Odd issue, hope I don't need a new clutch....

[CorwinWeber]

Hi all.

Ok, here's the situation: In a parking lot, went to start my truck, (88 ranger, manual tranny) and at first the engine didn't even click. Ok, no problem. Maybe I just hadn't pushed the clutch pedal down as far as I thought I had. Tried again. This time, the engine turned over and started.... but was running at a high speed and I couldn't shift into reverse. (Tried, heard the 'nope, not happenin' buzz of gears.) Turned it off.... started it again and it started normally and I could shift and drive home. Has anyone ever seen something like this before? I asked a mechanic friend of mine, he thought it might be the slave cylinder. While I was googling that I started wondering if it might actually be the idle air control. (I've had problems with that before.... and I have noticed the surges in the engine speed while idling recently.)

At this point I'm wondering if I need a new slave cylinder, a new clutch, or just to clean the IAC again. Am I missing anything else?

Thanks!

 

[Insanejughead]

The transmission wouldn't have anything to do with the engine and how it runs.



If the engine started up, but ran too fast, then it's something dealing with the computer or intake system. If you've had problems with the IAC before, check it out again.



Oh, and sometimes you'll not be able to go into gear because the synchros line up just right so that they won't want to 'mesh'. Putting it in neutral and letting out the clutch and trying again will usually fix that because once the synchros start moving and getting lubricated it'll cause them to want to 'mesh' like they should.

 

[CorwinWeber]

The transmission wouldn't have anything to do with the engine and how it runs.



If the engine started up, but ran too fast, then it's something dealing with the computer or intake system. If you've had problems with the IAC before, check it out again.



Oh, and sometimes you'll not be able to go into gear because the synchros line up just right so that they won't want to 'mesh'. Putting it in neutral and letting out the clutch and trying again will usually fix that because once the synchros start moving and getting lubricated it'll cause them to want to 'mesh' like they should.

Yeah, this time it wouldn't shift because it was running at (from the sound of it) about 2500rpm.

I've started it since then, about a half dozen times. No problems since. The reason the transmission and clutch were the first things that came to mind is that I know there's a system involved during starting. The engine won't crank at all unless the clutch is in, and that's what it did the first time I tried to start it. (Clutch was engaged, as far as I can tell.) The more I think about it, the more I suspect it might be the IAC, especially since I didn't see any evidence of a leak or anything around where the slave cylinder should be, and since I've had issues with the IAC before. Maybe I'll pop it off and clean it again.

 

[bcost882]

ok well, you might have 2 problems. the IAC would cause the high idle, but the slave cylinder would cause the grinding gears. if you fix one and the other persists you know that you have more work to do.

 

[CorwinWeber]

ok well, you might have 2 problems. the IAC would cause the high idle, but the slave cylinder would cause the grinding gears. if you fix one and the other persists you know that you have more work to do.

Yeah, and the fact that I started it a half dozen times with no problems worries me. I've been a computer tech for a very long time.... sporadic problems are the hardest to troubleshoot.

 

[bcost882]

dude i work on f-16s try explaining to your expediter that there is no problem with the jet even thought the pilot ground aborted it cause he was a dumbazz. i feel your pain.

 

[CorwinWeber]

dude i work on f-16s try explaining to your expediter that there is no problem with the jet even thought the pilot ground aborted it cause he was a dumbazz. i feel your pain.

Heh.

If I had a nickel for every time the problem went away just because I was on the phone.... well....

Let's put it this way. When you start up the car in front of the mechanic and that's the one time it doesn't make that funny noise? Yeah. Computers do that too.

 

[bcost882]

sux i know

 

[Insanejughead]

Yeah, this time it wouldn't shift because it was running at (from the sound of it) about 2500rpm.

I've started it since then, about a half dozen times. No problems since. The reason the transmission and clutch were the first things that came to mind is that I know there's a system involved during starting. The engine won't crank at all unless the clutch is in, and that's what it did the first time I tried to start it. (Clutch was engaged, as far as I can tell.) The more I think about it, the more I suspect it might be the IAC, especially since I didn't see any evidence of a leak or anything around where the slave cylinder should be, and since I've had issues with the IAC before. Maybe I'll pop it off and clean it again.

You could check to see if your slave is leaking at all. If it is, then absolutely replace it. You shouldn't have any problem shifting into gear no matter what the rpm is. It does sound like your clutch isn't releasing the pressure plate completely. Have you tried bleeding it again just to check and make sure there's no bubbles in your slave?


The thing about the clutch being pushed in is because of the clutch safety. You have to push in the pedal a certain distance before it will let you start it because there have been many times in the history of vehicles that someone started up a car (in gear) without the clutch pushed in and it's killed someone in front of the vehicle.

You can disable it, but it's pretty pointless and it's just good habit to push in the clutch anyways.