Car Transmission question.

[Prodigal Son]

My "new" car had a grind in 2nd when I revved it up past 3000ish RPM. That wasn't a problem because unless I was pulling out in front of someone or driving up a hill, revving past 3000 just really wasn't necessary. Then the grind started happening more and more often (less and less RPMs in first).

Finally, while on my way across the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (at an oh-so-slow pace) Second gear ground every time I switched from first and first gear started getting difficult to get in and out of.

By the time I made it home 1st and 2nd both ground as if I had the clutch out, only I have the clutch on the floor. 3rd, 4th, 5th and Reverse all work fine.

If I cut the car off and start it in 1st, the car moves along forward as if I've JJJJUUUST let off the clutch, only I have it to the floor (if I hold down the brake it pulls down the idle, but doesn't stall, so it's not like it's running as if the clutch pedal is out completely.)

Thoughts? Clutch, tranny or both?

1995 Camaro 6cyl, 5spd (in case that matters).

[Kern O]

Ryan: It is tough to diagnose by your description, but it sounds like the clutch disc is coming apart and some friction material has gotten folded back on itself. If that happens, the clutch won't release completely at any speed, but while it just drags at idle, at higher speed it won't let the sychro rings time the gears - hence the high RPM grinding. If you don't change it pretty quick, make sure you keep a good pair of walking shoes in the car......

[blueh20pc]

Yep, clutch disc is coming apart.

Time to buy a clutch kit, throwout bearing included. I know what you'll be doing this holiday weekend!

BTW, the cheap kits work just as well as the more expensive ones, IMHO.

Don't stress it, you're going fishing in 2 weeks!

[Kern O]

Since you do most of the work on a creeper, you don't really need both ankles to put in a clutch.

So, I've got a great idea. Ryan, you just need to get Chris over there to replace your clutch and then you can give him a hand on the upcoming trip. How great is that? You hand him the tools and parts, so you get a new clutch. Then, he gets to drink beer while you launch the boat, wash the boat and clean the fish.......and then launch the boat, wash the boat , clean the fish, launch the boat......

[Prodigal Son]

I'd be more than happy with that deal, I already replaced the starter on this thing since I got it...that was a biatch...the exhaust holds the starter captive and the a-arms from the bottom and the heat shields molded to the exhaust manifolds from the top hold the exhaust y-pipe captive.

Enter the SAWZALL.

(elapsed time 10 min)

Enter the WELDER.

Done.

Tranny actually looks easy enough to drop and a T-5 only weighs like 75lbs, so my chest will be the transmission jack

[welder]

Don't be telling people....

[Prodigal Son]

What, that you flew up from Texas and helped me with my starter? Naw, this guy's name was Miller if I remember right...little blue fella.

So far as telling folks my 'super secret' way of getting the starter out and scaring off some potential sale: I'll put it like this...I paid $700 for a car that blue-books for somewhere around $3200. At that price point, I use the 5 pound hammer and the Sawzall more than I use wrenches Forces me to put a new part on when the old one is beat to an unrecognizable pulp by the time it hits the driveway.

Might just sawzall a hole in my floor and work on taking the transmission out while I sit in the drivers seat

[Kern O]

When I was deeply involved with GM products, I was absolutely convinced that GM had several hidden engineering departments. First, there was Sharp Edge Engineering. From core support to taillight attachment, it was their job to be sure you bled whenever something needed to be fixed. Next was the Impossible to Remove department. They created things like oil filters that had to be turned on their side to come out.. They also invented the multifunction turn signal stalk, the replacement of which costs more than the car. Got a car with tilt and telescope? Column loose? Sell it quick!

Now then: You have a 6 cylinder Camaro. It has more than enough room to accept a small block, yet they cannot engineer a way to remove the starter..........

[Prodigal Son]

That's what I said...the freaking engine sits practically inside of the car (the dash cowl covers all but the front two spark plugs) and the engine bay still looks crowded. They must have used a ton of KY to get that LT1 in there...

I just walked in from working on getting the starter off of my boat and for the first time actually felt like I had room to work when I was on the boat because compared to the Camaro I've got tons of room. Compared to the Suburban with a 350 (where a 454 fits as does a 6.5L diesel) every car seems like it's cramped. I can literally get up in the Suburban's engine bay and sit on the fender and change the spark plugs. With the lift I need a creeper just to reach things with it sitting on the ground...it's awesome...

My Suburban has that stalk you referenced. My flashers (4 ways) don't work at all and my turn signals randomly go into "fulltime" mode where they just stay solid and cut off when I cut the truck off. I went to Advance Auto and asked for that stalk and when the guy told me the price I thought he had the wrong part.

[Kern O]

Uh, yeah....

And now they cover the engine with covers so it does not look like an engine..........

Except for one. I bought a 2006 GTO, which I got some flak for buying, since after Ii bought a 2002 Envoy which was such a piece of s**t that I swore I'd never buy another GM product. The GTO has an engine compartment where you can actually see all 8 spark plugs as well as the ground under both sides of the engines. Leave it to the Aussies to get it right.

I wrote shop manuals for GM, so I've seen an awful lot of excuses