NineOhSE

So yesterday im about to go home after a long day of school. But when I turned the car on i heard a loud crack and the car stalled (i cant remember if i was releasing the clutch pedal at the time or not) But anyways, now the clutch pedal wont go all the way in and wont come back out so i cant put it in gear with the car on. Its almost as if the clutch is part way disengaged. I checked the slave cylinder and it's fine, but when checked the release lever (or clutch fork ) it moves around a lot. Also, when the car is on and i push the clutch pedal in, there a noise that sounds to me like a messed up bearing. Is it safe to assume that either the release lever or the throwout bearing is broken? If so, are they too hard to replace? Thanks in advance.

-Jose

sublunary

iTrader: (2)

sounds like you need a new clutch. it isn't easy, i did it last year and it took a long time. you have to remove the drive axle and drop the transmission to access the bearing.

subs1000w

yup sound like a t o b or clutch problem drop trans to do it

Brad92SE

iTrader: (9)

Yeah, like subs said, it's probably the TOB. Dont worry, the tranny isn't that hard to take off, the hardest part is lining it back up during re-installation. As a tip, take those two studs on the bottom of the bellhousing off, it makes it alot easier. It's good to have another person there too, 100+lbs gets to be difficult to negotiate in the tight space. After about 3 times, the tranny is a piece of cake

garbury

iTrader: (4)

Definately get a manual before working on your transmission. I screwed mine up when I did my clutch job blind, and I paid for it. There are a few tips i can offer you to help with the tranny. If you dont have a tranny jack use a regular one and some wood to make it work nicely. I took a heavy duty strap and bolted it to the top of the tranny at each tranny mount loaction. This gave me a handle so removing/installing was much easier.

I had no problems lining it up the both times I took it off, but you will find a natural handle on the case right by the rear tranny mount. I grabbed that and put a hand on the other side, lined the sucker up with my dads help on the strap, and just lifted and pushed.

Make sure your axle seals are in good shape, it is best to fix the 5 dollar parts now than to leak nasty gear oil in the future.

Good luck, and if you have a manual (i.e. know what you're doing) this could very well be done in a day, two at most if you don't screw it up.

Phatsta

I've done a pictureless writeup of how to drop the transmission, even tough it's based on an auto you should be at least a little helped, check it out;

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/749143/2

Wiking

...as u now have purChased a stop watch, howabout a caMera? Still some practice to top league: Wolkswagen engine change is maybe 3minutes... I suppose tranny included. (Btw, I am the loser)

dRAWings for InfosEekers [until Christmas - Pasta gets his caMera]:
lug into www.autozone.com for crappy instructions
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/748507/1 ;see Llinks

Hectic

iTrader: (20)

at least you're not in for a complete overhaul or close to it like i am. never done any transmission work and really am not looking forward to it. these trannies obviously do suck *****. i had a 93 excort with 150,000 on it and the transmission never had any work done to it besides a clutch replacement. electricals sucked of course, but i'd rather fix a couple electrical problems then rebuilt something that contains a million parts. my maxima has a measly 98k miles on it which i'm finding harder and harder to believe.

of course i'd rather drive a maxima than an escort so it all evens out i guess

Phatsta

Sarcasm flows...

Alright I WILL get a camera soon! hehe I've had a need for one far too long but all my damn money keeps going into the damn car! Hard case of biting my tail.

And about that VW engine drop - 3 minutes??? Was that done by a team of scientists or what..?? I mean you could drop a volvo b20 in like half an hour if you're at least 2 ppl but with all the electronics and stuff in new cars..?

Oh well, I keep getting better at it though, next time is a record braker

4dscPat

haha, true dat. I can do it by myself in under an hour after doing the swap (twice, cause I did it half-assed the first time and forgot something important)

NineOhSE

Thanks guys. I should be dropping the tranny later today or tommorow. After checking it out a little more, I was able to see that the clip that holds the release lever isnt on right. If the lever isnt aligned right, can this be the reason for the problem? I should mention that when i start the car in gear it takes off as if the clutch was engaged... Hopefully it wont take as long to take off this tranny like it took with my dad's auto... the auto tranny is not a fun thing to take off or put back on!

subs1000w

let us know what you find out

NineOhSE

The whole problem was that one of the tabs where the clips that hold the throwout bearing are was broken and the clip that holds the release lever on the ball joint was off too. After replacing the throwout bearing and putting the release lever back on, everything was back to normal. Thanks for the help guys.

subs1000w

good to know it was a simple fix that seems to be a common problem ive heard with shotty TOB did oyu replace it with OEM

NineOhSE

I got the new one from Autozone, the dealer had it at double the price and had to special order it. I really needed the car as soon as possible so i went with the Autozone TOB. I just hope it lasts