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Date: 6 Jan 2002 20:01:36 -0800
From: googlegroupsnopsamiends.com (Tripp Knightly)
Subject: Please Help:  Got new clutch on 95 900S, now have various new shifting problems


My original post about a problem 1 week ago leading to a new clutch is at the very bottom of this message. Having had the clutch replaced, I am experiencing shifting problems that are really making me angry. Below is some thorough detail, and I'd appreciate any input. (Note that prior to the repair, there were no shifting problems AT ALL on this car!) For the repair, the clutch and flywheel were replaced, and the car drove and shifted ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY around town in Reno (where the repair was done) for a few days (at least 50 miles). Seemed like a great repair job. The clutch pedal action felt a little different (like not as "tight", smoother which I assume is "better"). I could shift into any gear at a stop without problem. Then, I started on my 220 mile trip home to San Francisco on the freeway today and the problems began. - FIRST, at top speed, I tried to get into 5th gear. It was VERY difficult... couldn't pop the shifter over into that extra "slot" above reverse and mistakenly got 3rd. Eventually found 5th, mostly by luck. This was basically my experience the whole way home. - SECOND, after getting fuel, at a stop light I briefly couldn't get into any gear at all... would just get a "thud" that did budge the car slightly like something was blocking the gear from engaging. Clutch pedal felt different... almost like the cable (which was replaced last summer) had snapped or loosened. The pedal action still does not feel as smooth as it did when I first got the car back after the repair. - THIRD, occasionally in second gear, it seems like the gearshift vibrates / jiggles (laterally) a fair amount in harmony with engine speed. - FOURTH, nearing home, shifting seemed more difficult. At intersections it was difficult to get into first, and, finally in my garage, the gear really had to "slam" a bit into reverse so I could get the keys out of the ignition. All in all, some pretty unnerving signs. Should I be frustrated with my mechanic or can we just chalk this up to something "breaking in"? Should I expect adjustments to be needed after putting some miles on a new clutch? Thanks so much for any ideas, Mark googlegroupsnopsamiends.com (Tripp Knightly) wrote in message news:<d0f556c9.0112311829.51aa491bnopsaming.google.com>... > Hi all- > > A casual search of the archives showed no discussions similar enough > to my situation, so here goes- > > I have a 95 900S with about 80,000 miles on it. Possibly low for > clutch failure but I know that mileage will vary w/ highway vs. city > and/or a clutch-riding driver. Also, the clutch cable failed and was > replaced about 4 months ago, near as I can tell without problems. > > This morning, however, in 3rd gear going up a slight incline (ie, > accelerating) the tach started to wander and it felt like the clutch > was slipping. This had happened to me twice before say 200 and 500 > miles ago on highway but only briefly. This time the problem was more > pronounced / persistent and the car was even throwing some smoke in > its wake. A pull-over revealed some smoke rising from the engine > compartment with the soothing aroma of burnt rubber. After pulling > over, I was able to drive the 10 miles or so back home w/o issue. > {One other factoid: it had rained a fair amount the night before in > near-freezing temperature.} > > Pretty much a tell-tale sign of clutch failure of some kind, but I > thought I'd ask the following: > > 1) Is it likely a full clutch, or possibly just a lever or spring > adjustment? > > 2) Any scenarios where a bad cable install might have exacerbated wear > even if perceived performance was fine? > > 3) Suggestions for the best layman's / probably-not-foolproof test(s) > I can perform after the repair to ensure all's good to accept the > repair? (I'll get a lifetime warranty, but who wants to take it > back.) > > Thanks all, > > Mark

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