in fact replaced I would doubt it was ever done.
I hope it is something simple that doesn't cost a fortune to fix!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
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From: Central Maryland
Clearly the clutch isn't releasing fully. Either there is air in the hydraulic system, or there is a mechanical problem with the clutch or release mechanism. Do not drive the car until this has been resolved, and do not attempt to force the transmission into gear.
Try this first: Pump the clutch pedal vigorously, as many cycles as your leg can handle. This will sometimes work the air up out of the system on these ZF-equipped C4 cars.
Live well,
SJW
Try this first: Pump the clutch pedal vigorously, as many cycles as your leg can handle. This will sometimes work the air up out of the system on these ZF-equipped C4 cars.
Live well,
SJW
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 165
From: Nashville TN
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
Try this first: Pump the clutch pedal vigorously, as many cycles as your leg can handle. This will sometimes work the air up out of the system on these ZF-equipped C4 cars.
If that doesn't work, you're probably looking at a failed cylinder (either master or slave or both). I'd replace the whole lot. Get a friend to help you with this one, it makes the work considerably easier, especially the bleeding.