Clutch slipping

[800_Speed]

Yeah... so I was driving around the village of my town today. At a stop sign, I shift into first and try to go, same as I have been doing since I got the car with no shifting problems. The clutch did not catch and the car barely went anywhere... Shift into second, same thing, shift into third, and it started to go a bit. I thought it was okay until I got to the next stop sign... shift into first, car doesnt go ANYWHERE when i floor it, and it makes a horrible noise in every gear (sounds like the clutch slipping). The guy I bought it from said that he just replaced the clutch, so my take is that he just installed it wrong or something... anyone have any idea how much it is to reinstall a clutch (if you supply the shop with a clutch) on an awd 92 talon? Or better yet... is this a job I can do myself with just the Haynes repair manual and a decent amount of tools at my house and just a car jack with stands?

 

[4pistons]

Even a bad clutch will move your car in first gear. It sounds to me like your output shaft or the X-fer case is broken. Does the car move at all? does it make a grinding noise near the front of the driveshaft?

Rick - '91 GSX

 

[800_Speed]

yeah it doesn't move in first gear at all... i dont know whether or not its the transfer case or whatever, never had this problem before... how can i diagnose it properly? After I got it pulled over my friend stopped and tried to drive it, and said it was the clutch... not sure how good he is with cars though. If it is the transfer case, how much does that cost to get fixed?

 

[800_Speed]

the car also let off a bit of smoke on the right side right before it completely stopped moving, if that helps. I don't know anything about this transmission stuff so if anyone who can help would reply, that would be sweet.

 

[4pistons]

If it's what I think it is, a stripped output shaft, you'll have to fix your center differential in the tranny. That's what caused it to fail in the first place. You'll need a new output shaft and the gear it engages in the Xfer case.

It doesn't sound like you're a do-it-yourselfer and this area demands some knowledge on how it all works. If you're going to have a shop fix it be ABSOLUTELY sure they are familiar with DSMs or you'll get screwed and they'll end up replacing all kinds of stuff that doesn't need to be or not fixing it properly.

If it was mine I wouldn't take it anywhere except a DSM specialty shop. And I certainly don't mean a dealer!!

Rick - '91 GSX

 

[800_Speed]

I have a little bit of car experience so if you know of any good guides online/buy that would enable me to fix the problem let me know. How much might the new part(s) cost as well? Thanks, Bill.

 

[4pistons]

The absolute best service guide is the DSM manual. Not Haynes, not Chiltons. It gives you detailed exploded views if the entire tranny. You can find em online or the DSM Manual on CD pretty easy. http://manualcd.dsm.org.

I repaired the same problem on mine about three or four years ago and bought the parts from a local dealer and paid too much for them. Try Conicelli's Mitsubishi they've got the best pricing on parts. Just tell em your with the DSM Club. http://www.partznet.com/

If I remember correctly, (and I don't always do that) it cost about $350 in replacement parts. But I paid premium $$$. I also welded my center differential rather than trying to rebuild it as it was much cheaper. And I did the work myself. You may or may not be able to do that.

Rick - '91 GSX

 

[800_Speed]

man thats a lot for parts... i hope to god that its just a broken transfer case, fixing the output shaft sounds like a big hassle... I have been fixing some of my engine problems, not much experience with transmissions. If I had all the parts and all the tools I need at my house, how long do you think it would take me to fix it? That's taking into account that I've never done it before, and I'd be using the manual you spoke of

 

[4pistons]

i hope to god that its just a broken transfer case, fixing the output shaft sounds like a big hassle

Yes, it is. I wouldn't try it if you haven't done any tranny work as it needs to be disassembled. You could just replace the shaft without fixing the center diff but it will happen again in due time. Transfer cases rarely "break". If they fail they usually lock up. There are guys running 10s and 11s on the stock case without breakage.

how long do you think it would take me to fix it?

I am just speculating on what your problem is. No way can I tell you how long it'll take when I don't even know what's broken. These are complex areas you are talking about and alot could go wrong. You didn't buy a DSM because you thought it would be cheap to maintain did you? :laugh:

Rick - '91 GSX

 

[set3422]

$100 his flywheel is coming off apart due to not being torqued down properly with loctite.

 

[4pistons]

I'll take your hundred dollars! :laugh: Do you have any idea what it would sound like if the flywheel was coming off??? Imagine shoving a steel pipe into a tree shreader.......like that!

My bet is on the output shaft. I've been there, done that, twice!

Rick - '91 GSX

 

[800_Speed]

it does sound pretty ####in loud, i would compare it to (its been a couple days since i heard it but that noise will be forever tattooed in my brain...) grinding an animal's skull on a metal grindwheel, not only do you get the grinding sound but it also sounds like its screaming because it hurts... yeah either way im taking it into this nearby sunoco shop tomorrow morning... hopefully they can diagnose it properly and fix it since there are no DSM only shops around here

 

[4pistons]

Before the Sunoco guy goes tearing into your transmission ask him to remove the transfer case to check the output shaft. That's the easiest to check first. He'll have to remove the exhaust downpipe and then the Xfer case comes off with 5 bolts. Shouldn't take very long. Then you'll know which direction you need to go. Good Luck!

Rick - '91 GSX

 

[set3422]

Originally posted by 4pistons
I'll take your hundred dollars! :laugh: Do you have any idea what it would sound like if the flywheel was coming off??? Imagine shoving a steel pipe into a tree shreader.......like that!

My bet is on the output shaft. I've been there, done that, twice!

Rick - '91 GSX

what cause the output shaft to give, is it because the transfer case seized? Normally os won't go bad, unless center diff or viscous coupling takes a crap from hard launching.

The reason I suspect the flywheel because most recent thing he's done to his car was clutch swap. It's either the flywheel, the pressure plate, or the throw out bearing. In other words, look for the area where you worked most recently on first, then start looking at other potential area (like os, tc, and etc). Not trying to be a smart ass, but this has tremendously saved me enormous time in troubleshooting. Good luck.

 

[800_Speed]

he says that its the whole transmission... says it will cost 500 in labor to fix plus the part :/ am I being raped here or what. The guy I bought the car from put in a rebuilt transmission, could that be the problem? I don't want to make any decisions before one of you thinks you can answer... mechanic said he looked at the transfer case and everything seems to turn smoothly in there. A prompt response from anyone would be appreciated.

 

[4pistons]

mechanic said he looked at the transfer case and everything seems to turn smoothly in there

Did he take it out and inspect the shaft? The xfer case will still turn freely even if the shaft is stripped.

he says that its the whole transmission

I'll refer you back to my statement - "this area demands some knowledge on how it all works. If you're going to have a shop fix it be ABSOLUTELY sure they are familiar with DSMs or you'll get screwed and they'll end up replacing all kinds of stuff that doesn't need to be or not fixing it properly."

I don't want to make any decisions before one of you thinks you can answer...

"I am just speculating on what your problem is. No way can I tell you how long it'll take when I don't even know what's broken. These are complex areas you are talking about and alot could go wrong."
I wish I could help you better but we're just giving our opinions based on what you tell us. This is why you need a reputable shop.

Rick - '91 GSX

 

[4pistons]

what cause the output shaft to give, is it because the transfer case seized?

No, I have found through the years that the spacers inside the center diff wear and get mangled allowing the endplay on the output shaft to be excessive. Every time you are on and off the gas the shaft moves in and out inside the xfer case and begins filing the splines down until they can no longer hold power and they strip. Even on bone stock cars, which mine was at the time it first happened. I just replaced the shaft thinking that would fix it but a year later, BAM!, it stripped again. I had to pull the tranny and the center diff to fix it. I ended up welding it cause rebuilding was too expensive and tedious with buying the exact right size spacers.

It's either the flywheel, the pressure plate, or the throw out bearing.

Wouldn't that make noise all the time, though? And he said the car wouldn't move. The clutch, flywheel, and pressure plate would have to be gone or majorly screwed up so that the car didn't move.

look for the area where you worked most recently on first, then start looking at other potential area (like os, tc, and etc). Not trying to be a smart ass, but this has tremendously saved me enormous time in troubleshooting.

I agree, you have to take a methodical, common sense approach to troubleshooting. This is a forum of ideas and help and to relate knowledge to those who need it. I was relating my experience with the stripped shaft hoping it would pinpoint his problem quicker. He'll have to decide what fits his particular situation.

Rick - '91 GSX