Unfortunately my car has stopped shifting today : ( I have a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS manual just got it about 2 months ago (see thread in newbies section), and has been running beautifully with no problems whatsoever.
Weathers been arctic and after researching today all day I understand many manual cars (especially this 2g Eclipse) suffers from shifting right in freezing temperatures as the shift fluid either thickens or freezes. My fluid is very full...possibly thick but unsure as it seems fine to me. All my fluids were recently done a month ago.
So today I went to the gym early morning. Started my car, let it heat up for almost 25 minutes and it drove fine as usual. In the gym parking lot on the way home this is when the issues began. I started car, let it heat up again (not as long this time) and my shifter wouldnt go in 1st it was like stuck. Eventually after a few dozen tries it locked in 1st and would drive fine. 2nd would feel kind of mushy/not locked in all the way, and 3rd, 4th and 5th would be fine. Once I made it home the car remained to be non-cooperative in going in 1st period. I would have to force it and after doing it just a few times I stopped since I felt like it was grinding as I tried revving it.
These symptoms seem normal from what iv researched and basically the car needs to just warm up and wait for warmer days perhaps...however the clutch pedal is also feeling too loose. I read the other thead below about the clutch not "giving in." Is this the same as what im experiencing too? Their seems to not be enough pressure or much disengaging going on and the pedal goes down too easily once the car is started. Iv tried letting the car warm up for over half an hour but it still behaves the same way. Does not really disengage, clutch is like loose, and will not go in 1st unless you really force it and I know you shouldn't.
I will hopefully have a few people checking it out tomarrow but we will probably be getting a little blizzard so this is unlikely. Any ideas or insight on what possibly could be happening so could mention it to any mechanics/DSM mechanics? I know there could be a million things but im preying this is something not too serious.
The latch/button that pulls my trunk open has also failed two days ago. The struts are either snapped or frozen and I cannot open my trunk from the inside nor the outside. Im really getting annoyed with cold weather ruining this perfectly good vehicle.
It is doubtful it is actually a transmission problem but more likely a clutch hydraulic issue. A test to see is when the car is acting up and is difficult to get in gear shut off the engine, if the shifter then pops in you have something wrong in the disengagement of the clutch system.
You will want to check the clutch slave and master cylinder for leaking and check the fluid level of the system. If there are no obvious leaks the system may just have taken on water and you will need to flush out the old fluid and replace it with new, clean fluid.
It is doubtful it is actually a transmission problem but more likely a clutch hydraulic issue. A test to see is when the car is acting up and is difficult to get in gear shut off the engine, if the shifter then pops in you have something wrong in the disengagement of the clutch system.
You will want to check the clutch slave and master cylinder for leaking and check the fluid level of the system. If there are no obvious leaks the system may just have taken on water and you will need to flush out the old fluid and replace it with new, clean fluid.
Ok like right now the car cannot be driven since it wont go in 1st, however it does go in all gears very easily with engine turned off. Since it stays in neutral of course, I haven't noticed any shifts popping into gear as soon as iv turned the car off since iv done this a few times earlier. Perhaps your right about the fluid. Its definately full but maybe not the correct type for this vehicle, especially in this weather. If it has taken in water how does this happen and will I then need to keep replacing the fluid every few days in weather like this?
I saw a few clutch fluids recommended for this car, but not sure exactly which one I should choose and in these weather conditions. Thanks for your help again.
The clutch system generally uses DOT3 type brake fluid but the owners manual should tell you exactly what oem wants. It is unlikely that its the 'wrong type' but brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs moisture from the air if the seal on the reserve cap is not correct, there is a leak elsewhere in the system (bad master/slave cylinder) cap has been left off for a length of time in the past, fluid is just very old or the fluid added is not from a sealed container. If moisture gets into the fluid, and that fluid gets sub freezing the fluid will start to freeze and you can see why that is an issue.
Make sure that the master and slave are not leaking fluid behind thier protective dust covers as master/slaves are common failures and replacing the fluid w/o replacing them would be a waste of your time. If they are ok I would use a turkey baster or similar to draw all the old fluid out of the clutch reservoir, fill it with fresh fluid and then bleed the clutch until the fluid comes out clean.
Edit: Just to be clear and make sure we are on the same page clutch fluid, and trans fluid are NOT the same.
Ok thanks, will keep this in mind for tomorrow. Hope everything works out because the cars been running perfect up until this horrid winter temperature.
Ok thanks, will keep this in mind for tomorrow. Hope everything works out because the cars been running perfect up until this horrid winter temperature.
I have recently experienced the exact same concern as you are with your clutch, I had also just changed my fluid not too long ago either. I went over the system with a mechanic (I work at a dealership) and he found there is a tall cylinder that the hydralic fluid runs through and it had stored alot of air in there. My clutch worked fine for a week but hit that air and the pedal wouldnt return. I would recommend bleeding your system again and be very thorough about it.
I have recently experienced the exact same concern as you are with your clutch, I had also just changed my fluid not too long ago either. I went over the system with a mechanic (I work at a dealership) and he found there is a tall cylinder that the hydralic fluid runs through and it had stored alot of air in there. My clutch worked fine for a week but hit that air and the pedal wouldnt return. I would recommend bleeding your system again and be very thorough about it.
ok thanks alot ! I bet this is probably the case. Its really unfortunate I don't have a garage space to keep my car in so its always stuck out in the cold, but my dad said their are car covers designed to help it through the night.
Ok so good news. Car seems to operate fine now. I have not driven yet, but it is shifting into 1st and 2nd and the clutch doesnt feel completely back yet but I now feel the pressure somewhat more than yesterday. Their are still no leaks from what iv observed. I smelled something oily/gasy when opening up the hood and started the engine but it could just be the car warming up to the cold weather hopefully. Here are some pictures.
Ok so good news. Car seems to operate fine now. I have not driven yet, but it is shifting into 1st and 2nd and the clutch doesnt feel completely back yet but I now feel the pressure somewhat more than yesterday. Their are still no leaks from what iv observed. I smelled something oily/gasy when opening up the hood and started the engine but it could just be the car warming up to the cold weather hopefully. Here are some pictures.
Unfortunatly it will begin to fail again it is the same as mine was. When I was at idle, if I pumped the clutch it would begin to work again briefly then stop returning from the floor and make things very difficult.
ok thanks alot ! I bet this is probably the case. Its really unfortunate I don't have a garage space to keep my car in so its always stuck out in the cold, but my dad said their are car covers designed to help it through the night.
A car cover is completely unnecessary unless you live in the middle of russia where its -30* the car should operate fine no matter the weather. The car has a problem, pretending it doesnt exist because it is ok when the car is warm doesn't mean its not there nor does trying to bandaid it by keeping the car warm going to do you any favors in the long-run
Also I'm not sure what those pictures are supposed to show. You need to crawl under the dash and look at the clutch master cylinder rod that passes through the firewall and look for leaking fluid there. If that is ok then look on your transmission where the clutch slave cylinder is and pull back the dust boot and look for a fluid leak there. Pictures of the outside of the master reservoir are basically pointless.
Also I'm not sure what those pictures are supposed to show. You need to crawl under the dash and look at the clutch master cylinder rod that passes through the firewall and look for leaking fluid there. If that is ok then look on your transmission where the clutch slave cylinder is and pull back the dust boot and look for a fluid leak there. Pictures of the outside of the master reservoir are basically pointless.
Sean is right and one thing I forgot to mention about my situation is that I had also replaced both my master and slave cylinder, so make sure you do check for leaks before bleeding the system again or else you will just be wasting time and money.
ok will do. If all is well with no leaks, i'll be doing a system bleed tomorrow morning then.
As a quick update, I was able to drive to work and back today. 1st and 2nd...and sometimes 5th is tough to shift most of the time so I had to press clutch few times to completely disengage but it drove pretty smooth overall.
alright so you guys were right after all, it was the slave cylinder leaking by normal wear and tear. Im getting new bad master and slave cylinder put in and should be good by this monday or tuesday, im just happy the parts wont take long to come.
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