M/T Hard to shift when hot

[1stGenTSi]

My transmission goes into gear easily when cold but once the cars fully warmed up it barely shifts. This started happening a few months ago so I replaced the master and slave cylinders, and bled the clutch for over an hour. I was able to get more clutch travel than it's ever had and it shifted perfectly for another month or so. Now the problem is back. After a long highway cruise or driving around town the car is almost impossible to shift. I can feel the clutch disengagement gradually getting worse as the engine warms up. The transmission fluid has been changed about a year ago, the clutch pivot ball is shimmed, braided clutch line, new fluid etc. This thing is driving me crazy. I'm beginning to think the 2600 is just too heavy for the factory hydraulics. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

--John

 

[98gst14b]

What kind of oil is in the tranny and have you checked your pedal assembly yet?

 

[1stGenTSi]

What kind of oil is in the tranny and have you checked your pedal assembly yet?

Coastal 80-90w, I tried redline mtl and syncromesh and shifting was not as smooth. The pedal assembly has no play. I think it must be something with the hydraulics since I can feel the clutch engagement point get closer and closer to the floor as the engine warms.

 

[Sam@RRE]

Make sure the shift levers on the tranny are not touching the lower radiator hose, that would make sense for it to not shift when the car is warm

 

[1stGenTSi]

Make sure the shift levers on the tranny are not touching the lower radiator hose, that would make sense for it to not shift when the car is warm

No, nothing obstructing shift levers or cables. So the problem really only happens if it's really hot outside and I have been driving the car for more than a half hour. If it's cold out it generally never happens. This is driving me crazy. Any ideas?

 

[luv2rallye]

Is your fork in the proper place in the window? See the end of: TRE TECH TIPS

Also view proper clutch adjustment and pivot ball shimming videos: Transmission Videos

 

[1stGenTSi]

Is your fork in the proper place in the window? See the end of: TRE TECH TIPS

Also view proper clutch adjustment and pivot ball shimming videos: Transmission Videos

Fork is in the proper place, pivot ball shimmed correctly. Master cylinder rod backed most of the way out. Still having this damn problem.

 

[EagleTalon1993]

Did you use fluid from a sealed container when bleeding the slave cylinder? The only thing I can think of is the contamination of the fluid maybe water causing the fluid to become too thin when heated up.

Could also be an issue with input/output bearings in the transaxle getting to hot, I know you said you had the tranny oil changed but have you checked to make sure the level is still good.

I know alot of this seems obvious but it's usually the simple things I overlook that are the culprit the majority of the time