Ok so last night I'm driving to work as usual everything is fine. In the morning when I'm leaving I got the car started and into gear, however the RPM's were fluctuating and abnormally high and there was barely any power in the acceleration. So after I got off the highway and came to a light, kicked it in neutral, from there the entire gear box locked up and I couldn't shift into any gears.

When the car is off, I can switch into gears but when it's on it won't. The clutch pedal feels a little stiff too. I'm just surprised because the clutch was replaced less than 5 K ago (last year). How could it have burned out this fast? The clutch showed no signs of slipping and felt normal last night. Could it be something else?

 

Sounds like transmission. Check the fluid.

 

^ +1

 

I think its clutch. If you are able to shift gears when the engine is off and u cant when its on im 100% possitive thats clutch. Who did the clutch ? Do you have paperwork on it any warranty ? Checking tranny fluid will help too.

Did you replaced complete clutch with disc pressure plate bearings ? What about flywheel ?
I think something happened with the fork that it doesnt disengage clutch. Thats why u cant shift when the car is running. It might be something stupid like checking clutch fluid maybe it leaked or slave cylinder got damaged. Check those things first before u drop the tranny. If u have warranty on the clutch just go there and tell them whats wrong.

If u have more questions do ask it here or just pm me

 

Well I got it towed to a shop so I can't even check the fluid right now. Would old or lack of tranny fluid really cause all that?

I just bought the car last week. The previous owner replaced the clutch + timing belt/water pump about a year ago, showed me the receipts for it. But it was all done by random mechanic shops, I doubt there's any legitimate warranties or anything on that.

I'm expecting it to be clutch, got quoted for $1000 parts + labour. I'm thinking it could possibly be a throw out bearing as well. I won't find out till tomorrow though when they check it out. Thanks guys.

 

I doubt its the clutch... I installed a cheap 200dollar autozone clutch in my turbo eclipse, ran it at 20lbs of boost and that clutch lasted 2 years until I sold the car, Im sure its still holding up.

 

Too bad u got it towed already u could possibly fix it yourself if it was something easy like clutch fluid or slave cylinder but try argue with them. I dont think that you will have to replace disc and pressure plate since they are 5k (but that depends how threatened the car after install and break in period. )

Did u towed it to the same shop that did the clutch previously ?

 

Well if it's a tranny problem then I'm f*cked. I'd rather a blown clutch than a blown tranny. I'm going tomorrow to check out the fluids, and no it's not the same shop.

 

if the thing was done at the stealership you would have 12mo/36k warranty

 

I doubt its the tranny itself. If the pedal feels weird then its most likely the master or slave cylinder. Otherwise, Im confident the clutch is shot.

 

update ?

 

Same thing happened to me with the CM FX200. Idk what it was. I'm so pissed because the tech already put the stock clutch back in.

Try adjusting the pedal. Someone told me that should work. As simple as that is, that could potentially be the reason why I now don't have the Stage 2/LW flywheel in my car.

 

Sonnick - The clutch fork needs to be shimmed a bit to get full pedal throw. Thats the issue Paul had with mine when he installed the stage 3 CM kit.

 

Low transmission fluid most likely wouldn't cause this, seeing as the car has the 6-speed manual. As someone listed above, it seems more like a throw-out bearing issue (the bearing that the pressure plate of the clutch rides against when the clutch pedal is pushed down). If the throw-out bearing is somehow damaged, even in minor ways, this could cause the pressure plate to not fully depress, leaving it in an "engaged" state. This would also cause the car to not shift while on and then shift while off. Do not let your local mechanic replace the whole clutch until they thoroughly inspect the throw-out bearing and the arm that actuates the throw-out bearing. That's really all I can say about the situation without seeing the car myself.

 

I would say clutch isnt that expensive. I would replace everything to have piece of mind. Labor costs more than a clutch itself so if that just a bearing why not to replace everything to save labor next time?

 

Same reason you should replace the rear main seal while the tranny is out.