Car Won't Go into Gear!

[BoxMan]

So my car will go into gear when the car is OFF, but what good does that do me right? When it's started it will NOT go into gear. I try to back it out of the drive way but I can't place it into reverse without it GRINDING!!!! The stick just refuses to go into any other gear, I ain't goin NOWHERE!

What I think it might be is the slave cylinder..idk maybe it needs to be bled,w/e. But will that stop me from putting my car into gear? Or could this possibly be my clutch.

ALSO, forgot to mention, the clutch pedal is all play.It's so flimsey and weak. It offers no response whatsoever. Sure, it will get my car started, but why is it soooo weak???

Thanks chums, I'd appreciate some feedback. Anything will help.

[1slowS13]

your clutch master cylinder or slave might be failing.

you're able to put the car into gear while its off since the crank isnt spinning 800 rotations a minute when its on.

[Jaketenpointo]

My flywheel was loose and it was doing something similar. Obviously check everything before pulling the transmission because its a bit of a pain if youve never done it before.

[jchrisw85]

Also check your tranny fork. Same thing happened to me. Car wouldn't go into gear because the bolt that the tranny fork connects onto snapped off.

[swayray]

if you still can't shift into gear after changing/bleeding both your cylinders, then you may have to take your trans out and check your clutch fork like jchrisw85. While you are at it, check the front cover, pivot ball, TOB sleeve. If they are all good, then it has to be the springs on your clutch. If that seems ok, then your flywheel might be loose.

I had the same exact thing happen to me. It started with both cylinders... it ended with the front cover on the trans cracking in half, snapping my pivot ball, damaging my clutch and destroyed my TOB.

[jing]

Broken clutch pedal bracket?

[sidedrifts13]

i had a similar problem first change your slave its only like $12 for ka or sr bleed the clutch, make any adjustments to the pedal, double check for leaks

[CantSTOP]

Sounds like the clutch springs is blown out for not being able to go into gears. Buy a new clutch kit for that and don't try to put it in gear anymore.

And master/slave for weak clutch pedal.

[PhopsonNY]

Had that problem...

Bleed your line at slave cylinder first... that was all my problem was...

Hope it is just as simple for you.

[240sohc]

is it true that you can remove the clutch damper? some say its better without it?

[SinGarage]

Process of elimination from easiest to hardest. I had the exact problem and it was 2 clutch springs popped off. I would have a friend press the clutc mutltiple times to see the movement of the slave cylinder piston if there is enough play. I then would check for leaks along the lines and underneath the dash. How old is your clutch master? Does the fluid look cloudy/grayish? What type of fluid are you using? The rubber seals could also be cooked on the clutch master from old/cheap fluid or constant clutch kicking. I could go on but you get the picture. All above posts are all possibilites. GL.

[redenblack]

throw-out bearing is at fault maybe?

[richard(s13)]

"clutch master cylinder or slave might be failing" i agree with that..... had the same problem and it was the master cylinder but i replaced both and then i was good to go..although my cluth pedal doesnt go all the way up, it sitts half way...ive bleed it n its still the same...and i dont have problems shifting...is it normal??

[redenblack]

i had the same problem, car wont go in gears without grinding.
ive started working externally first. ive changed the master cylinder, slave cylinder, bled the shit out of it fuckload of times!!! and still it grinds and having trouble shifting. so then i decided to work internally. i bought clutch plate and pressure plate and installed it. it worked for bit and i kinda felt like somethings still wrong. i opened up the tranny again and we found out that the throw-out bearing is all fucked up. we changed it put everything back on and everythings all good.

P.S. fuck you throw-out for all the troubles you gave me!!!!!!!!!! lol

[redenblack]

throw-out bearing********

[MillS14]

Yea definitely sounds like it could be a broken clutch spring. Have you tried putting the car into gear, holding the clutch in, and then starting the car? I had the same problem as you and I did this for a while. Once I started the car, I was free to get into any gear. Temporary fix until I could drop my tranny..

[TheQ]

Yeah this happened to me. I had to power shift my way home. Pulled clutch out and saw that the spring was blown out. Just need a clutch kit and you'll be golden.

[alexanderig]

Just happened to me a few weeks ago. If this has been said sorry I didn't read all the responses. I replaced my slave first and bled it it still didn't go in. I then by passed the damper system l you have to do is reroute the hardline into the softline to the slave. There's a bunch of diys online. It turned out to be my master.

[pignoses13]

im having the same issue right now and its my clutch pressure plate all the others are def possibles. this has been an issue ive seen with alot of ka20e oe clutches when they get worn

[spooled240]

you might need to adjust the clutch pedal, it takes 5 minutes and it's free

[imnatelol]

it def sounds like the slave cylinder went out

[wyteboichris]

so there's definitely a lot of different options here. I'd start easiest to hardest.

1. Get under the dash and adjust the pedal further away from the firewall so that there is more travel in the pedal which would then push more fluid to the Cylinders disengaging the clutch.

2. Replace the Master Cylinder and Slave Cylinder. *Very Important* make sure that you bench bleed the MC, then bleed the slave by pumping clutch pedal. *look online for write up or how to on that if you are unfamilar*

3. Yank out transmission and check Throw Out Bearing TOB and clutch fork. Ensure they aren't broken. If they are, replace

4. Go in deeper and replace clutch kit/pressure plate and possibly flywheel while your at it for only like $100 extra.

5. If you get to number 4 your going to have to re- bench bleed the MC and bleed the SC.

Hope all goes well. I am running into the same issues. PM if you have anymore questions on it.

Chris

[DrifterE]

Damn, some thing happened to me today, just right now. lol. I'm gonna replace my slave tomorrow, but if its the clutch or TOB i'm gonna need it right away, this SR is my daily driver. Sorry to kinda jack the thread but anyone know where i can get a SR clutch kit ASAP? In Los Angeles? Besides maybe Perf Nissan @duarte.

[nxpoweredsr20]

Ive got the same issues except i have a new clutch kit, resurfaced flywheel, new tob, new slave, new fork and i have the clutch adj all the way out.......im stumped at this point. It makes a horrible grinding noise and goes into gear sometime but sometimes it wont also!!!!fml

[i am tne]

ok so i have a similar problem except i just warm up my car for like 5 to 10 min and it's extremely hard to shift into 1st gear and when the tranny is all warmed up from driving for a while it turns back into normal, shifting into 1st gear is easy again. do i have to check for all the same things too?

[jigga1boy]

omg, all these are great ideas and advice but I bet you, you have adjusted the clutch pedal recently? or maybe it was loose..

When the car is off you can shift, but when the car is turned on, it wont?

ADJUST YOUR CLUTCH PEDAL , THUMBS UP YES ITS FrEE AND IT WORKS!!!


if not then go back to the posts above! :D

[pignoses13]

yea bro defiantly try adjusting it first also i would check the fluid for grittyness anything that would be evident of any internal probs.

[NismoHead90]

bringing this back from the dead...i have similar problems, car wouldnt shift at all so i replaced the slave AND master cylinder, bled the system, even took out the clutch dampener. And i still have to jam it into 1st and 2nd gear, the rest are slightly easier, also i have pedal pressure but the clutch engagement is really low, as soon as i start to let off from the floor it engages, it will stall if i dont rev up..

help much appreciated

[Sileighty_85]

possible broken pivoit ball

Or Clutch pedal needs to be adj

[BLACK2FAWTY]

Adjust clutch pedal.

[dreaMervaj]

My car did this same exact thing after my first transmission stop going into 5th gear. Replaced the transmission with a known good transmission and it wouldn't go into any gears when the car was on.

Bought a new slave & master, bleed over 10 times and still no luck. I just dropped the transmission tonight and everything looks normal. The clutch springs are nice and tight, nothing looks wrong with the pressure plate because it looks exactly the same as everytime I've taken it off and on the car. The TOB doesn't look abnormal.

I am also stump myself. I'm not sure what it could be at the moment.

[dreaMervaj]

Any ideas guys? I have a new clutch setup going in but dont want to install it and find out it's something else (little).

[TollieLifted]

whoops, didnt mean to post in this

[rastaman]

Back from the dead..mine won't go into second when the car is driving and past 3k rpm..1st to 2nd binds above 2nd into 3rd binds all the rest is fine..help.. input?

[jr_ss]

Most likely your synchros are shot. If this is the case, you'll need a new transmission.

When was the last time you replaced the fluid? Try draining the trans, take note of the amount of metal on the drain plug and in the fluid. Throw some Amsoil 75w-90 in there and see if things change.

If shifting is fine in all other gears, it's not your clutch engagement.

[spooled240]

I'm having a somewhat similar problem. Hard to get it into 1st, but seems to get better after a long drive or if I depress the clutch pedal very slowly. The damn tranny just doesn't stop spinning when I push the clutch, especially when it's cold.

master and slave cylinders are new but not OEM..i'm thinking they might be malfunctioning.

[rastaman]

Most likely your synchros are shot. If this is the case, you'll need a new transmission.

When was the last time you replaced the fluid? Try draining the trans, take note of the amount of metal on the drain plug and in the fluid. Throw some Amsoil 75w-90 in there and see if things change.

If shifting is fine in all other gears, it's not your clutch engagement.

I did the Amsoil 75 90 but no change the old fluid look good too. Just won't go into gear past 3k rpm in 2nd. Below 3k it shifts fine..puzzled

[jr_ss]

I'm having a somewhat similar problem. Hard to get it into 1st, but seems to get better after a long drive or if I depress the clutch pedal very slowly. The damn tranny just doesn't stop spinning when I push the clutch, especially when it's cold.

master and slave cylinders are new but not OEM..i'm thinking they might be malfunctioning.

Have you tried adjusting the clutch master? Rebleed it and see how things change. What color is your fluid? Typically anything other than OEM suck in our cars. The masters fail and turn the fluid brown/black over time.

I did the Amsoil 75 90 but no change the old fluid look good too. Just won't go into gear past 3k rpm in 2nd. Below 3k it shifts fine..puzzled

If it shifts fine below 3k your transmission synchro's are shot. You need a new tranny dude.

[spooled240]

Have you tried adjusting the clutch master? Rebleed it and see how things change. What color is your fluid? Typically anything other than OEM suck in our cars. The masters fail and turn the fluid brown/black over time.

Yeah it's adjusted as far out as it can go. I even swapped the slave cylinder to an s13 slave which has a smaller size piston with more travel, but it didn't help much at all.

Fluid is dark and it seemed to get dark rather quickly..

[jr_ss]

Most likely it's your master. Replace with an OEM unit and bench bleed before installing it. Fluid should be clear.