I have almost finished my 5spd conversion,,,,well really it is finished but I have ran into a snag. First I need some pictures of where the hudraulic lines for the clutch are mounted on a 5spd stock maxima. I know where the upper bleeder mounts but I have no idea where the lower cables are screwed to, maybe someone could provide me a picture. Second, I can't shift into gear! I bled the system of air, and the clutch is not that stiff but pops back. Once the car goes on the clutch gets too light and gets stuck. I can't figure out why. Also when it gets this light, it wont switch into gear. Am I right into assuming that its because the clutch doesn't disengage, the tranny wont shift into gear? When the car is off I can easily play around with gears, but once on it looks like it looses all pressure. Also I have started the car in gear (with the clutch depressed). It works for a few seconds then feels like its gonna stall out, but yet the car doesn't jerk like its trying to go into gear........Someone try to guide me as to what could be wrong.

 

This is why you buy a 5sp to begin w/ so you don't have all these problems....now you don't have a Max to drive...should of just kept the auto

 

 

bleed the clutch some more. it took an hour of bleeding to get it to work right when we did steve's. there are two places to bleed, one on the strut tower and one at the slave cylinder.

 

c'mon, give the guy a break! He has my respect for even trying! I will take a look at my service manual tonight when I get home to see if it has any info.

 

I bled the system and all I get is fluid, not even the tiniest bubbles, but the clutch is not tight. also I did not screw down any of the cables as i didnt know where they go, except the top bleeder....thats why i wanted a picture

 

thats a bad attitude

 

hehe....another conversion =) join the family hehe... well...let's see... when you press the clutch down... do you see any movement on the tranny??? there is a little piece that's on the top of the tranny..and when you press the clutch down..it should move hehe... bleeding takes a while....no bubble doesn't mean there is no more air..there are two places to bleed that thing as thomas said..make sure you do it hehe... another thing to try..is to adjust the master cylinder.... that little fork looking thingy... you can either screw it foward or backward.... i had problem with my clutch too until i adjusted that. just test it hehe... i hate taking the master cylinder out..it's a pain in the a$$ but while the master cylinder is out... trying pushing the thingy with your hand...that way you can feel it and also you can see what's up in the engine bay. the stock clutch is kinda soft..... i think you still have to bleed more to press that little rubbery piece on the tranny further to fully engage it.

 

how long does it take to do the actual conversion actually???

 

toook me 1 day to take off the tranny, and 3 weeknights to put stuff back together

 

How much does it cost?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 97MaxSE


How much does it cost? [/QUOTe

It cost me around 1200 (tranny + shipping charges from florida, tools, and buying a new drive shaft).....make sure you get a good hydraulic jack not a cheap one...trust me....i had to have 5 people help me put in the tranny on a rope because the jack would not go high enough. If the jack is big you only need 2 people........Trust me this is alooot of work.....not extremely difficult,,,but frustrating....

 

Try this. With the eigine off, have someone step on the clutch, while you check to see if the slave cylinder moves. When the the clutch is pressed down, it pushes the chutch in the direction of the drivers front tire about an inch. If this doesn't happen then there is air in the system or one of the other componets is not working (clutch master cylinder or slave cylinder). Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

Yes that happens exactly as you describe, but when the car is turned on, the pressure is lost, but i think there is a leak somewhere. What i dont uderstand is why there would be a leak when the car is on but not when its off?

 

That doesn't sound right. The clutch is not power assisted, like the brakes. There should not be a change in pedal effort. It should remain the same all the time, regardless if the car is on or not. Are you sure the clutch was put on correctly? Was the clutch fork and throw bearing installed correctly? I don't know how familiar you are with manual transmission componets?

 

I thought i put it on right.....well im gonna inspect the hoses tonight....if i cant figure anything out im gonna have to take off the tranny again (argh)....

 

no... Start the car up on blocks w/ the tires free..
While it is running use your hand to move the fork.. if it resonds 100% then hydrolics are your problem..
Hydrolics test is easy.. Block the fork from moving.. Push the clutch.. If it goes in then you have air.. if it is rock solid you have a tranny issue

Hydrolics are very very tough thing I have bleed a few systems in my time and w/ my experiance the max is easily the hardest.. See if the coils under the abs system must be oriented correctly.. (they spiral down) if they are sideways then air will be trapped all over the place in them.. You take the cap off the high bleeder line and push the pedal in... you will need to manually force the air out.. you will loose fluid but over time.
Procedure we used was..
Fill system (and master above the line)
Pump Pump.
Loosen high bleeder..
Pump Pump
Fill line again.
Close bleeder
Pump Pump.
(2X times..)
Now open the slave and pump it using the fork.. As your fork moves toward the slave start closing the valve so when the distance is complete the valve is 100% closed.. (So no air moves back in)
Repeat..

Go back to the line procedure..


This is a big pain in the A**

 

Well first let me give you an early welcome to the 5spd club. I hope u get this stuff figured out quick, anyway, where are you located. We could meet up if you wanted to take a look at my car, 96 5spd. Maybe it could help you fig stuff out...

 

Id like to meet up but im in nyc and youre in cali. BTW I FIGURED IT OUT!!!! The rubber hose that attaches to the slave cylinder was cracked. Whenever I presssed it pressure built up but slowly was released. I just hope the dealer has this thing tomorrow. Only one more problem left! That is my rear lights dont go on when I put the car in reverse......anyone have any ideas?

 

Hows Kansas?........Glad you figured it out, 99% there then

 

all u auto---> 5spd making me jealous =( ......lol - i dont think i have the courage to strip maxine down like that