Manual Transmission, Unable To Put Into Gear.

[eric.toupin]

Hi all. New and hopefully posting to the right place. I just bought a 1990 Jeep Comanche about a month ago, 2WD 2.5L 4 cylinder. Has been running and cooperating great.

 

Yesterday while driving home on the highway, I went to change from fourth to fifth and could not get it into gear. Changing gears had been feeling a tiny bit more "tough" the past couple days, but nothing that seemed really notable. I'd just been able to feel it kind of get into gear where a couple days prior it seemed totally soft and fluid. Anyway, I then tried to get back into fourth and couldn't. I slowed down, pulled off the highway and tried all gears as my speed dropped. None would go.

 

Off the side of the road I idled a bit, and was able to put it into second after a minute. I got it home driving slow but had to really push it into third and fourth (no grinding, just very tough).

 

In the driveway while off it goes into gear very easily. Once I've started the engine, however, it's difficult to impossible again.

 

I have a very minor (drop a day or less) oil leak in what I believe is the main rear seal and valve seals. Otherwise nothing wrong that I know about.

 

Is this a clutch problem? I'm not a mechanic but can certainly troubleshoot / perform repairs with a little direction. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[sloride]

You didn't mention your fluid levels. Are your clutch master cylinder and transmission levels where they're supposed to be? I'd be suspicious of that leak you mentioned.

[Geonovast]

My guess is that your leak is your slave cylinder, not the motor. The symptoms you described are that of a problem with the clutch hydraulics.

[88whitemanche]

That's sounds like your salve cylinder giving up on you...mine was doing the same I had to pump the clutch 20 to 30 time to get fluid and to add get actually get the clutch going

[eric.toupin]

Thanks much, guys. Perhaps a goofy question, but is the solution then to replace the slave cylinder?

 

I noticed this morning that the hydraulic fluid was low, but it only took a couple ounces to fill it up. There was some blackish residue in the master cylinder, which I read elsewhere may indicate some failing seals.

 

Replacing the master looks easy, but replacing the slave requires pulling the transmission. Is this something I can do without a transmission jack / lift for the vehicle?

 

Thanks again!

[eric.toupin]

88whitemanche: Pumping the clutch got it to take fluid. I pumped it 30 times or more until the reservoir I had filled up was back down to 1/2 or less to the fill line, then poured more in and kept at it for a few minutes. Now I can shift fine. Drove around the block no problems. Thanks!

 

What I had imagined to be a rear main seal leak is probably a leak somewhere around the slave, as you suggested. Any idea if this is non-critical? It's had a super slow drop-a-day leak since I bought it. Does that mean I must replace the slave asap? Or just put it on a to-do list and keep an eye on fluids?

 

Thanks guys!

[ParadiseMJ]

 

What I had imagined to be a rear main seal leak is probably a leak somewhere around the slave, as you suggested. Any idea if this is non-critical?

 

It's had a super slow drop-a-day leak since I bought it. Does that mean I must replace the slave asap? Or just put it on a to-do list and keep an eye on fluids?

 

A drop a day...after you've turned it off doesn't sound like a lot. Actually it leaks each time you push in the clutch. There is a bit of a difference in the urgency of a drop of motor oil, where you have easily a quart to spare and clutch fluid, where you've only got a 1/4 cup to spare. A drop a day from the rear main/valve cover/OFA is just sweating, and a non issue.

 

My clutch slave was leaking about 1/4 cup a week. It gave me shifting problems after the level went down 1/2" in the M/C

Unless you want to check it everyday it sounds like time for a new slave.

[sloride]

My slave cylinder went out on me at an intersection. I had to go get fluid to be able to limp it home. If you don't want to address your leak due to time or funds, I would keep a couple of bottles of fluid with you should you have catastrophic failure.