Need some help ASAP... clutch cable died on me, or..???

[Kerpal]

So I was about halfway to work today, when my shifter became very difficult to get into any gear. I was already running late so I babied the car along, but I had to rev match and ease the shifter into gear with every shift. It feels like I'm basically trying to shift without using the clutch.

I was already planning on installing a new cable, quadrant and firewall adjuster b/c I have to press the clutch literally all the way down to the floor when I shift. So I'm hoping the problem is just that the cable finally stretched to the point that the clutch pedal does nothing... do you guys think that is likely the case?

I DID smell buring clutch right before the problem started... I was just cruising steadily in 4th or 5th when I smelled it, although the car continued to run normally, so I'm still not sure if the smell was even from my car. When I went to accelerate from a stop maybe 1/4-1/2 mile down the road was when I first noticed I could barely get the shifter in gear.

I just hope it's only the cable and not something with the clutch itself... the car does seem to drive fine once I ease into gear. Is there any way I can adjust the stock cable tighter so that I can make sure that's the problem, and so that I can continue to drive until I get a new cable installed?

Finally which aftermarket quadrant and firewall adjuster are the best value, where should I get them, and where's the best place to get a new OEM cable?

Thanks in advance for any advice...

 

[NKau]

Clutch doesn't slip or anything in high gear?

 

[Kerpal]

It doesn't seem to slip, at least the car drives normally once in gear. It's supposed to be an FMS clutch with under 30k miles on it, if the previous owner was being honest with me.

In general the clutch seems pretty strong... if I stomp on the throttle in first with the clutch all the way out and already rolling at a few mph, the rpm shoots up... I used to think it was the clutch slipping, but I recently discovered that my tires don't make any noise at all when they break traction, so I think I was just spinning the tires. I don't drive it like that often enough to be 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure the clucth hooks fine, and it's my little 225 width street tires that were slipping...

 

[v8only]

if your cable is stretched, you'll have a ****load of freeplay on the clutch pedal, it'll be sloppy as all hell, and not firm. If it's mostly firm, that's not your problem.

 

[Kerpal]

After the problem occured the pedal felt a little bit looser than normal, mostly in the first inch or two of it's travel...

However, something weird happened. I went to leave work tonight and initially the problem seemed to still be there... however I didn't get more than a few blocks (which meant a few stoplights) away from work and the car went totally back to normal. It shifts fine again now, I drove the rest of the way home with no issues. WTF? Any ideas what could have caused the problem?

Whatever it was I still want to correct it so it doesn't happen again...

 

[Kerpal]

Bumping this...

I'm pretty sure the cable is the problem and I think I'll just order the Max Motorsports kit since theirs looks like the best quality.. however I'd hate to buy that and find out that it's actually something else causing the problem, especially since their kit is a little pricey...

 

[CRASH7772]

I bought the 3 pc UPR kit and works great for me. Is it possible that the stock plastic quadrant is on it's way out? Doesn't seem like if a cable was going it would go back to normal at all unless it's binding in the case.

 

[loud 95]

This sounds very much like the problem I experienced with my car...though mine was ultimately caused by the heat from my long-tube headers. My clutch cable was being heated by my exhaust, which served to constrict the metal coil that runs the length of the cable. In turn, this constricted the movement of the cable. When the car was cold, the problem was gone. When it got hot, say during stop and go traffic, the problem reared its ugly head. Install an aftermarket quadrant and cable. Adjust it so that your clutch pedal firms up about an inch before it is fully released. It sounds like the cable you had was stretched/fatigued, judging from where it released. Your problem should go away with the new stuff. Just make sure the cable and bellhousing are away from exhaust heat.

 

[Kerpal]

I'm thinking the same things... I think my problems may be caused mainly by the quadrant, since they seem to come and go at random, without any connection to if the car is hot or cold...

But since the clutch has always disengaged right at the floor, I had always figured the cable was stretched and was planning on replacing it anyway...

A while back I did adjust the cable as much as the stock quadrant would allow (by pulling up on the clutch pedal), and that made a huge improvement for a couple weeks, until it went back to how it was before...

 

[speedtrip]

Sounds like what happened to my stang to.My cable broke where it attaches to firewall so when i pushed clutch in it was coming away from firewall where its supposed to be attached Have someone get in car and push clutch in while you look under the hood where cable comes through firewall. Cable shouldnt move.