Hi Everyone,

I need a little help with my little hoopty of a car that i putter around town in. It has some odd shifting problem that i need help diagnosing. Here's the general facts

Year 1989
Make: Subaru
Model: Justy
Motor: 1.2L 3 cyl (the big block)
Trans: 5-speed manual, push-button 4wd and a cable-operated clutch, no hydraulics

Heres the specific problem and data i can provide.

Problem: the car has an extremely hard time shifting into gear. With the clutch in at a dead stop, you can push on the gear selector with all your might and it will just make a "moaning" sound and not slide into gear. from time to time it will go into first but its quite the magic trick to do it. Initially i though that since this is such a cheapo car, it has no clutch stop and somehow the clutch was getting engaged too far causing the "fingers" on the pressure plate to engage the friction disc, causing it to spin the input shaft essentially acting as if you were trying to shift the car without using the clutch form a dead stop. I thought this, because if you lifted up on the clutch pedal ever so slightly, it would slip into gear.

I drove the car roughly 22 miles on the freeway and when i got home, i couldnt get it into gear from a stop to save my life. I managed to get it into reverse once, and with the clutch fully engaged, the car rocketed (as much as a 3 clyl can) backwards and i almost slammed into my garage door. This makes me think that the clutch is not fully engaging when the pedal is depressed.

The clutch cable is fine. It operates as it should. There's no extra slack in the cable beyond the normal free play. There is also more pedal travel that can be had. The clutch pedal has another inch or two to go before it hits the floor inside the cabin and there is no clutch stop on the pedal tree. In the event the cable stretched, id think that between the lack of a cluth-pedal-stop, and the extra potential pedal "throw", it would sort of remedy itself if it were a stretched cable.

This leads me to believe that its a broken pressure plate causing the clutch assembly to not fully engage and release the pressure plate friction surface from the clutch disc. This is why the car is acting as if im shifting without using the clutch when in i actually am.


thoughts? ideas? anything?

Thanks guys.

 

Outside of adjusting the cable I dont think there is much you can do. Perhaps you will have to drop that trans and see whats going on, sounds like maybe lack of lubercation on the splines.

 

splines on the input shaft?

 

I have dusted off the ouija board and performed a psychic diagnosis.


Clamping plate in the clutch cover is warped or has moved sideways in the cover. This causes it to lift unevenly dragging the clutch. The diaphragm spring acts on a circular ridge on the back of the fulcrum plate. When it moves sideways part of the ridge remain in contact with the diaphragm spring. Broken strap or locating clips can allow it to move.

 

dang...really was hoping it wasnt a pressure plate / clutch cover issue grrrrr

 

the solution is to buy an s2000. The answer to every question used to be Miata. But around here, its "s2000".

kidding. good luck.

darcy

 

i own an 04 s2k too.