transmission/clutch questions

[formulav893]

i just picked up a higher mileage 98 gst spyder. now the clutch on it feels different then my 96 gs spyder did. the pedal seems to feel to looser, and engage lower. some problems i have is down shifting from 5th to 4th periodicaly it wont go into 4th for a split second, no grinding or anything just wont go into it for a second. up shifting is no problem, revved it thru the gears when i had the chance and no problems up shifting. sometimes when im at a light and the clutch pedal is pressed i cant go into 4th as well unless i force it in, again no grinding or any noice of any kind whatsoever.

also noticed the clutch slips sometimes when boost kicks in, it will rev from 3k to 4k then back down to 3300ish. this happens periodically, not all the time.

so are these symptoms of a clutch going bad? ive checked for the brake fluids and its all topped up, do i still need to bleed the clutch?

i planned on changing the clutch anyways because i plan on modding the car and increasing boost, but im hoping its the clutch and not the transmission. again there are no grinds or anything and i drove the car 3300+miles across country and there was no issues whatsoever other then the down shifting, especially when comming off a highway off ramp. again this didnt happen every time but most of the time.

any help or advice is appreciated.

 

[mygsx2120]

If fourth gear is the only gear that you have problems with, I would say your problem is with that gear, not the clutch. I don't know very much about transmissions though. Just because you are full of fluid, doesn't mean that there still isn't air in the line. If this was the case though, the clutch would disengage funny in every gear. I think you should bleed it just in case though. It's way easier than dropping the tranny. If you don't know how, just search.

 

[96TSiAWDBLK]

Clutch problems would hit ALL gears, not just 4th. That sounds like worn synchros, something that is notorious in 2g trannies. My 4th gear used to pop out when I shifted in every once in a while. Over the next 2 months it got to the point where I basically had no 4th gear, wouldn't shift in. Got new synchros and the problem was fixed.

As for the clutch slipping occasionaly, raise your engagement point. Loosen the lock nut on the bar going to the pedal, then turn it about 1/2 to 1 whole turn to the LEFT, relock the nut. That'll raise the engagement point. You ideally want it about the middle, or a little below that.

Also, the previous owner could of beat the piss out of the car. If it has higher mileage, try to find out when the last time the clutch was even looked at. It could just need servicing or replacing if it's been abused.

Let us know.

 

[formulav893]

actually now that i think about it, today at a light i was playing with the gears and it would do the same thing in 3rd and 2nd.

ill do the bleeding thing and the pedal adjustments and ill pay more attention to the downshifts tonight on my way home from work.

for worn synchros i know in my formula it would grind while going into gear, this never does that nor does it ever pop out.

 

[formulav893]

As for the clutch slipping occasionaly, raise your engagement point. Loosen the lock nut on the bar going to the pedal, then turn it about 1/2 to 1 whole turn to the LEFT, relock the nut. That'll raise the engagement point. You ideally want it about the middle, or a little below that.

is this directly behind the pedal?

 

[formulav893]

okay just got home, i guess i noticed it the most in 4th gear because i always downshift from 5th to 4th when i slow down. but i noticed it only a few times tonight but in 4th and 3rd as well.

also when completely stopped i also noticed that when i press the clutch pedal and immediatly try to put it into 2nd 3rd or 4th that it does the hard to shift into gear thing, again no noises. but if i press the pedal and leave it in for a few seconds then put it into gear it will go in smoothly.

also noticed that while the car is in motion while slowing down and when i press the clutch pedal and leave it in for a few seconds then attempt to put it into either 2nd 3rd or 4th gears that i can "feel" the gears moving thru the shifter, its wierd kinda like the clutch isnt in all the way you know. again this is very minor and no noises.

also to note is when i press the clutch pedal it feels like a two step pedal, theres a first motion, then a second notch with a heavier feel. the second step is when it feels like the clutch is engaged.

any help or advice apreciated

 

[formulav893]

today on the way to work i noticed it did it far less when i pressed the clutch pedal all the way to the floor as if i was pushing it thru the floor boards, .

 

[formulav893]

another update, no problems today as long as i pressed the clutch pedal all the way to the botom of the floorboard. i havent done the bleeding yet as the weather is is horrible. any other suggestions?

 

[formulav893]

anyone?