Do I have to replace my clutch??

I just bought a 1995 Camaro, 3.4L, V6, LT1 with 113k. The guy I bought it from said it needed a new clutch and flywheel, but he also admitted to knowing very little about working on cars. The car won't shift into any gear, and grinds when I attempt to put it into reverse, and still doesn't engage. I was just wondering if there is anything else that could be causing these symptoms, before I put the money into buying and installing a new clutch and flywheel? Any advice you can give me would be much appreciated! Thanks, Suzie

Sounds more like as if the clutch won't release, or he transmission is totally shot. Make sure there is fluid in the clutch release system, that there are no fluid leaking fluid and the reservoir is full. There is also a good possibility that either the master or slave cylinder is defective. I think that the clutch and flywheel are OK, ant that they are just not being released.

A firend of mine put a new clutch in a V-6 car and didn't get the fork on the throw out bearing. so after replacing every thing in the hydralic system it stilll wouldn't go in to gear.

an LT1 is a 350 v-8, your 3.4 is a v-6, they have 2 different transmissions just so ya know.

I'm thinking the fork may not be on the throwout bearing correctly, only because i remember my boyfriend saying something like that. But I am far from a mechanic, so I was hoping that someone can tell me exactly where to look for this, and how to tell if it is correct or not. I've been trying to find a diagram online, without any luck. Thanks for all your help. Suzie

Can you shift into a gear with the car off?

I can shift into 1st and 2nd when it's off, but none of the other gears.

You MIGHT have a bad trans. Since there is no torque differential, and the snychros aren't spinning, you should be able to pull the shifter into the gears.

How do I go about checking the clutch master and slave cylinder to see if one of them is defective. I believe the clutch is working properly. Another concern I'm having is that when the clutch is pushed in, the fork barely moves. (ok im a girl, but i'm sure you know what i'm talking about) I guess this is actually 2 questions, but if anyone can help me, I'd appreciate it! thanks again.

Well the fork is a lever. The place where the fulcrum point is allows the shorter part of the lever to move less than the other side. I think you might be on to something though. The slave cylinder would be leaking if it were bad. Pop the cap off of your master cylinder for your clutch and see if there is still fluid in there. It should be a 1/4 from the top.

Does the clutch engange in the gears you can get it into? From what it sounds like it might be the clutch fork.

I think Norm's on the right track. If the T/O brg / clutch fork isn't moving much, it's probably the fluid level or clutch fork. It may not shift into gears not running depending on the fliud level.

If I have the car off and I put it into first and then start the car, the car does move forward, but i don't know if it will shift from 1st to 2nd from this point.

Your clutch is apparently working then. So I would have to say it has something to do with the fork.

so, will I be able to buy the fork by itself, or will I need to buy the whole assembly? Does replacing the fork mean removing the tranny, ect...?

You can buy the clutch fork separate. I'm not sure if you can take the fork out w/o taking the housing off on that trans. But I'm going to imagine that you have to since you have to line it up with the new bearing, and they give you only so much space to take it out with.

I just want to thank everyone who helped me out by responding to my posting. Although I was driving my boyfriend and his friend crazy by standing next to the car with my laptop shouting out orders, and what to look out next, they are grateful for it now! I had seen a posting from a guy experiencing problems very similar to what was going on with my car, and the fix was the same. The previous owner of my car apparently didn't have the fork lined up on the groove properly, therefore the clutch wouldn't shift at all. Thanks again to all that helped me! This is a great site, with a lot of helpful information, and people!!! Suzie

I dont want to open a new thread so i'm going to add something here. My 94'z is doing something not very often but that i dont like. When I try to shift into first gear it wont shift it gets stuck. I push the shifter and it just wont shift. But if i try shifting to second or any other gears it will shift. After shifting into any other of the gear then I CAN SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. Could this be that my clutch is wearing down?? and that pretty soon i'm going to need to replace it?? Just to add something else my dad has a pick up 5 speeds and the same thing happens to the truck but that is always, i mean all the time you try to shift into 2end gear the gear wont engage and it is really hard to get into gear. IN MY CAR THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN THAT OFTEN. BUT CONSERNED

quote:

ORIGINAL: camarorz28

I dont want to open a new thread so i'm going to add something here. My 94'z is doing something not very often but that i dont like. When I try to shift into first gear it wont shift it gets stuck. I push the shifter and it just wont shift. But if i try shifting to second or any other gears it will shift. After shifting into any other of the gear then I CAN SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. Could this be that my clutch is wearing down?? and that pretty soon i'm going to need to replace it?? Just to add something else my dad has a pick up 5 speeds and the same thing happens to the truck but that is always, i mean all the time you try to shift into 2end gear the gear wont engage and it is really hard to get into gear. IN MY CAR THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN THAT OFTEN. BUT CONSERNED

That just sounds like a bad syncro.

is that bad or what?