My '83 rx-7 is not running right and I need some help. The problem is that when the car is running and i shift it into neutral, I cannot get the car back into any gear, however, when i turn off the car it goes in fine. This happens quite randomly and I had a mechanic look at it and he couldnt tell me what the problem was. I don't think it is the master cylinder because the fluid level has not dropped, and i lengthened the hieght of the clutch with no change. My next best guess is that the tranny fluid needs to be changed, however i am not sure how to do this.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

Sounds like you may be loosing the syncro’s in your transmission.

Pull the drain plug, and the fill plug on your transmission, if you get a bunch of shinny brass metal shavings in the trany it could be synco’s.

 

Okay, if it is the synchros, what steps need to be taken to fix it? Is this a minor problem or a major one?

 

Hey, I don't have much time (I have to run out really quick) but I had the exact same problem, and it was the clutch, it had exploded. I'll be back in a bit, so I can tell you more about what happened to me so we can make sure this is it, but the way you describe it, you need a new clutch..

 

Ok, I also seen a similar problem on two seperate occasions, I could be your Pressure plate, your hydrolic system or your pilot bearing, or syncro's

The first time that I had this problem, no matter what I did I could not get the damn thing in grear, before this incident I never had any problems with the tranny anyways I took the tanny out , and inspected the clutch it was used but still ok then I noticed some little needle bearings in the hole where the tranny shaft enters the tunnel, sure enough the pilot bearing was torn to shreads. I changed that, and i had a spare tranny lying aroud so i through that in also just to make sure, enven though that other tranny is still good (in my opinion).

the second time, wich I belive might be your problem, the fingers of your pressure plate might be getting soft ( if your point of friction on the cluch has gotten closer and closer to the floor this might be the problem.
to check it out, try putting a washer or bolt between the little rod of the slave cylinder and the clutch fork, if it enables you to shift properly, its most probably a new pressure plate you need

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK YOUR HYDOLIC SYSTEM FOR AIR OR LEAKS BEFORE

Good luck!

 

hey nolechris1, here's what happened to me. My girlfriend was driving the car at the time (it wasn't her fault, she just happened to be the one behind the wheel at the time), and when she tried to shift gears, it came out of the one, and just wouldn't go in the other, so she coasted into someone's laneway and called me. When I got there, I could get it into gear when it wasn't running, but when it was running, it just wouldn't go in. I also found out that if I put it in gear (while it was off), pushed in the clutch, and started it, it would jump forward as if I wasn't even touching the clutch pedal. Anyway, that's how I got it home, I put it in gear, used the starter to get the car moving (not good on the starter..) and when it finally started (due to my speed), I drove away.
Anyway, I rebuilt the master and slave cylinders, didn't do anything, although it was fun. And in the end I pulled out the tranny, and changed the clutch. I think what had happened was that a piece of the clutch material got stuck between the pressure plate and the disc.. or somewhere.. not sure about that though. Anyway, I hope this helps. I also hope this isn't your problem.. I hope it's something simpler, and cheaper.

 

Hey, Pardner....

Don't know how old, or how many miles you've got on your pony, but I'd seriously look into the slave cylinder. I'll bet it's a bit wet under your slave's dustboot. It doesn't take much to get a bit of air in the line. Over time, it's almost imperceptable, your shifts get a little "notchy," and then the trans will give you a "Graunch" now and then...Finally, the day will come when it won't go into gear with the engine on......Bad slave...If so, it's easy and cheap to repair....You probably need a new one anyway after 17 or more years of shifting....

Denny, from the 'ol corncrib...

 

I like Denny’s advice, since the slave cylinder and clutch master cylinder and the flexible hose could very well be causing the problems. Plus you don’t have to pull the transmission to inspect, and replace the suspect items. The $$$ on the three item is also in the under $100.00 category for all new parts. Once you got it fixed go ahead and change the gear oil in it your transmission.

Note, bad syncro’s require the transmission to be torn down and rebuilt, or replaced. Munched up quite a few back in the day on my old Triumph TR6. Kept a spare transmission around, and could chance it out in just a couple of hours. Then would rebuild the shot one. Blah…. blah…. blah…..

 

Definitely check the slave and master cylinders before working on the actual transmission. I'd start with the master cylinder since you mentioned that your fluid wasn't going down. A worn- out master cylinder will not always leak on the outside. A good way to check is look at the slave cylinder (on top of the tranny) while someone's pressing the clutch pedal... the slave cylinder should expand when the clutch pedal is pressed, and it should stay that way as long as the clutch pedal remains pressed. If it slowly retracts, that's your problem. Of course, if your slave cylinder boot is filled with fluid, then the slave is your problem.

Dont bother buying new/rebuilt cylinders... rebuild kits are available everywhere for 10-20$.

 

bleed the clutch