Difficulty in Shifting Gears

**_Cathy_** · July 30th, 2007 12:26 AM

[SIZE=3]Hi. I drive a 96 Corolla GLi. It has served me well for the past 10 years except for some repairs due to wear and tear. For the past few months I have noticed that shifting gears wasn't as smooth as when we first bought the car. I just ignored it and assumed that some things just don't perform as well as when it was brand new. In the past, when I shift gears, it glides on smoothly, now, it's "maganit" or it feels as if there's metal to metal contact. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Last Saturday, I was driving home and everything went as usual until I reached an intersection with a stoplight. The stoplight just turned red and I was the first car on queue, but being the clutch driver that I am, decided to leave it on first gear, stepping on the clutch and brake at the same time. When the light turned green, I stepped on the gas and released the clutch gradually but to my horror the car wouldn't move! So I floored the clutch again and moved the stick in all directions, it was stuck for a while and finally moved to neutral. From there, I tried shifting to first gear again but it took me so much effort. For the duration of the drive I found it extremely hard shifting from first to second gear and from second to first gear. Aside from the fact that I had to put so much force into shifting gears, I couldn’t shift directly a gear up or down without letting the stick remain in neutral for a good few seconds. When I got home I turned off the engine and tried shifting all the gears and found no resistance at all. This morning I tried driving my car again and had no more difficulty shifting gears except for its being usually maganit. However, I do want to find out what caused this incident. I want to resolve it before it gets worse. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]I tried searching online for answers and found that a lot of people have the same problem as mine. However, the responses that I gathered were mostly from US residents and I found myself more and more nervous reading through solutions that were leaning towards major repairs/replacements. I do know that here in Manila, particular solutions or repairs are first sought before resorting to immediate replacement. I just want to know the things that I should check first before jumping into bigger and costlier solutions eg Heavy steering could just be due to low tire pressure. Thanks!

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**docpete** · July 30th, 2007 01:15 AM

mukhang pudpod nang clutch...dalhin na sa repair shop.. sandali lang naman yan palitan..

**alwayz_yummy** · July 30th, 2007 08:55 AM

damay mo na sa palit ang pressure plate, release bearing...mahal ang labor ano?

**speedyfix** · July 30th, 2007 10:12 AM

check to see if the clutch master and slave are ok. if they are then look into the clutch disc and pressure plate.

**joey** · July 30th, 2007 01:47 PM

as speedy said clutch and slave master assy. by visual checking try to look for fluid leaks in ur clutch pedal(smetimes fluid drips on ur toes or shoes when u press the pedal) and at the engine firewall right corner (ur right facing the engine) u could see the clutch master the one with white plastic cup and black rubber cover (check if ders fluids also)

**_Cathy_** · August 1st, 2007 01:58 AM

Hi. Thanks for the advise. I went to goodyear servitec this afternoon because it was the closest repair shop to my house. I didn't wanna risk driving far kasi. The mechanic told me that it was impossible to do a visual check on my clutch unless they take down the transmission. It's a good thing that I read Joey's post! This is exactly the reason why I ask for other people's advise. Anyway, they changed the gear oil which I haven't changed since we bought my car 11 years ago. It looked like mud already. hehe. However, I still want my clutch checked because Casa advised me that being the clutch driver that I am, 4 years is enough for me to have another cluth overhaul. It's so hassle naman. In 2003 when I had my clutch overhauled, it cost me only 9k now it's 12k and I have to leave my car for 3 days. I then asked a local auto repair shop and it would cost me around 8 k including labor and they'll be done in less than a day. Is it advisable to have such repairs done outside the casa? I'm worried kasi na I might end up spending more in the long run if the work is not pulido. Thanks again.