Won't shift, ideas?

**DedlineNJ** · 7-27-03, 5:21

okay, MTX V6 with 165k on it... won't shift. Every gear requires heavy force to get the shifter into gear. Once in gear, runs okay. Had clutch freeplay adjusted, but seems like once the car warms up, it's harder to shift. I have a ACTII plate and clutch. Recently had work done to tranny, where pivot bearing broke and pressure plate was shot and had to be replaced. kept the old clutch disc cause had plenty of meat on it left. When I'm at a stop with clutch pedal down and tranny in gear, car stalls out like it's partially still in gear. Oh yes, last thing, it's easier to force into 3rd than 2nd, and 1st is about nonexistent. For some reason every once inawhile, putting the shifter back into neutral shifts like butter, as if no problem at all. When I had the freeplay adjusted asked them to check for expanding tranny fluid line.
could this be those shifter bearings i've read about in search? any other ideas?
thanks much

**Radar** · 7-27-03, 14:21

if there is a lot of free play in the shifter then it may be your shifter bushings, but this sounds more like a clutch issue. Check the heigt adjustment, fluid level and look at the clutch line and slave cylinder.

**bumaself** · 7-27-03, 15:09

iw as gonna say that your syncros are messed up, but now i would tend to agree with radar.

bumaself

**DedlineNJ** · 7-27-03, 18:32

thanks guys, I had the freeplay clutch adjusted and the shifter doesn't have more than the usual play or looseness to it. I asked the tranny place to look at the clutch line but they said it was okay. If feasible maybe I'll bring them a stainless steel line and replace it just to eliminate the possibility. Anyhow, I'm having a different mechanic look at it tomorrow and I'll try and come back to let you guys know what comes of it.
wish me luck it's just another pedal adjustment. the freeplay is VERY short with the ACTII pressure plate.

**M(y)x6gr8RiDe** · 7-27-03, 20:38

Extend the rod on the slave cylinder to push more against the shift fork(if you don't know what I mean, the shop should), your clutch is probably semi engaged. Some people have had this problem before with ACT setups, so you're not alone. Try searching on probetalk.

**DedlineNJ** · 7-27-03, 23:41

yep, thats the adjustment they made last time. hopefully they just screwed it up and the rod will extend some more.
thanks,

**Stage36** · 7-28-03, 23:52

I'd bleed the clutch one more time, just to make sure. if it doesnt go away, have someone press the pedal while you watch the T/O fork move. if its moving a sufficient amount, id go with the pilot bearing...

**DedlineNJ** · 8-6-03, 2:58

Thanks for the help and suggestions guys... here's how it panned out.
Had a mechanic replacing my plugs,wires,cap and rotor (NGK and KEM) and doing my valve cover gaskets.He put in phenolic spacers I got from Outlaw like 5 years ago but never put in... and told me my shift problem looked like something internal in the clutch/tranny. He said he'd try and bleed the clutch (Go Stage!) to see if that would help...
Well lo and behold, I picked the car up finally after he had some problems (cracked VC and manifold hose) and it shifted with NO problems. I just wish I knew how air got into the line unless the Tranny place I went to let some in to get some more business from me.... or just screwed it up with the earlier job.

Anyway, thanks again guys, just got a nice muffler and need to get some tires and swaybar links to get the car back to 100%.

h

**Stage36** · 8-7-03, 22:15

i knew i spent all that money on school for something

My experience with tranny shops is that THEY SUCK!!! manual and auto. they rush their jobs to get the next one in and dont pay attention to detail. they put my 3rd 4th gear hub in backwards and eventually i couldnt get into third gear at all. it sounded like i wasnt even using the clutch to shift. the wear from that eventually caused all my gears to go out except 1st and fifth. driving was real fun right around then...

WAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
BRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOAAAAAA........

you get the idea.

**DedlineNJ** · 8-7-03, 22:52

ha, this places was a specific tranny shop but looks like they hadn't worked on mx6';s or probes before. figures. anyway, I'm just wondering if air will be back into the clutch line again somehow because tonight it wasn't exactly clean shifting. That could just be age and my paranoia tho.
thx again