I have a 1985 Jeep CJ-7, romp’in jeep not a drive all the time vehicle. My Avalanche does fine for that. The Jeep is a carbon copy of this one. I am fine in 2nd, 3rd,4th,5th gear. No problem what so ever. But I notice a little give in my first gear. Maybe it’s new thick rubber carpet cover I just got at Auto-Zone. But I’m doubt’in it.
How does one know the clutch is about to sh*t the bed? What are the signs. Maybe I’m worrying about nothing. I changed the clutch 4 or 5 years ago. It’s been running perfect since. Any Ideas?
Clutches fail in different ways, sometimes giving warning, sometimes not.
If it’s hard to shift into gear from a standstill (which normally would be going into 1st or reverse), that’s an indication that the clutch is not fully releasing. Typically it would require extra oomph to move the lever into 1st, and would grind when trying to move it into reverse. With this symptom, it could be a problem with the clutch mechanism or with the clutch hydraulic cylinders.
Do make sure that the clutch pedal can go all the way to the floor. Rearrange or remove any floor mat that impedes this.
Check the clutch fluid reservoir level. If it’s low, there’s a leak in the clutch master cylinder or the clutch slave cylinder (or both). Sometimes topping up the fluid will restore normal operation temporarily, but the cure is to replace the leaking cylinder(s). A companion symptom with faulty hydraulics is a pedal that moves a fair ways before it gets firm. Pressing down on the pedal, it should have a small amount of very easy motion (1/4-3/4") and then get good and firm. If it’s not, the hydraulics should be evaluated.
If the pedal motion is normal and there is no sign of a problem with the hydraulic cylinders, but it still doesn’t release fully, there’s a problem with the clutch mechanism itself.
If it shifts normally and easily into reverse, but not into 1st, you’ve got transmission trouble.
What Gary T said. My personal experience when the clutch on my Tercel went bad (after 120k miles!!! wa hoo!!). Please forgive the lack of technical terminology:
Hard to shift into first gear (and I think reverse). I had to jam it in there and it felt like I was sliding it into metal gears, you know? I had little trouble once I was moving, except…
Sometimes when I put in the clutch the pedal would go down way too far and too fast before it caught. This would happen while driving as well as being into first.
IIRC sometimes my clutch would let up without me letting up on the pedal. Not often and not at first, but later in the process.
My clutch went from being fine to slightly off to extremely crappy in the span of about 2 weeks.
I just had to replace the clutch in my Saturn. It was very difficult shifting into 1st gear. I would really have to strain to do it. After a few days, it became a lot more difficult shifting into any gear. At the end of the week, I had to get the car towed to the shop, because it was impossible to put it in any gear.
Drive the vehicle at a normal highway speed and then downshift to the next lower gear and romp on the accelerator. If the revs climb without a corresponding increase in speed, your clutch is slipping and that is bad.
My first car was a lemon due to the clutch, so even though it was about 25 years ago I still consider myself a clutch expert.
Both scenarios can be correct - both that the clutch won’t let go (hard getting into hear) and that it won’t catch on (revving way to high for the amount of gas you’re giving it).
If the revving too high is what you mean by the “give” then it could be your clutch, but it might be the cable, too.
Check the pedal free play & make sure it’s within tolerances. Push the pedal down with your hand & feel when you start to get pressure. Sometimes cables need to be adjusted to make the free play smaller. I think the freeplay should be about an inch, inch & a half. Check your car manual.
