KA trans sticking, hard time going into gears?

[EdwardHZ]

alright, my s13's transmission is "sticking"

it's hard to get it into first occassionaly. actually, sometimes it's hard to go into almost every gear but 5th. sometimes it'll shift perfectly fine, but most of the time it has a hard time going from gear to gear.
what could be the cause of this? i've searched, but i figured i'd post to get a more direct answer.

i had the clutch replaced about month and a half ago. i replaced the slave about a month before i had the clutch replaced.

it shifted fine all the way up until two days ago. now it's having a hard time shifting.

so i checked the slave, it's fine. i have another just in case. its gotten worse now...
the clutch isn't disengaging. it refuses to go into gear now. i have to turn it off, put it in gear, then start the car again to at least get into second. depressing the clutch pedal isn't fully disengaging the clutch. i turned it off, and put it into reverse. i started the car, and while still holding the clutch pedal down, the car started moving on its own. like an automatic. when i try to put it into gear, while it's running, the car tries moving before the shifter is even all the way into gear. what in the world is going on?!
i tried looking at the rod connecting to the master cylinder from just inside the car. it looks fine. i tried postioning my pedal a little to see if that would help at all. nothing.

all in all, it refuses to go into gear. it's like i'm trying to put it into gear without depressing the pedal...all while i'm depressing the pedal frantically to get it into gear. i'm at my wits end. i need to figure this out.

the slave looks to have full travel. the clutch fork is moving like normal.
i searched extensively, and some people say it might be the clutch backwards? or the throwout bearing? the clutch is maybe a little over a month old. i didn't do the install myself...i had a shop (1320 engineering) install the full clutch kit for me.

anyone have any idea what might be the cause, with these new symptoms? i need to figure this out ASAP, since today is my day off, and i need my car. i at least want to know what needs to be fixed. thanks for any help

[r20crazy]

you need to adjust your clutch pushrod. slide under the dash upsidedown and look up at the clutch pedal. you will see a rod connected to it and a nut (10mm iirc) loosen the nut and turn the rod with a pair of plyers. if u can, jack up the rear of the car on jackstands. after each adjustement start the car in neutral, if wheels turn keep adjusting either in or out with the rod. then once u get it to stop wheel spin at idle, youcan adjust the clutch engagement point to your liking, usually in the upper half of pedal travel. a single turn on that adjusting rod can make a HUGE difference

having to do this adjustment is common with new clutch/pressureplate, and also as they wear adjustement is needed. if the clutch is constantly engaged or slipping its overheating, and if its been like that for a while it may need to be replaced again already, especially if the flywheel is scorched from constant slipping/engagement.

if you need more help pm me

[s13boy89]

ok first off its not a 10 but a 12 for the master and 2nd has the dampe box been bypassed

[r20crazy]

like i said iirc.... but thanks for the clarification, i've done it to many times and dont care to remember anymore as i have owned the car since it came off the lot new and just grab the essential tool kit and know about what size it should be in that kit when need arises.

ill agree the clutch damper box is a shitheap and needs to go as its almost impossible to bleed properly, but air trapped in there woulda shown up before a month's worth of use in my experience, just like you know if u have air in your brakelines really quickly.

edit: all being said, since u had a shop install it, call and tell them whats going on and what you think the issue may be, if they are legit they'll fix whatever the issue is since they charged you for it if its something they did or woulda been included in the clutch service, and not something you have done like drag or drive sideways and fucked it up.

[s13boy89]

Well I have had friends that left their damper box in for a while then one day it just goes. Well either way op take it back to the shop and see if they will be legit and fix it, unless you got an ebay clutch that might also be the problem.

[EdwardHZ]

Thanks guys.
The dampner has been bypassed. I got rid of that asap, since everyone says it's nothing but a hassle. I'll try adjusting the pushrod today. If that doesn't fix it...I have another master cylinder just in case. I'll try to adjust it myself, and if it doesn't fix it, I'm taking it back to the shop.
Oh, and it's an advance auto parts clutch, nothing fancy for now.

[EdwardHZ]

Alright, so I've been messing with the master cylinder rod for the past hour. I've turned it in, and the wheels still spin. Tried turning it out, and I have much firmer clutch pedal, but my wheels still spin. Neither way is keeping the wheels still at idle. Could it be my transmission itself is shot? Reverse still doesn't work. I've got the rear end of the car jacked up. The wheels spin while
I'm in every gear. It's still difficult to put it in gear.

When i try to put it into reverse, it grinds like im moving and trying to switch to reverse.

Is it possible the master cylinder is completely shot, or am I looking at possibly replacing my entire transmission?

[zombiewolf513]

Could GL-4 gear oil do this? Just a thought.

[dreaMervaj]

I had a similar problem to yours.

It happened in 1st and 2nd the first time, it would get sticky or felt hard trying to go into those gears. It went away after a few days of driving so I didn't think much of it. The second time it happen it wouldn't go into 3rd, 4th, or 5th; I somehow got it to go into 3rd and 4th but now it doesn't go into 5th whether I try to force it or not. It still goes into every gear but 5th. I still have the stock damper shit.

The slave looks like it still retracts fine.

Could it be anything other then the transmission itself!?

[dreaMervaj]

It sucks to be driving around in 4th gear. =(

[s13boy89]

could be a crappy pressure plate maybe

[EdwardHZ]

Swapped in a new master cylinder today, bleeding it tomorrow. Hopefully this will fix it, but if it doesn't, looks like I'm picking up a new transmission.

[dreaMervaj]

Update if you fixed it with a new MC.

[EdwardHZ]

so far the bleeding process of the new master isn't going as planned. i took my old master out, and it look fine, just dirty. so i have a feeling this isn't my master. now i'm down to a couple things:

1. my transmission is shot
2. the throw out bearing fell off or isn't properly installed
3. the clutch fork is broken. ( i don't think it's this, but it's a possibility)

all of these require dropping the tranny (yay!) but it has to be done. i'll continue to update as i get stuff done. i'm probably going to pick up another transmission within the next couple days. this car is the devil!

[sydwayzdemon]

Was this issue ever resolved. I'm having this problem right now. I think I need more gear oil.

[ryder2101]

A spring could have came off on clutch , seen that happen before and will male it hard to go into gear and stick