Problems Shifting

[Dr. Sievers]

So having a problem shifting. Car is 1985 Pontiac Fiero SE 2.5L 5-spd isuzu transaxle.

Symptoms are: Notchy and hard to shift, Revs drop slowly between shifts, clutch has to be depressed all the way to the floor in order to engage, Third gear has grinded about a couple times, not a constant thing, reverse fights me a touch too, shifting into first and second are the hardest but only about half the time the other half the time it engages almost fine.

Done so far: Inspected the clutch pedal it actually is a little higher than the brake pedal, it looks like someone has bent it once before, the shaft of the pedal has grind marks on it as if someone has used a set of pliers on it before. Also looked at the master cylinder, I cannot see any leaks around it. fluid is brown though. slave cylinder appears old but fine.

Personal thoughts: I was told that these clutch pedals are made from aluminum in 85 and 86. And someone else said that the clutch pedal is supposed to be elevated about an half an inch to an inch higher than the brake pedal.

History: don't actually know much, but, I do kow that when I drove this car home about a month and a half ago that the slave cylinder had a little fluid on top of it, but, that fluid did not look like hydraulic fluid. It looked more like oil. Only time I ever saw this too.

Alright Oreif where are you... lol

Someone else just told me that I should try bleeding my clutch line and see if that will help. I think that this one makes the most since to start with so I'm gonna try this first. I'll let you know of any changes.

 

[Oreif]

The fluid could be old and have moisture in it. Try flushing, filling, and bleeding the clutch fluid first.

To see if you have a master or slave cylinder acting up, Have someone hold the clutch pedal down and see if the clutch arm slowly moves back. Also watch as they do it to make sure it is moving in sync with the pedal.

I don't remember the distance the clutch arm moves to verify it is moving the correct distance. I'll see if I can find that info.

Yes the first cltch pedals were aluminum and tended to bend/warp over time. The Fiero Store sells a steel replacement pedal if yours is bent/warped.

 

[Dr. Sievers]

Okay so I cleaned up the line and it was shifting a lot better at first, but, now I'm noticing that I'm loosing fluid through the bleeder. I tightened it back on all the way and I made sure it was going in straight but it's still kicking it out. would replacing the bleeder valve help this or is there something else that I could do that would be a better option?

Also off topic but I smelled a little sweet smell in my exhaust this morning. it was only for a second though. I was thinking it could just be a little brake fluid got on the engine because it took about five minutes before I smelled it and then it as I said was only for a second. I have never smelt burning brake fluid though so I have no clue what that should smell like. Would it be sweet?

 

[Dr. Sievers]

I'm having issues now trying to get my master cylinder off. I wanted to see if other's around here have some better tricks or maybe if there is a way to release some of the pressure on the bolts. I'm just nervous because I jar it too much more and I'm gonna strip the dang thing out.