When the engine is running everything in the tranny is turning slightly with the clutch depressed. Allowing the synchros to engage and therefore making it easier to move around while running. Engine off, no transmission is going to shift smoothly, nothing is rotating, its notchy becaust the shafts are not aligned to the gear you are trying to select, the only way for you to enter a gear engine off is by force, this force slightly rotates the mainshaft, causing a not so smooth feeling, your are having to put force on the synchro so that the shaft moves enough to fall into gear, if they are not properly aligned sometimes theres no chance you'll get it into gear. I dont use the clutch to exit a gear...

 

OK - the point of that exercise was to try to eliminate the tranny as the source of your problem.

I think your problem is the opposite of a clutch that slips. In other words, it has no problem clamping but it doesn't want to unclamp. When you blip the throttle with the clutch in you're increasing engine speed while the tranny is trying to slow down. This is allowing the friction disk to finally separate from the flywheel and allowing you to get the car out of gear without resistance.

I had a similar problem a couple of months ago with a brand new Competition Clutch kit. But I also had a problem engaging first while stopped at idle. The problem turned out to be the pressure plate. Got the kit replaced and now it's all good.

You may want to bleed the system just to make sure it's not a hydraulic problem. I suppose it could still be a problem with the master or slave cylinder as well.

The best bet at this point might be to PM Billman250 and see what he has to say. He's seen a bunch of S2000s and knows his stuff.

 

Well, at least we're eleminating some posibilities. You need to make sure the clutch was blead after the fluid change, but if clutch engagement feels normal then bleeding probably isn't the answer. Going back to your original post, you said ...

"The issue is when I shift from 3rd gear or 2nd gear to neutral while slowing down, the shifter seems like it is still in gear while the clutch is pressed. It takes a second or 2 before I can actually take the shifter out from 3rd to neutral."

We've been looking at the clutch and transmission, but maybe we need to be looking at the shifter. At this point I'm trying to better understand what you are actually experiencing. I guess the best way to do that may be for me to tell you what I *think* you are experiencing, and they you can tell us what parts I get right and what parts I get wrong.

Here's my understanding:

You are slowing down casually, perhaps approaching a line of traffic that is stopped at a red light. You're in second or third gear. You probably let the revs drop to 3,000 RPM or less, then push the clutch in so the engine doesn't bog. Then you push on the shifter to move it from whatever gear you are in (second or third) into neutral, and when you push the shifter, it doesn't want to move. It resists your efforts to disengage the gear and move into neurtal. If you pause for a second or so, the shifter will then go into neurtal normally (IOW, easily).

Is that a fair description of what you're experiencing? If not, see if you can provide a similar description of what *is* happening.

If my understanding and description aren't too far off base, then you may be able to solve the problem by modifying your shift timing slightly. A downside is that modifying your shift timing can mask other problems, but if you have a problem other than your timing, it'll make itself known eventually, by getting worse. Anyway, try to alter your shift timing a little. Shift into neutral AS you depress the clutch. If you shift to neutral at the moment the transmission unloads, the shift should take very little pressure on the shifter (the shifter should slide easily into neutral). If you shift into neutral a little before or after the clutch disengages and the driveline unloads, then you'll feel a notch or resistance, and the further you get away from the "sweet spot" the more resistance you will feel.

The problem with this is that you can shift into neutral easily without even using the clutch if you get the timing just right, so you can get good shifts even if things are screwed up. All you have to do is put gentle pressure on the shifter toward neutral and ease off the gas until the driveline unloads - the car will slip into neutral just as easily as if you'd depressed the clutch. That's one of the many reasons why it would be so much better if one of us could actually drive your car. Some people "drive around" things that cause other people grief, and it's impossible for us to know exactly what's happening with your car without us having experienced it.

I really don't know what to suggest at this point. This could be anything from bad shift timing to a bad pressure plate or any number of other things. The BEST thing to do at this point would probably be to find someone in your area who is familiar with the cars and can drive your car to see whether it's a car problem or a shift timing issue. Otherwise you're apt to end up throwing time and money at possibilities, and that's not a good way to isolate a problem.

 

Hi Raymo19, RedMX5,

You guys have described exactly what I am experiencing. I do not mind having one of you to test drive my car but I am in NJ. Billman have driven my car before and he didnt mention any problems (although he didnt drive like I usually do

RedMX5,

I think what you mentioned may solve the problem for me. I will give it some practice and report back to let you guys know whether it works.
Will modifying my shift time cause any problems for the car?

I really appreciate everyone's help and suggestion.

Thank you all.


cw

 

[QUOTE=RED MX5,Apr 7 2007, 05:13 PM] You are slowing down casually, perhaps approaching a line of traffic that is stopped at a red light.

 

hi afwfjustin,

Please let us know if this problem goes away after the clutch change.

Thanks.

 

Perhaps you should have mentioned this tidbit in your first post.

 

It sounds like a rusted spline where it goes through the disc. Very common with older cars.

 

Well, changing your shift timing can result in gringind, notchy shifting, and other issues that aren't good for the car, but learning to time your shifts to make life easier on the car certainly doesn't seem like a bad idea to me.

Since you're close to Billman (you lucky dog ), maybe he can help out. LOL, if he resists, offer him money. Get him to ride with you, rather than driving the car himself. He'll be able to see what's going on and make better suggestions than any of us can do here on the Web.

 

Hi Bill. I made my last post before seeing yours.

Will this happen on cars that are driven regularly?

If this is the cause of his problem then he needs to bring the car to you anyway. Be sure to let us know what you find (though I'm now betting dollars to dimes that it's rusty splines). Thanks Bill.

What's the fix?