here's my problem. im having trouble shifting gears, even when im diving slow. whenever i try to throw it from first to second it meets resistance and i gotta push it pretty hard to get it into second its even worse going from second to third. it feels like the clutch maybe isnt engaged all the way. i had the same problem a couple months ago but much more severe so i replaced the clutch with a king cobra clutch.

the car is not daily driven, it sits in my garage and i drive it maybe a couple times a week at most. but when i do drive it i drive it pretty hard. i have bfg drag radials out back but i dont think thats enough to kill my clutch after only a couple months.

i've heard i can pull the clutch pedal out to adjust the clutch, i tried that and no luck. would it help to add a steeda clutch adjuster kit? any other ideas?

 

I was going to say cable, but if you've tried to adjust, I don't know. MY 93 would act just like that, I would adjust the cable or replace it, then it would behave for a while than do it again...would eat cables like candy. And I don't buy cheap stuff! Make sure the cable is not binding in the housing and maybe try to adjust again? I'd remove from trans and check it out. Goodluck.

 

thanks, im gonna take a look. do you think the steeda clutch adjuster kit would help? its been like this for about 3 days now.

 

Hard to say Flop, It's a great mod but I don't thinks it's your problem this minute. If the cable is bad I'd buy the kit and replace it all at the same time, may want to do it any way, it would replace all parts that adjust the cable. You still shoud id the trouble to make sure it's not the trans itself. I have a T56 if it is!!!!

 

you have a t56? for sale? how much?

im gonna drive over to steeda tomorrow after work and see what they say. the clutch is not that old and i've only put around a thousand miles since i got the new clutch. i cant imagine what else it would be so it must either be the cable binding like you said or its just bad...

thanks for the help.

 

Drive to Steeda? Are you that close to them? Lucky dog. I talk with them a lot about my 93, they should be able to help you out. Steve is pretty sharp. The t56 is going in my 04, just waiting for my new driveshaft, had to have one cut shorter. My t3650 will be for sale along with Roush shifter.

 

yeah i've taken a couple tours of the place at the steeda stampedes. they're not too far from me.

you're the lucky dog... t56 about to be put in, frpp supercharger on the way... hopefully i wont need to buy a new tranny. mine is a t45 btw.

 

Mine is doing the same thing, not to mention I tried to adjust mine also yet it didn't fix it. I'm gonna do what dfroster said, worth a shot.

 

It could be the cable. I wouldn't rule out bad 2nd and 3rd synchros either. I would think that if it was the cable and the clutch was not fully releasing, then you would feel it pull some while sitting still with the clutch pedal in, not to mention it would be a bear to get into 1st from neutral with the engine running. Being as it has done this with 2 clutches makes me wonder about the tranny.

 

Should handle the added power ok. Couldn't pass it up, I fig with the dif gear ratio and 6th gear I don't have to worry about the 410s being too much gear. I hope removing the cable and re-installing helps, I know the factory plastic adjusters are not so hot and sometimes don't adjust as they should. Mine would start by not going into 1st gear without a lot of force, then 1-2 shift would get hard. After removing and installing the cable it would be good-to-go for a while. Never did fig it out. I just kept doing it until I changed my trans and everything. My wife's 99 also has a t45 and I've had zero trouble out of it. The sc will be going in in a few weeks!!!!

 

You should check the fluid level and make sure they used the correct fluid. I took my old SVO to crappy lube and they put the wrong oil.

 

Does it make any noise under engagement?

 

not that i've noticed... it just happened the other day, i was driving it kinda hard and i missed a shift... i never miss a shift, so i was like wtf?... then i missed a shift again going into second... drove it around a little bit and it just felt very stiff and harder to shift into gears. it goes into gear just not nearly as easy as before. thanks for all the help guys...

 

maybe did a little galling to the synchro's. If so it might just smooth back out with time. mine used to be hard to get in 2 and 3 but after a few thousand miles it smoothed out. now it's really kinda silky. prolly means I'll be buying a tranny soon.

 

put some GM synchro-mesh fluid in...your probably low on fluid. My g/f's '00 GT was having problems going into gear and i found the shifter handle itself was loose and tightend it. That help a little bit but i checked the fluid and it was low...added some and it shifts fine now. 2 other friends of mine had the same problems shifting on a '02 GT and a '04 mach1.

 

I got that same thing. Left the fluid low for a few miles driving home from the shop and it was harder to shift. Added fluid and back to pure silk...

 

nice, ill definitely check that again as soon as i get back home. i checked it not that long ago but its worth checking again.

i think im gonna buy the steeda clutch adjuster kit with the quick release clutch quadrant even if its not the problem. seems like it would help me a lot. also im gonna pick up the adjustable pedal stop while im down there.

thanks again for all the replys... i appreciate the help.

 

Floppy, I would go as far as the clutch adjuster kit unless you've got an upgraded clutch or plan on upgrading real soon. I put the MT adjuster kit with the billet quadrant on my '02 and it was pretty sweet being able to adjust it at the clutch fork and firewall. I'de save yourself a few $$ and get the MT one, it's the same thing as the steeda.

 

yeah but i got connections. i can get the steeda kit cheaper than you can get the mt kit

and i have a king cobra clutch.

edit: the mt clutch adjuster kit is the same price as the steeda one is normally, and i just realized the mt clutch adjuster kit is discontinued anyway.

 

The tranny fluid should be a red color and not have a strong smell too it . If its brown and has a strong smell they put gear lube in there. Try to have the car level and remove the upper plug on the side of the tranny and stick your finger in there you should be able to feel the fluid as it should be filled up to the plug hole. Dont confuse the lower plug with the top as the lower one is to drain. Let us know how it works out for you.

 

how many quarts of fluid does a t45 transmission hold? i think im just gonna replace it even if its fine. better safe than sorry.

i remember filling it once before but i cant remember how much it holds.

 

I just did my brothers tranny and I think it was 3 to 4 bottles. Best thing to do is buy more that what you need as you can always return the bottles you dont use. When they replaced the clutch they may have not drained the oil from the tranny. They may have just wrapped the rear of the tranny so it would not leak or put a dummy shaft then just put the tranny back on without checking anything in the tranny. When you change the clutch you dont have to drain the fluid from the tranny it would be good just to do it but deponds on how lazy or a scam artist the mechanic is.

 

i didnt get a chance to look at the car all weekend, and i wont tonight either. tomorrow i should be able to go out and take a look. i picked up all the parts from steeda on friday so im planning on putting em all in tomorrow.

 

I'm having the same issue and I took my car to a clutch guy and he said it sounded like all I needed to do it replace the quadrant and firewall adjuster....I have been told by a couple of different shops and heard it a lot on the Mach 1 registry that your ford clutch cable is way better than any aftermarket one....lots of people just get the firewall adjuster and quadrant and call it a day. Apparently it's a good mod even if you aren't having clutch issues. Also check out UPR's clutch quadrants and firewall adjusters...I've heard lots of good things about those products from UPR and picked them both up myself....just haven't installed them yet.

 

im installing everything right now... anybody have any tips for taking off the stock quadrant??? not the bigger piece but the smaller part thats closer to the firewall... its so hard to get at it. everything else is installed and ready to go except that last piece has to come off so i can get the quick release quadrant on there.

i have the little clip off and the wire spring is mostly bent up except for the part thats holding on the plastic piece. if i could i'd get my dremel in there and just cut it all off... actually, thats not a bad idea...

 

Try this site....They have directions for installing the firewall adjuster and quadrant....it might not be the same brand as what you purchased, but it's a start.....I also heard it helps to take out the drivers side seat so you can get at the quadrant better

http://www.maximummotorsports.com/

 

Ahah!!! they say breaking it is the easiest way to get it off!!! im getting my dremel. thanks for the link! that little fugger is a bltch to get off.

 

No problem....Hey when your done can you let me know how it went and if it was hard cause I'm getting ready install a quadrant and firewall adjuster myself.

 

so far everything is very easy... except that little plastic piece. all i have to do now is put it all back together and adjust everything but i need a second person to help me adjust it all. the steeda directions arent much help but its not hard to figure out how things are supposed to go in. if you need any help send me a pm.

 

Thanks Floppy