Weird, trouble shifting

[2gawdtsi]

Alright, the other day I was driving and suddenly it began fairly hard to shift. It began grinding into some gears, and needed some effort to shift. I figured the only possible reason behind this was because the clutch isn't disengaging properly. This is where it starts to get weird... I was driving to school the next day (rev matching) and babying it until i could get to auto, so i could see if bleeding the clutch would help. All of a sudden, I accelerated from a red light, and it shifted PERFECTLY fine, and continued shifting awesome until i got to school.

Then after school the problem came back? this has happened a few times. I was thinking possible loose bellhousing bolts? Any ideas? thanks in advance.

 

[fourleaf033]

how does the clutch peddle feel? and liquid coming from the master of slave?

 

[Colt4G63 also]

It could be loose bolts as you said, or it could be a bad release bearing, damaged disk or pressure plate, or even the disk rusted onto the input shaft can cause it.

I would start by checking the bellhousing bolts and crank endplay, listening for any strange noises, and making sure the hydraulic system is sound, and your adjustment and fluids are right.

If all that fails (passes), start looking inside the bellhousing.

 

[zanderson]

I had a similar problem in my 95 talon, it could be as simple as the shift linkage is out of ajustment.

 

[TSi Kid]

I've got 800 miles on an autozone clutch (long story) and it's doing the same thing as you. I replace the master, the slave and bled my clutch with no luck. You can try adjusting you clutch pedal to see if that helps with the grab but i'm planning on dropping the tranny and expecting to see an F'd off pressure plate.

 

[2gawdtsi]

master and slave cylinder are fine. master leaking very very slightly, but im not worrying about it for the moment... There is sometimes a ticking noise when clutch is engaged, and goes away when i press the clutch.

If it is a problem as big as a f'd up pressure plate or disk, would it get better randomly?. I purposely stalled my car real hard yesterday, to see if it would shake something back into alignment, and it began shifting good again for most of the way home..

 

[jdodds]

Ive seen this problem a couple times before. I suggest you yank your trans out and check your pressure plate bolts. Its quite possible theyre coming loose.

 

[Jafro]

As much as I hate reading old threads of people blaming air, leaks, and fluid levels... I hate reading this one.

My car started doing this just this morning. Made it through town, a half-dozen stops and down 13 miles of highway. A mile from a toll booth, it was chunky downshifting to 3rd and stiff afterwards shifting to 4th & 5th. After tossing my change in the bucket and watching the arm rise, couldn't get into 1st gear. Had to cut the car off to get it back in 1st. Made it to work. Messed with it all day. There are worse jobs out there.

3000 mile-old ACT 2600 Extreme with 6-puck sprung disc. Brand new pivot ball & fork, not shimmed & never needed it. Stainless line & no reservoir. ACT throwout bearing. Flywheel cut to .610". 25 drag passes. Just getting broken in. Brand new clutch pedal assembly. I have maybe 5000 miles on a clutch master cylinder and less than 1000 on the slave. Neither are leaking externally. No fluid inside the car. Full reservoir. No manner of adjustment to the master cylinder makes a difference except the point where it engages and doesn't disengage raises and lowers. I've backed the rod out to the point of preload, and I've turned it in to the point where the pedal collapses to the floor. I'm getting about an inch of actuation on the slave/fork when it's adjusted correctly with free-play. The car won't go into gear when running. The clutch is dragging in whatever gear it's in when it is. I can barely get it into 3rd and 4th. I can grind reverse but can't get 1st at all. I bled the clutch. No air. It doesn't look like any of my bell housing bolts are loose.

I am a sad panda.

On the bright side, it's a good thing I make DSM videos because my driveway is an endless supply of content. For a guy on gearbox #4, trust that I am getting tired of this. At least my axles come out very easily now.

Anyone find anything out on this one yet? Busted pressure plate? Blown disc? Broken fork? What gives? I've got a new master on the way in case it's leaking internally... but I think it's gonna be in the bell housing.

 

[Jafro]

Apparently I've kicked 2 bellhousing bolts out of the transmission. Front lower bolt where the dowel pin is. and the rear lower starter bolt. The other obvious bolts are all still tight.

Is the "hidden small bolt" (m8x1.25x?) that bolts from the opposite side a 1g thing, a 2g thing, or is it on both cars? I know for sure I don't have one in there. I can't find it in CAPS to get specs, or in my OEM service manual to find where it goes? I've just seen other people discussing losing other transmission bolts because they didn't have that one bolt.