I have a 1997 5spd with 193k miles on it. Maintained and otherwise drives great.

Last wk while on the highway in 5th gear doing about 70mph, I floored it. The car started to accelerate then all of the sudden it stopped accelerating and the tachometer needle went crazy and started fluctuating back and forth. I let of the gas and the tach returned to normal. At no time did the car buckle or otherwise hesitate.

Today, in 3rd, 4th and 5th, the same thing happens. If i give the car WOT, the tach goes crazy and fluctuates and i dont pick up speed. It feels like either the tranny is slipping out gear or the clutch disengages whenever the flywheel spins fast. Under low load, the car accelerates fine and switches into gears fine. I can WOT in 1st and 2nd, no problem.

Also, If i am in the higher gears, but not in the proper power band, and i give it a decent amount of gas to accelerate, the tach will fluctuate. I can hear the motor rotating faster and produce power, but the drivetrain doesnt respond. Its so weird????

I know the only way to really tell is to drop the tranny. With 193k miles, I have been hesitant to drop any more money into it especially if i need a new tranny. I dont have the time or tools to drop the tranny myself. Its a gamble no matter how ya slice it.

Any thoughts or experience?

Im willing to replace the clutch and keep the car, but im not replacing another tranny in this car.

I bet that all you need is a new clutch. Why did you need to replace the tranny in the past?

If you were closer I would be trying to buy your 97 model.

The only part in a 5-spd that can slip is the clutch. Unless you somehow shear a gear off a shaft or something and I guarantee the clutch will slip long before that happens, plus it'd be limited to only 1 gear. Your clutch is shot.

All of your observations point to a worn out clutch. Replace it, and don't forget the throwout bearing too. Check the condition of the flywheel as well. Polish or replace as necessary.

a manual trans can't slip. it's your clutch.

I thought it was the clutch too. But what is confusing me is that the clutch slips while the gear is ENGAGED. Plus my mech sd it was the tranny AND clutch. I didnt buy the tranny arguement.

I have driven on a slipping clutch and the the slipping occurs when attempting to switch gears. But one the gear is engaged, the car drives and does not slip.

Neal and Dwap, I know u guys know cars. U really think its the cluch?? Still only one way to find out and its still better than buying a newer car

Clutches can slip once engaged.
That is how I knew mine was toast..wouldn't hold any power.

Maybe these videos will help.

Clutch sends power from engine to Transmission:
http://goo.gl/Q6KKAX
If the friction material is worn out it WILL slip.

Transmission send power from the clutch to the wheels.
http://goo.gl/0Cihzo
There is nothing in there that can slip. Unless a catastrophic failure occurs in which case the car likely just won't move in 1 or more gears.

i just called my mech and this guy thinks its the tranny AND the clutch. Or he wants to replace the tranny just in case. I keep asking him why does he think that. It cant be both tranny and clutch. FOr the symptoms I described its one or the other. He thinks the tranny is on its way out. I told him, the shifting and shifter is fine, every gear works fine, its not popping out of gear, its just slipping. If the tranny was popping out of gear, then houston we have a bigger problem!!

i agree with you guys, if the tranny was toast, a gear or maybe two wd be messed up. The gears work fine. Its just slipping. My mech is being an idiot lol or maybe just wants me to spend for no reason trying to throw parts at the car. I think he is confusing my car for an auto??? .



The more I think about it, the more I think its been slipping for awhile. It would slipp 1st to 2nd during spirted driving, and it slipped in 4th when crusing a low speed.

And ima get the Exedy 06044 clutch kit.

Thanks for the helps guys! Power to the .ORG!!!

Question:

THe clutch kit comes with

• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]

Do I need anything else??

You should find another mechanic, he's trying to steal your hard earned $$$.

lol I know.

i told him to find a tranny in case, but the chances its the tranny vs just a worn clutch is so minute. Plus on these car, its the diff bearing that gets faulty. I think he is just confused.

A new clutch is gonna feel soooo nicey heheheheh

From what you describe, it sounds exactly like what has been happening to me. But when you say the tach fluctuates, do you mean it revs high or it flutters around 3-4k?

If my mechanic told me that I would start looking for a new mechanic.

My tach revs higher than normal or what the actual speed indicates.

I took it to another shop and the clutch is going. Not too bad yet as its not slipping in 1st or 2nd so I have time.

I got the Exedy on order now.

What pisses me off is that the tranny shops around here all peddle LUK clutches. AND they are tryin to tell me LUK is more expensive than Exedy.

I go look online, and Luk is WAYYYYY cheaper than Exedy. LUK is the most cost effective clutch on the market, but i want the Exedy.

Exedy Clutch KIT $105.99 @ RockAuto.com with the LUK being $82.79.

Most shops I know order their parts from RockAuto then tell the customer they are ordering OEM from far far away and that requires a long shipping time.. Then they charge the customer OEM parts price knowing you never pull the clutch to verify anything about the job.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...456&cc=1211443

Iirc Exedy is OEM.

Exactly!!

One of the shops that quoted me the LUK sd the kit cost 200 bucks and would take 2 days to ship and recieve.

Tryin to rip me off man.

And oh yea, Im buying from rockauto

You don't get it. He is a crook and/or NOT a good mechanic. Find someone who can tell when a transmission is bad, It's a manual transmission not a space shuttle.

Bad clutches slip worse in higher gears, because there is a higher load. I have seen clutches so bad you had to push the car from a stop light.

nothing i'm going to say here is new, just reiterating what others in here have already said.

1) clutches slip in higher gears first and as it gets worse it will start slipping in lower and lower gears.

2) there is absolutely no way it is your transmission. it's not physically possible. a manual trans cannot slip.

3) find a new mechanic. he is either incompetent, or is trying to scam you.

I found another shop who told me the exact same thing, the clutch is slipping in higher gears.

I tried explaining this to my old shop, but they have new ownership. Ever since the new owners took over, I havent let them touch my car for this exact reason, they always seem to be scamming.

Ima roll the dice on the new shop, they seemed competent and have give me the best price, $450 for labor. Everyone else quoted me 600 for labor.

Back in the day, my old shop with the old owner, cost me 300 bucks to drop and replace my tranny. Now, with the new owner, they super expensive. Times change mangg.

Wow, this is why I do my own work. Understand if you can't, but dang I could not bring myself to pay someone that much money to put on a part that cost $100.

i want to do the work, but i dont have the jack or the time and i never done a clutch before. 450 is alot man

So i am inspecting the kit and the bearing is nice and smooth and the pressure plate feels substantial.

My question is about the clutch plate.....i have never seen a new one. The clutch plate seems more flimsy than what i would have expected. I was expecting maybe a more brake pad feel toughness for the clutch plate. It feels like i could bend it by hand with two ppl if i wanted to. Im guessing that is normal. Anybody have any experience with this? How should the clutch plate feel?? Its nice and smooth

Wait till you see auto trans clutches. They are thin.

lol ok thx

UPDATE:

Turns out my clutch was completely worn, both plate and disc. Replaced it with the EXEDY kit and man that bish bite hard! lol. Shifts buttery smooth now.

Also, while i was in there I replaced the rear main oil seal. It was leaking pretty bad.

Props to everyone that helped out and responded.

THX!!!

Good to hear. Happy Maximizing!

Glad its fixed.

Nice!