hard to put car into gear

Engel · Nov 15, 2005

Do our cars have a transmission dipstick because I sure as hell cant find it?
My car has been getting harder and harder to put in gear. Earlier when the clutch was pushed ALL the way to the floor it would go into gear smoothly, now after a week its gotten worse, now when I have the clutch ALL the way to the floor it is a fight to get it into gear.

So my question is do you guys think its time for a new clutch?

I have an adjustable clutch kit installed, and it has gotten to the point where it is so loose the clutch pedal rattles freely. But I thought I would adjust it when I drove home (5 hrs) next week when I had jacks jackstands etc. Now I have the shifting problem and it looks like it could probably make it one more trip (probably to the mechanic).

Any help is appreciated

Blackened302 · Nov 15, 2005

i understand that this is a sign of your clutch going bad. mine is slowly getting that way--gonna have to replace it soon, plus getting an adjustable kit. which do you have? i've got the steeda firewall adjuster, so i'm probably just gonna get their quadrant (they said i need it in order to use the firewall adjuster).

95cobradude · Nov 15, 2005

no dipstick, 2 fill plugs on the side of the tranny.

215what · Nov 15, 2005

Engel said:
Do our cars have a transmission dipstick because I sure as hell cant find it?
My car has been getting harder and harder to put in gear. Earlier when the clutch was pushed ALL the way to the floor it would go into gear smoothly, now after a week its gotten worse, now when I have the clutch ALL the way to the floor it is a fight to get it into gear.

So my question is do you guys think its time for a new clutch?

I have an adjustable clutch kit installed, and it has gotten to the point where it is so loose the clutch pedal rattles freely. But I thought I would adjust it when I drove home (5 hrs) next week when I had jacks jackstands etc. Now I have the shifting problem and it looks like it could probably make it one more trip (probably to the mechanic).

Any help is appreciated

Is all the gear's hard to put in?

legalize420 · Nov 15, 2005

Ram000 said:
(they said i need it in order to use the firewall adjuster).

im using the steeda quadrant with my summit fwa. works fine.

ZimStang · Nov 15, 2005

you probably need to just adjust the cable. Do you have a firewall adjuster? If you do start screwing it whatever way makes it come out into your engine bay more... thatll take up that extra slack. Your clutch isnt bad, if it was bad it would be slipping

WHITE94COBRA · Nov 15, 2005

Or your clutch may be so far out of adjustment it is dragging on the pressure plate, which would make it hard to get into 1st; also is it easy to put into gear when you arent completely stopped yet, (like when comming to a stop light downshifting, try putting it into first before you are completely stopped like around 2 - 5 mph). If it does it sounds like it's dragging and it's just about time to replace the assembly.... Or hopefully just adjust it properly... hope this helps..

HISSIN50 · Nov 15, 2005

TO rule things out, you need to remove all that slack in the cable anyhow. If it fixes it, great. If not, THEN start lookin at hard clutch parts failure/wear.

Adjusting it should have you back up and running smooth. You can do it yourself in about 5 mins if you have a way to safely raise the vehicle and secure it, and a couple of wrenches (even crescent wrenches will work).

Good luck.

Engel · Nov 15, 2005

Ok I removed the slack in the cable, and it shifts fine.

But this is the second time I have done this, if I adjust the cable and it works great could it still be the clutch going out or is it the fact that my cable is just stretching?

I got my adjuster kit for xmas as a present I dont know what make it is (prob off ebay). Im starting to think its a pos..

For those of you looking for a clutch quadrant
I have been looking at this one.
http://www.maximummotorsports.com/cq.asp

HISSIN50 · Nov 15, 2005

Adjustable cables can stretch - that is one reason they are not nearly as well liked as the stock non-adjustable cable.

Do you have a lock-nut on the adjuster (at the clutch fork)? There should be a lock nut or a double nut. Make sure that is all tight and good to go or it can back off over time.

Good luck.

Engel · Nov 16, 2005

Ok it got even looser today, Ive only driven it once since I adjusted it at the firewall. I had to take up the slack with the adjuster again. Correct me if im wrong but a cable shouldn't stretch a ton overnight? Is it possible to be the clutch?

Blackened302 · Nov 16, 2005

legalize420gt95 said:
im using the steeda quadrant with my summit fwa. works fine.

i still have the stock quadrant, so that's probably why the steeda fwa wasn't working out.

a50sn95 · Nov 16, 2005

It's the cable. Or, you're bending the Lever in the bellhousing. I use the STOCK cable, the UPR triple hook quadrant, and the UPR double adjuster. I had a BBK Quadrant and adjustable cable on my old '86, and the cable stretched like this. (this was back in '88..) I replaced that cable 3 times. I like this setup WAY better. All the adjustment is under the hood.....
Dennis

Engel · Nov 16, 2005

Different gears are harder to hit then other gears too, and they change up with each clutch engage im really confused. I guess its the cable hopefully it will last till I can replace it. BTW there is annoying crunching sound now when pedal pressed.

HISSIN50 · Nov 16, 2005

Where is the point of engagement now? Cables do stretch, but they can only stretch so far.

I use a dab of paint on the adjuster or threaded rod (adjustable cable) to monitor if the adjustment is walking.

Good luck.

Methodical · Nov 17, 2005

Engel said:
Ok it got even looser today, Ive only driven it once since I adjusted it at the firewall. I had to take up the slack with the adjuster again. Correct me if im wrong but a cable shouldn't stretch a ton overnight? Is it possible to be the clutch?

Did you take the slack out of the cable at the clutch fork - under the car. And is there a jamb nut down there. You need to check. The cable may be loose down at the clutch fork. As Hissin suggested you need to take the slack out at the clutch fork first, if there is any. According your response, you only adjusted at the firewall. Try doing what HISSIN suggested, then adjust at the firewall. Also, make sure your adjustment at the firewall is not moving.

Peace
Al

WHITE94COBRA · Nov 17, 2005

Crunching sound is your quad starting to break. It's chewing little pieces off of it as we speak.

Engel · Nov 17, 2005

will do

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