Clutch/Gears behaving strange

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HateTelkom

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Hi guys

Of late, sometimes i'm having issues putting the car into 1st gear - only sometimes.When i drive to the shop for example which include a number of stops/robots i will experience it maybe once where it does not want to go into 1st gear. On even less occasions i had difficulty putting it into 2nd gear also but very few times.

What i've also notice is that sometimes i only have to touch the clucth pedal with my foot and maybe depress the pedal for 4/5cm and the clutch will "take" where other times i need to fully step on the clutch to change gears

Someone told me i need to replace the clutch kit where someone else told me to check some seals only for breakfluid leaks apparently - what can be the problem?
 
HateTelkom said:
Hi guys

Of late, sometimes i'm having issues putting the car into 1st gear - only sometimes.When i drive to the shop for example which include a number of stops/robots i will experience it maybe once where it does not want to go into 1st gear. On even less occasions i had difficulty putting it into 2nd gear also but very few times.

What i've also notice is that sometimes i only have to touch the clucth pedal with my foot and maybe depress the pedal for 4/5cm and the clutch will "take" where other times i need to fully step on the clutch to change gears

Someone told me i need to replace the clutch kit where someone else told me to check some seals only for breakfluid leaks apparently - what can be the problem?
Click to expand...

You should usually fully step on the clutch to change gears.
The times when you're able to change gears when only depressing slightly is probably when the syncro is lined up. syncro - device that alignes gears when changing so they "mesh" nicely.
(side note: it is possible to change gears even without depressing the clutch - but this happens only at certain engine rpm and should not be attempted)
 
FrancTheTank said:
You should usually fully step on the clutch to change gears.
The times when you're able to change gears when only depressing slightly is probably when the syncro is lined up. syncro - device that alignes gears when changing so they "mesh" nicely.
(side note: it is possible to change gears even without depressing the clutch - but this happens only at certain engine rpm and should not be attempted)
Click to expand...

So what do you think can be the problem where i do not sometimes find 1st gear?
 
Oil on clutch/pressure plate or

Clutch need replacement (end of life)

Can also be low level of gearbox oil...
 
Thanks oober

Does that mean it is ok to "leave" it and not worry about it and can it leave me next to the road at 1 in the morning?

Thanks for the links - will read through them
 
Well it depends how bad your particular case is. In my case I can engage 1st gear by just releasing the clutch and going into 1st gear after that. Or go into 2nd gear and then go into 1st gear.
 
If the car's out of warranty/service-plan, why not swing by a mechanic or repair-shop and get them to check if your clutch is going?
 
Which car? Depends on the car to a certain extent.

But it can be one or a combination of 4 possible factors:
1) The synchro on 1st is getting weak
2) Selector isn't aligned properly and needs adjustment
-----
3) The clutch needs to be adjusted (cable operated only)
- OR -
4) The clutch is warn out (most likely hydraulic clutch)

Of the above 2 and 3 is an easy fix (5min job). 1 needs a complete gearbox dis-assembly and refurb. (major job) And 4 needs a new clutch. (major job)

Note: The clutch on a cable (mechanically) operated clutch needs to be adjusted manually (periodically) whereas a hydraulic clutch is self correcting (eg. the hydraulic fluid compensates for changes). Therefore a clutch failure is more likely on a hydraulic clutch because for the mechanical clutch to wear down that much you'd have to have adjusted it many times before it would have been worn down.

Also the reason why resting your foot on the clutch pedal is much much worse on a hydraulic clutch than mechanical, not only do you wear out the release bearing, the clutch is constantly being worn down whereas a mechanical clutch would only wear out the release bearing, wear down the clutch a bit and then stop there until readjusted.
 
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If you are having problems with your 3rd gear then you have Gearbox ploblems, anything else is just clutch issues.

Remember this as it rings true with all gearboxes :)
 
Pitbull said:
Remember this as it rings true with all gearboxes :)
Click to expand...

Not sure where you got that from. I've seen many Turbo cars with weak or completely damaged synchros on 1st or 2nd. And damaged gearboxes (lubrication loss) that couldn't engage gears (anything from 1st to 5th won't engage initially and thereafter it is completely stuck).

The collar is exactly the same for all gears and the selector also, there is nothing special about 3rd...
 
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HateTelkom said:
95 Honda Ballade 180e
Click to expand...

Yeah, almost certainly cable operated clutch, do clutch adjustment first. Not sure if the selector can be adjusted (or how) on that car, but if the problem persists after a clutch adjustment I'd try that next.
 
Could be the clutch (as mentioned before) but it could also be the rubber bushes on the gears/geearbox. This happened to me with my previous car. The bushes cost a few rand & the labour to install it cost a lot more.
 
OK,thought is would've been a bit more simple that what it turn out on the forum now...Thought someone would say it is A and do B to fix it :)
Will go and see a mechanic
 
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