Manual Transmition not going into Gear.

[Danyl]

I was recentally on a trip across I 90 from Missulla MT, I pulled off the interstate for fuel, got stopped at the stop sign and I could't get into any gear. My first thought was the clutch went out on me. So while holding up traffic I shut the engine off and tried putting it into gear that way, it worked but took a lot of effort. As I started the engine it lunged forward with the clutch on the floor. Not knowing what really to do, I let everything cool for 30 minutes and everything was back to normal. I drove the next 450 miles and the same thing happened at the next stop. Has this happened to anybody or does anybody know a solution to the problem.







1998 12valve with 82000 miles and a 5 speed transmition

 

[illflem]

First thing to check is your clutch cylinder fluid level under the hood. If it is low your slave cylinder is probably leaking and needs to be replaced, it can't be rebuilt. Keeping the fluid level up may get you by for awhile. It is just a plastic piece of junk part, if I remember right under $100.

 

[gchas]

Danyl, I had a similar experience a while back. It turned out to be a twofold problem. The first was the brake master cylinder which was leaking so that when the clutch was fully engaged, the clutch plate would still work its way into the flywheel and start the truck moving if I didn't hold the brake, in which case the engine would eventually die. When I had the brake master cylinder replaced, the problem appeared to be solved as it worked fine until things warmed up, then it became hard to shift. So we removed the clutch. It was only about 30% worn and showed no signs of fatigue or malfunction per the clutch repair station. However, I replaced it with a reconditioned clutch and everything works fine. Still don't know what was wrong with the clutch, but it sounds like you difinitely need a new cylinder, either master of slave. By the way, my slave cylinder was fine. The parts store told us the master and slave came as a unit, but they don't. You can buy them separately. Illflem is right. Check the fluid level. If it is down, replace the slave first, especially if it shows signs of leaking. Mine didn't. Good luck!