hard to move shifter, fluid on floor

[wearurpjs]

so my brother calls me and tells me his 1g has been actin up. I ask him what the problem is. he says the shifter is hard to move and wont slide directly from 2-3, it just goes back up into 1.

I get home from work, take a quick look at it to confirm. I check to make sure the cigarette lighter wiring isnt getting tangled, but it isnt. I check side to side movement in neutral and its real hard, like something is holding it back. I take a peek under the hood, the shifter cables are all still there.

Under the car, however, I see a puddle of fluid coming from what looks to be the center of the front end. I couldnt lift the car up and take a look at it cause it started to rain, hopefully I can tonight.

what do you guys suppose it is? I been thinking of possible situations and problems but I got nothing concrete yet...any help would be very much appreciated.

 

[RayH]

How does the clutch pedal feel? You could be leaking at the master, slave or somewhere in between.

 

[wearurpjs]

clutch pedal is fine, goes down comes back up fine. but Im fearing for the worst....blown transmission. shiiiit.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

If the fluid is under the front of the car beneath the radiator...clutch slave cylinder, to check get under the car and follow the line. The slave is on the front of the tranny above the support member that the mounts attach to. Pull the boot back and check for leaks. However, from the sounds of it, you'll notice that it's covered without pulling the boot back.

If you have fluid behind the clutch pedal underneath the carpet (if caught soon enough) or through the carpet...clutch master cylinder, a little more of a PITA to change.

Then check the line between the two.

Check the simple stuff first before you start assuming the worst.

 

[wearurpjs]

ok but my question was about the shifter not the clutch assembly..?

its hard to move the shifter. I really need to take a good luck at everything...

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Of course there are 2 levers on the tranny...1 for front to back, and 1 for side to side.

Either something is binding around the levers on the tranny, could be worn bushings. I know on my 98 when I replaced the OEM bushings for the bearings, the OEM bushings were trash. Or if it was driven like it was stolen, maybe a shift rail/fork is cracked or broken.

I would definitely check everything external before I assumed the worst. Although if it was the hydraulic system it should only be tough to get into gears, it shouldn't affect the side to side movement.

 

[90blacktsiawd]

There's a bracket attached by 2 bolts to the trans that keeps the shift cables properly lined up. Mine tends to loosen the bolts about every 6 months or so and when it happens i have trouble shifting. Can't hurt to check. As for the fluid though i dont know what to tell you that hasn't already been said.

 

[blackGSX2g]

Are we talking about difficult shifting when the car is running or when the car is off?

To rule out your transmission, disconnect the shift linkages from the gear shift lever on your transmission. Then (with the car off of course) try and shift through 1-5/R there to see if it binds up. If it moves smoothly, then follow the linkages through the firewall and into the car. If they aren't binding up on anything, then its possible the cables will need to be replaced. Junkyard should charge maybe 10-15 for them.

If the linkages on your transmission are hard to move, then you have something binding up your shift forks on the inside of your transmission and it needs to be pulled.

Report back.

 

[wearurpjs]

^^

exactly what I was looking for.

and the problem is both, car on and off. 1-2 and 3-4 I have no problems with. its going from 2-3 that Im having problems with. itll shift fine, but when I try to go from 2 up into 3, I have to actually guide it with my hand. I took a peek earlier, it looks like one of the cables is gone/going. I have to double check. Ill have more time this weekend, no work then. as for the fluid I think I know what it is. its a bi*** to turn the steering wheel...PS is gone. as I said, I have to double check.

Ill report back ASAP.

thank you to blackGSX2g and everyone else for the contributions so far, I hope to return with some much better news.

 

[canucatchdis]

I am having the same problem with moving the shifter left and right. It can seriously be cause by bad cables? what would cause them to go bad?

 

[Auto RS T]

Check for a broken or binding cable, most likely broken under the accordian like rubber boot near the shift cable bracket. May not be too noticable so look and feel around. Also like above said that bracket does come loose every now and then, tighten those bolts too. For confirmation I would disconnect the cables and have someone "shift" through the gears while you watch the cables move, if they are hard to move while disconnected replace cables. When mine snapped I could only get it back into gear twice after that. It was a pretty severe break. Just slipped it into forth to get me a little furthur to a safe place to park.

 

[canucatchdis]

ok here is an update. I took off the shifter cables. It wasnt them. On the transmissison where the cables push and pull it is the one that moves the mechanism up and down. (so when you are in the car shifting it would be the one that would be moving the shifter side to side) It is really hard to move by hand as well. I will hopefully have a picture soon if that will help anyone. What would cause it to be such a pain to move?

 

[90blacktsiawd]

I suppose you should start with the easy stuff first. Could it have been over tightened? Maybe it rusted or needs a good spary down with wd40. I wouldn't be to confident about those fixing it but might as well start with that stuff first. It could very well be what's on the other side of the lever in the tranny thats causing your troubles.

 

[canucatchdis]

I will try doing those few things in the next few hours. For all of you who have really been deep into your dsm. What is behind those levers? What could be screwed up if it is not just rusty or gummed up? Thanks