Not really a big issue, but weird... (shifting)

[CorsePerVita]

Ok. So i'm not sure if it's linkage or synchro related. Keep in mind I'm PRETTY sure the DPO got on it quite a bit with this car. But here's what happens...

When the car is cold, I can put the car in any gear with the car OFF. 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th, reverse.

I turn the car on, and a lot of the time, it goes in 1st or reverse fine. I'll back out of the driveway, leave it in neutral, go shut my garage door, come back, go to put it in gear and it's like it hits a huge brick wall, it won't go. Now, mind you if I work REALLY hard I can pretty much force it in there, but I don't, since I do not wish to damage anything.

Here's the odd thing. If I put it into 3rd gear, 4th gear, 2nd gear, or 5th gear, and then back down to 1st or reverse, it goes in fine and smooth. I can also alternatively put it in 3rd, let the clutch out an inch, push the clutch back in and it'll go right in.

Linkage adjustment issue? Or is this synchro related? I know reverse HAS no synchros.... It's been this way since i bought the car. Doesn't seem to do it once she is warmed up.

[jacketfan89]

Mine did that too, but was caused by a failing rubber centered clutch disk...Probably not your problem if it's been happening for a while...once you get going and you have to put it in neutral at a stop light, does it go right back into first?

[CorsePerVita]

Yep. Like i said, totally fine once she's warmed up I have checked through the maintenance window and appear to have an aftermarket clutch from what i can tell. Also, no rubber chunks, I saw no rubber up inside the maintenance window so i'm relatively sure this clutch was replaced at some point in time. I've had this car since April 10th, and it's been this way the whole time, mind you this car has been a daily.

[jacketfan89]

Yea that is wierd....and you can't really try speed shifting as it's only first gear...I would think if it's synchros, the problem would have worsened since April.

Did you flush the transaxle? If not, when you do fill it with a good synthetic oil

[CorsePerVita]

i did flush it and went to a full synth amsoil.

[jacketfan89]

Strange. Does it grind when you try to push it into first?

[SolReaver]

Did you go under there and check the linkage at the Transmission end? There are lots of spacers and such that can get loose. When someone does a clutch job, they sometimes mess with the linkage, so check that everything is in the right place and that you have that safety wire on the retaining bolt and that the linkage is correctly attached. Have you pulled the boot and checked the shifter linkage?

I am reaching here...A bad clutch can give you similar symptoms, but you say that the clutch is good. Are the hydraulics(master and slave) good? nice fluid, work smoothly, feel solid? Get under there and see if the throw is good when the pedal is pressed.

OK, I am out...

[CorsePerVita]

Have not checked the linkage which i was curious about. I can pull the boot and look.

As to the clutch thing, i checked the maintenance window and it looked gravy from what i saw.

The master and slave are brand new about 2 months ago and feel awesome.

No grinding.

[SolReaver]

Well, you say it always did it, that means it did it before the new hydraulics. I would suck out all the old fluid ala Turkey baster and replace it with fresh stuff and bleed the lines just for good measure. My fluid is never grey (icky)

Your fluid is grey after 2 months? eeeew!!! Have some pride man. give it fresh stuff.

Still check the throw. It is remotely possible that someone put a part in wrong when the clutch was done or the fork is bent or something. I am thinking this way because My car sometimes refused to go into gear when running when the slave was going. Can you double clutch the car in gear? Also, the clutch was done...but, was it done right? there is really no way of knowing unless you pull the bell housing.

All that is left is the linkage, which, like I said, tends to wear and slip be incorrectly installed and aligned........and.......the transmission itself. Lets hope it is not that as there is not a whole lot to be done but to pull and replace it.

[CorsePerVita]

Fluid has been flushed out of there 3 times now. Once the first time as the pedal was "sticky", another time as it repeated the "sticky pedal" and then again after i replaced clutch and slave due to "sticky pedal". So fluid is awesome. I meant gravy as in, it's all gravy, as in good to go. Perhaps I should have chose a better word, lmao. "It's all gravy!"

not sure, like i said i /think/ the clutch was replaced. it was really hard to see up in there. i do sometimes have a bit of a jerk from 1st to 2nd, but it never grinds, oddly enough double clutching does alleviate it until the tranny warms up. Once the tranny is warm, it seems to be fine. There IS a LOT of slop in the shifter, is this normal?

[SolReaver]

Oh, Gray-vee, as in it is all gravy...Never mind, The dyslexia kicks in now and then, my bad.

Shifting should be tight. There is a kit to replace the plastic bits and such located on the tranny and a lot of cars have these components worn or incorrectly installed. It is not rocket science but it can be tricky and it is easy to screw up. Additionally there is a bushing at the shift lever that goes to the tube. You will understand what I mean when you get the boot off.

IF it was my car...I would check the bushing and connection under the boot 2) jack up the rear 3) check the linkage at the tranny end 4) disconnect the shift tube from the transmission and check and replace the 10 mm wired retaining bolt. While the linkage is off "feel" the transmission by putting it into the gears by operating the linkage and observe or feel how everything is moving to try and figure out where your slop is coming from.

Now, I gotta tell you that I have only rebuilt the linkage after the transmission is down and out...so...not sure how to do it when the transmission is in or even if you can do it without dropping the transmission. It is usually something I do every time I do a clutch or drop a tranny as there is not a lot of room to work with (you will see what I mean) The important part is that we figure out where the problem is. Many times it is the retaining bolt not being properly installed and I am hoping that we get lucky.

If the double clutching alleviates the problem, it points to hydraulics or possibly something sticking in the clutch. I don't really know. I wasn't there when the clutch or hydraulics were done. I do remember that there is an adjustment of some sort to the rod that goes into the master...It might be worth a check.

I will think about it over a beer and a cigar this weekend and let you know if my derranged mind comes up with anything. I would power up my crystal ball, but it is out of batteries. In the meantime get a new special bolt and get some fresh wire to do the linkage thing. Let me know how it goes and what you find.

[CorsePerVita]

Yeah it's definitely not super tight. When in gear there is a lot of left and right play in the shifter, almost feels like the damn thing is in neutral even once it's in a gear, pretty funky if you ask me.

I will check the things you have mentioned this weekend as I replace half my cooling system and let you know how it goes. Thanks for the recommendations.

[SolReaver]

Yea, I have a WP that I am finishing up.

Random thoughts: the adjustment to the clutch is the shaft that goes into the master from the clevis attached to the clutch lever. Sometimes the nut that secures the shaft to the clevis has backed out or is missing. Check with Clarks for the adjustment procedure. I think you just adjust it to no play and lock it down.

That little Bolt: you need a new one. They are one use only items and the end is specially shaped to fit the dimple on the shift linkage. Plus it is pre drilled for a safety wire that keeps it in place. I think it is called a safety retaining bolt..or something like that. They should always be replaced, rather than reused and special care has to be used to install and torque them. It is a critical safety item.

So....Get one....Mmkay?

P.S. It is called a "shift rod retaining bolt" by Clarks
P.P.S. one use IMHO as they are usually messed up when you get to them and snapping one off REALLY S*CKS!!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads13/shift+lever1211683661.jpg

# 19 on the illustration and it might be a 13mm head.