YACT

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Okay, it ain't the synchros. Trust me. This seems like it's just the fact that it's not fulling engaging when putting it into the next gear. Sometimes it's smooth, sometimes it's not. Yes, 75k is about the time the clutch goes out, and maybe I should get it looked at.

Problem is, can I get a clutch replaced for relatively cheap? $1,000 sounds like way too much for replacing a factory clutch.

Maybe as low as $800 if you shop around, but plan on 1000+

He's going to be pretty disappointed when he spends that $$$ on getting his clutch replaced and it doesn't fix the problem.

It's not your clutch bud.

It's either A) Your synchros, but if this is happening across all gears I doubt it's your synchros. I'd be suprised if ALL your synchros were shot at the same time.

OR

B) Your shift linkage. Which this sounds exactly like it is, IF you have shift linkage that is. Have you ever gotten it checked out?

C) It COULD be that you need to replace your MTF but somewhat unlikely. It would be a fairly cheap thing to do. I've been hearing good things about GM's Synchromesh MTF but, make sure it's ok to use with your particular vehicle before proceeding.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
B) Your shift linkage. Which this sounds exactly like it is, IF you have shift linkage that is. Have you ever gotten it checked out?

This is my most likely culpret. After this, the clutch is more likely than either of your other suggestions.

ZV

 

[Reckoner]

The transmission fluid idea your friends mentioned is something you should check into as well

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino

Originally posted by: Tommouse
Try double clutching for a bit. If it seems smoother then, then it would point to your syncros. I have to double clutch my car into second when its cold for the first 2 miles until the gearbox warms up.

Also more information would be helpful. Is it every gear? Is it the engagement of the clutch thats rough? Actually getting into gear thats rough? And we are assuming manual right (had to ask, wasn't explicitly stated)?

It's the act of putting the shifter into the position.

syncros

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
B) Your shift linkage. Which this sounds exactly like it is, IF you have shift linkage that is. Have you ever gotten it checked out?

This is my most likely culpret. After this, the clutch is more likely than either of your other suggestions.

ZV

ZV,

Could you explain how a bad clutch could cause these problems. I'm not a mechanic by any means but I do have a decent understanding of engines, transmissions, etc...I'd like to know.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: BlancoNino

Originally posted by: Tommouse
Try double clutching for a bit. If it seems smoother then, then it would point to your syncros. I have to double clutch my car into second when its cold for the first 2 miles until the gearbox warms up.

Also more information would be helpful. Is it every gear? Is it the engagement of the clutch thats rough? Actually getting into gear thats rough? And we are assuming manual right (had to ask, wasn't explicitly stated)?

It's the act of putting the shifter into the position.

syncros

But syncros normally do not go bad all at once.

Blanco- does this happen through out all gears or only say, shifting into 2nd?

 

[Tommouse]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Tommouse

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
It's the act of putting the shifter into the position.

Yea definitely try double clutching then

Even marginal synchros would allow easy shifting if he simply counted to two between shifts. (I.e. clutch pedal to the floor, count to two, change gears.) If that's not smooth, then it's something other than the synchros.

As I already said, he would have to be severely abusing his transmission to put noticeable wear on the synchros in only 75,000 miles.

ZV

Yea ZV is right. I'm just kind of throwing stuff out there, with some basic knowledge, ZV seems to know what hes talking about :beer:. That and it is happening to all gears not just a specific one, that would rule out my syncros theory.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
B) Your shift linkage. Which this sounds exactly like it is, IF you have shift linkage that is. Have you ever gotten it checked out?

This is my most likely culpret. After this, the clutch is more likely than either of your other suggestions.

ZV

ZV,

Could you explain how a bad clutch could cause these problems. I'm not a mechanic by any means but I do have a decent understanding of engines, transmissions, etc...I'd like to know.

The biggest thing to realise is that pushing down the clutch pedal does not actually pull the clutch away from the flywheel, it pulls the pressure plate away, which allows the clutck disc to slide backwards freely on the splined nose of the transmission input shaft. (Note the "Diphragm clutch" illustration in this link, about halfway down.) Notice how the clutch plate simply rides freely between the pressure plate and the flywheel when disengaged.

When a clutch gets worn, several things could happen. If it's just the friction surface that is worn, it can get "sticky" and not release from the flywheel immediately when the pressure plate backs away (this can be exacerbated by a worn flywheel too, and is one reason why the flywheel needs to be re-surfaced during a clutch replacement). Or, if the friction surface is very worn, the rivits that hold the friction lining to the clutch can start to hit the flywheel and get "stuck" to it a little bit as well. Alternately, if the shock-absorbing center of the clutch wears (or if one of the springs in the center breaks), it can allow the clutch to "wobble" slightly on the nose of the input shaft and bind against the shaft itself.

In the OP's case, I think that the most likely is a linkage issue (this is also the least expensive to fix/check), but a worn clutch could also be causing the symptoms if the linkage checks out as OK. It's also possible that the clutch is simply mis-adjusted, but a good mechanic should catch that before going all-out on a clutch job and inform the OP before changing everything out.

ZV