96' SC2 (125K miles) with clutch or gearbox problem

jsco · 05-24-2004, 02:50 AM

Just a few days ago, I started having problems shifting my manual transmission. It happened over night from working fine to barely being able to shift. It shifts very easilly when the car is off, but when on I have a very difficult time getting it into gear. The clutch pedal also seems like it is a little looser and doesn't always come all the way back up once depressed. Any ideas of specifically what is wrong? How much it will cost to fix? And how long it will last before not being able to shift at all?

ian12 · 05-26-2004, 08:29 AM

when sitting still and letting out on the clutch till the engine starts to die, does it seem the distance traveled is normal or is it much shorter now? im thinking the clutch release system itself is the problem and its sealed so it cant be bled so it has to be completely replaced. maybe and try to adjust the pedal free play, i very much doubt that to be the problem but if the pedal is pretty loose that you can move it like more then an inch with you hand then it needs adjusted. it seems weird this happened over night.

also can you still shift the car but its gotten stiffer then before? or is it like physically impossible to shift it? it could be the fluid is low in the trans or its thinned out so much and doesnt lubricate no more. i know downshifting my 97 sl2 is getting hard and sometimes i cant downshift it because it wont let it in gear. i believe my problem to be old trans fluid and i checked and its like water, its like pinkish/clear color so the life of the fluid is shot. hopefully that helps shifting it and i plan on doing that here soon along with the oil.