Hard to get into gears - shifts easy with engine off

[Rob98GST]

I am almost having to jam it into gears when the engine is on, but when the car is off, it shifts like butter.

'98 GST - only mods really are the clutch restrictor removed and a B&M short shifter.
78k - tranny fluid replaced about 20k ago. Stock clutch.

I know it's time to replace the fluid, but I did some reading through some old posts and what a few people said if the car will shift into gears easy with the car off, but hard when it's running - it's a clutch problem.

Also, the clutch seems to have a bit of a "tight" spot in it's travel (kind of in the middle). Sort of like it's catching on something. Hard to explain, but it's travel is smooth, but once it hits that "spot" it seems to hang slightly, then continues its smooth travel.

I found this web site;

http://www.roadraceengineering.com/clutchandflywheeltech.htm

http://www.roadraceengineering.com/eclipsetech/clutch/2g-clutchadjustment.jpg

But I dont really understand what he means in the clutch adjustment section.

 

[DSM90AWD]

First thing I'd do would be to flush/bleed the clutch fluid. The procedure is detailed in this VFAQ. Be sure to use a line that drains to a container with fluid so that air does not seep back into the line.

Second is to adjust the pedal so engagement is at least 1.5" off the floor. The RRE pics show the top cruise control adjuster which controls pedal height and the clutch master adjustment rod. Turning the CC adjuster out raises the pedal and turning in the clutch master rod increases preload / raises pedal engagement. Experiment with both until you get the desired results (my CC was almost all the way out and my adj rod had two threads exposed.. mine is a 1G though)

 

[95 TsiAWD]

My problem is almost identical to yours, but I haven't found a solution yet. I'll be checking this thread often to see if anything pops up.

 

[Rob98GST]

Thanks for the reply DSM90AWD -

I adjusted the cruise control adjuster all the way out (doing this didn't raise the clutch pedal at all). Then I turned the adjuster rod (raising the pedal) until it completely closed the switch (little black plastic push in plunger piece) on the cruise control adjuster - 5-6 turns I would guess.

WOW! is all I can say......

The car shifts so smooth now, with no effort at all, just clicks right into eash gear!!!

I've only put about 20 miles on the car since this adjustment and it's taking a little bit of getting used to as the clutch engauges about 1/2 of the way up - where before it seemed to catch almost right off the floor.

 

[DSM90AWD]

glad you got it worked out, though may want to adjust it back btw where you were first and where you are now as if the engagement is too high, the release bearing may be partially engaging all the time and wear out quick 9 and/or the clutch will not fully disengage (slippage at high loads)

 

[Rob98GST]

glad you got it worked out, though may want to adjust it back btw where you were first and where you are now as if the engagement is too high, the release bearing may be partially engaging all the time and wear out quick 9 and/or the clutch will not fully disengage (slippage at high loads)

Yeah, I never did check on how high the clutch pedal is off the floor (I've read it should be 7" from the floor)

I read this from TRE;

http://www.teamrip.com/clutch adjustment.html

They say it should start to engauge around 3" off the floor. I am guessing that its possibly engauging a bit higher than 3". I'll mess with it again when I get home today.

Although, it seems like the clutch still has a good amount of upword travel after the clutch starts to engauge.

 

[Ultimatedsm]

Adjust your freeplay to specs and your good to go. If you had air in your clutch system, it would feel spongy so bleed it if it feels like that. If those don't cure your problem than its a clutch problem. Whats your mileage.

 

[Rob98GST]

Adjust your freeplay to specs and your good to go. If you had air in your clutch system, it would feel spongy so bleed it if it feels like that. If those don't cure your problem than its a clutch problem. Whats your mileage.

I have a little over 78k on the car

You know when I raised the clutch pedal, it didn't feel spongy like it did before at all

Yesterday when I got home I lowered the pedal a little bit from where I had it. And it seemed to sort of get that spongy feeling back (although not as much as before).

When I drove it to work today it still shifted good, but not quite smooth as when I had the clutch pedal higher. It did lower the enguaging point to about where it was before.

I did take the clutch fluid cover off and I did notice that it was at the "min" level - so I added some to get it to "max". I guess some how air maybe got into the system, I'll try to bleed it next chance I get.