Alas I believe I have a bad clutch. I hopped in my 5 speed this morning and put it in reverse with no problem, then after that I had trouble getting it into gear, after a couple of minutes it finally went into gear. I dorve it for a little bit and had to reverse again and it grinded a bit until I forced the SOB into gear. I do not have too much tension in the clutch and I also believe it is starting to stick. The weird thing is that this happened out of no where, as far as I remember that last time I drove it I did not have any problems. So basically I have too force it into gear, but I know it is just going to get worse. So is this the clutch for sure?

 

Also what is a good brand of clutch, i.e. where is a good place to get one.

 

How many miles you have on the car? Do you know if it's the OEM clutch or had it been replaced already?
The description you gave is the tell-tale symptom of a clutch about to die. Just to make sure it's not the clutch, check the hoses connected to the master and slave clutch cylinder for any leaks. A leak in the hose will lose it's pressure and give you a "spongy or soft" clutch. This repair is a lot cheaper than replacing the entire clutch. You may also wnat to ask your mechanic to check the master and slave cylinder to make sure they are working properly.

Check these areas before because they may be the culprit for your soft clutch and will save you money. Repairs which involve opening the tranny (i.e Clutch replacement) will be more expensive.

 

If you have to force it in gear, it may be your synchros.

 

car has 147,xxx miles on it, as far as I know the clutch has never been replaced.

 

Is beck arnley a good brand?

 

don't know about the brand. As far as the mileage goes, my master and slave cylinders went out at about the same mileage. Check those first before looking at getting a new clutch. Flava had a good point about the synchros but that would not explain the spongy clutch. A loss in pressure in the hose or from the cylinder would cause both a spongy clutch and difficulty changing gears.

 

Does the clutch just "go" out like that without any warning first?

 

ditto what Max96LSU said above. Based on what you have written it is your clutch. Be glad that you got so many miles. The average stock clutch goes out at about 100k. Obviously some get less miles and some get better.
It does go out, just like that.

 

Does it go into gear smoothly with the engine off?

If it doesn't, it's not your clutch.

 

Yeah it goes into gear smoothly when the car is off. I am pretty sure it is something with the hydraulics, I have an appt tomorrow at cottman. Good thing I barely made it down there when it completely went out, I actually had to push it to park correctly. Just wondering what kind of raping I am going to get when it comes to paying.

 

If it turns out to be the Clutch cylinders (which it most likely is) it should run you about $300 (labor included). Thats about how much I paid. Sure hell beats paying $800-1000 for a true clutch replacement.

 

Yeah I got the quote he told me between 350 and 400, which is def better than having to pay 800 for it.

 

Who's paying $800-$1k for a clutch replacement?

Or do you mean clutch system replacement (both cylinders/lines/clutch)

 

Normal labor for a clutch is anywhere from $4-600.00
A good clutch alone is another 300.00
Thats close to a "g"

 

what did he say was the actual malfunction?

 

I figured ~$300 for a good clutch, and ~$300 for the labor. Hell, the $tealership charges $500 for the labor. I was quoted ~$300 from numerous (smallish) garages for the labor; I'd put $800 at the top of the spectrum for a clutch R&R.

You could get it done for ~$650-$800; if you'd pay more than that, let me do it for ya for $800

 

I've got some of these symptoms too, and just today I found that it was going into the first four gears when the car was off and the clutch pedal was not depressed. Probably going to need a new clutch huh? Thanks.

 

If you're car shifts fine with the engine off, but doesn't when it's on I'd lean toward a clutch malfunction.

That's not to say it's definitely a clutch malfunction, though.

When I say clutch malfunction, I mean the hydrolic system, not the disk. I don't think you can wear a disk down enough to prohibit the pressure plate from disengaging it.

Check your fluid; check the hoses/lines/cylinders for leaks.

 

I had similar symptoms with my clutch system. It wouldn't go into gear easily then all of sudden it wouldn't go into gear at all unless the car was off.

The culprit was a leaking hose between the master and slave cylinder. So as a first step, check your clutch fluid level.

I realized the problem too late and had to pay out the azz for a new clutch install.

 

Yeah turned out to be a bad master and slave cylinder. Cost me me 386.90 with tax included. kind of sucks, but at least I have my Max back!!!

 

Damn I'm good I should start charging people for my expertise!!! j/k

Glad I could help a fellow org member out

 

Yeah Nissanlover your in the same crap as me with my 96...I went to my mechanic today b/c everything I press my clutch, it makes a noise that seems like it has something to do with my spring or something...My mechanic told that’s a sign of the clutch going out. He said drive it until it completely goes out...So yeah I have to replace my clutch as well....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33730

Is this a good clutch or not?