Shifting grinds when cold

[gorkyb]

Hello, I have noticed my Tracker grinds into first and second gear only when it is VERY cold (around 20F) outside, if I'm work the shifter and clutch in a certain way, it doesn't even do it when cold. I am just wondering if this is a symptom of something major coming down the road. I checked the gear oil level in the transmission and as soon as I opened the top plug gear oil came out, I sticked my finger in there and fluid oil level was right at the bottom of the plug hole.

[fixkick]

reverse will grind at the drop of a hat, its the non synchro gear, does it grind? too?
grinding is always chutch drag.
and most times, its a bad cable. (colder is worse)
free play too loose?
pedal welds broken.
lever, splines stripped on pedal or down on bell. outside.

as the Kick fandango, the cable is bad, seized ,frayed inside (invisible) you press clutch, and the whole fire wall flexes, as does the pedal parts.
id put in a new cable and lube it too.

that fandango feature crackes the fire fall like this.
with a new cable, it like ahhhhhhh, its so easy now....

[gorkyb]

yes, reverse grinds sometimes too, not easy to find right clutch cable right? what should I lub the new cable with?

[fixkick]

i have this harley cable luber, that fits on the end, and a cable lube spray can that allows me to inject lube in to there.
yes, cables are a pistol.

is yours with rubber bellows end? if yes, its easy to find.
mine was. both.

http://www.fixkick.com/tranny/clutch/clu...tch-Cables

id get the beck. ending in 42
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframec...ttype=1972


# 0930642

[Vitalie]

I replaced mine just couple months ago.
I got it from here. http://www.gmpartseast.com.

mine is a chevy tracker 98 but I think the clutch cable is the same. correct me anyone if wrong.

their prices were the lowest from all the gm I looked at.

good luck

[fixkick]

good too see GM selling tracker part, during the recession they cut back.
nice tip on price. i think it is the same. but do look.

it is

http://www.gmpartseast.com/chevy/compone...10305.html

[gorkyb]

I was surprised to find that GM part as well. Thanks for the feedback Vitalie. If the rain stops tomorrow I will check everything from the pedal all the way to the transmission levers, clutch adjustment, etc. I replaced the cable less than 15000 miles ago, so I want to make sure nothing is breaking on anywhere. I sure hope is just a cable and nothing I have to re-weld. I've been reading about clutch change just to be prepared in case I have to do it, and I have to say that even if I have to spend $140 in HF for an engine pull hoist, it is worth it so I can do it with the engine out of the car. I just think a few bolts and a few hoses and electrical plugs to disconnect are a way easier option than trying to do all this under the car, especially since I don't have a garage to work in. The current cable does have the rubber end, I think I am missing a couple of fittings down by the transmission, maybe you guys can take a picture of your assembly towards the end and send it to me, I tried comparing it to the FSM drawings but some small parts are very blurry and I can't make sense out of them.

As of today I don't feel/hear any grinding (temperature is in the 50's F now), but when I depress the clutch pedal I hear a squeaking sound as if something is being forced passed the normal.

I think I'm also missing a bracket or something by the air filter box, I think from the factory these cars bring a piece of metal that keeps the clutch cable from touching the power steering pulley. Right now my cable has some rubber burned off right in the spot close to the p/s pulley. Maybe I make something out of a piece of scrap metal to hold the cable away from the pulley.

[fixkick]

most cables last 100 or 150k
there is this one brand sold at autozoned, only that is all plastic and is pure junk.

what has to happen with free play set, (either way) is to make sure the bell lever moves the full 1 inch,
that 1inch is after all slack is taken up, or the clutch can grind. and do so at cold or hot temps.

if it moves 1inch, the PP pressure plate will be 100% disengaged. if not, the PP fingers are toast.
what can happen, is if the throw out bearng burns up, it overheats those precious fingers and they go non linear. (needs more stroke to work, and is impossible to get)

good luck.