press the clutch all way but wont go in gear?

[99PONTIACGP]

Girlfriends 98 Cavalier has this issue right now. She can't put it any gear. That's all the info I have. :sad:

Any idea what the problem is?

Any ideas to get the car at least home?

Click to read more...

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

When it's running?
I assume it's got a leak somewhere and the clutch is stuck engaged in neutral.

Check the fluid.

Or is the shifter just flopping around not doing anything?

 

[99PONTIACGP]

The clutch you push down it sticks down and you need to pull it up. The shifter isn't loose, just won't go into gear.

 

[99PONTIACGP]

It'll go into gear when the car is off but not when its running.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Dammit. I wrote a whole thing and tapatalk crashed.


It sounds like it's leaking so it no longer has pressure. I'd check the reservoir and see how much fluid was lost and look for any signs of a leak on the hoses/lines.

You could try bleeding it but it'll probably be a temp fix. Usually the procedure is similar to bleeding brakes.

 

[E]

I just had this problem about 2 weeks ago.
My clutch line sprung a leak but i thought it was master cylinder.
Check for any leaks from the master cylinder all the way to the slave.

 

[E]

Any ideas to get the car at least home?

My friend drove my car to his house when mine failed and this is what he did.

1) Put the car in first gear (engine off)
2) Start the car while in gear and the starter will act like the engine till you get moving.
3) Rev match

you'll have to cut the engine at any full stop and do it all over again obviously.

I wish you luck

 

[99PONTIACGP]

Thanks E. Her Dad got the car home. She said it was making all kinds of noises. He's not going to look at it today and I'm not sure if ill get there when there's day light today. Thanks the all the info so far guys.

 

[Mike K]

Shut the car off and see if it goes into gear. That will tell you if it's just a matter of the clutch not dis-engaging. Assuming that's the case then you need to figure out why.

Does the car have a hydraulically assisted pedal or is it just a straight cable? I would imagine a Cavalier would just have a straight pedal/ cable setup. Follow it to the trans and see if it's engaging there. This used to be a common problem on the V6 SHOs and it typically indicated a bad throw-out bearing.

 

[Gav'sPurpleZ]

bummer mike

 

[99PONTIACGP]

Kopstain, it goes into gear when car is off.

 

[E]

Thanks E. Her Dad got the car home. She said it was making all kinds of noises. He's not going to look at it today and I'm not sure if ill get there when there's day light today. Thanks the all the info so far guys.

How did he get it home?
I can't see how it would make "all kinds of noise" if it was just the clutch line.
Unless he did what i suggested and what she heard was him rev matching and missing/grinding gears.

 

[bikrboy128]

tell her to buy an auto car

i'd be willing to bet the slave cyl blew, and pissed fluid all over the clutch. the noises were probably the clutch slipping on the fluid.

 

[99PONTIACGP]

Briefly looked at the car. There a little fluid in the canister. Pedal goes to floor, gets stuck and I need to pull it back by hand. Tried checking for leaky hoses, but there's not much room in that engine bay.

 

[Dasfinc]

Bad slave/master cyl or a leaky line, done deal.

 

[Ron Vogel]

More than likely it's a throwout bearing...

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

More than likely it's a throwout bearing...

With a near empty reservoir? Seems like a leak to me.

Usually a throwout bearing will make a decent amount of humming noise when they wear out.

 

[E]

With a near empty reservoir? Seems like a leak to me.

Usually a throwout bearing will make a decent amount of humming noise when they wear out.

^ this and I would think that the pedal wouldpop back out if it want a leak

 

[Dasfinc]

More than likely it's a throwout bearing...

Cav's are not Cable, they are Hydro, He is describing a Hydro leak to a T.

Throw-out bearings going out on most cars make a horrid whining sound as a pre-cursor to my undersdtanding, while SHO's they like to fail in Grand Style.

 

[02BlueGT]

Agree with all of the above, A Kid at work just had this happen on his VW, clutch to the floor, empty clutch master... Was a leaking slave.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

iirc the newer cars are all concentric slave cylinders (throwout bearing/slave are one unit) it may be a good idea to toss a clutch in it dep on the miles

feel on the inside above the clutch where it goes into the master and check for a leak there...you may have to pull the carpet back as when they leak they will drain down under the carpet/sound deadening
then pull the insp cover off and look inside the bellhousing

 

[99PONTIACGP]

Okay... her Dad put clutch fluid in the car and the problem went away. There must be a leak somewhere but I dont think they pursued finding the problem. I need to go toto the store later, so we may take her car to see how long that fluid lasts.

 

[E]

Did they bleed it?
Sounds too good to be true just by filling up the fluid.
I guaranty there is a slow leak someplace.

 

[99PONTIACGP]

Im sure they didnt bleed it. She said they filled it, pumped the clutch and drove the car.

 

[E]

Wow
That pedal must feel spongy