okay I have an 84 12a with 84,000 miles on it. My problem started about two weeks ago. The car will start and idle fine, but when I step on the gas the car will only SLOWLY pick up speed, it won't just take off, but the engine is revving high. If I slowly push the gas pedal down the speed will match the revs, but if I floor it, the engine will rev high but the car will only slowly pick up speed. It is worse going uphill, but better going downhill. It seems like clutch slip but I'm not sure. Could it be compression problem? This is my daily driver so i am somewhat concerned. Thanks.

 

"If I slowly push the gas pedal down the speed will match the revs, but if I floor it, the engine will rev high but the car will only slowly pick up speed. It is worse going uphill, but better going downhill".

If the engine speed is not matching the wheel speed for a given gear, you have a clutch slip problem.

Sounds like your engine is running and revving correctly?


Scott

 

Yes I just replaced the distributor cap, rotor, and plugs with no effect. the engine seems fine. at idle (750 rpm) when i slowly let out the clutch (without giving it gas) the car stalls, but at about 1,000 rpms it won't stall. The revs are definately much higher then they should be for the speed at which the car is going.

 

Clutch is toast.

 

Yep, the clutch is definitely shot.

 

There you have it, I concur and the vote is unanimous.

 

While sitting, put the car into 5th gear and while keeping your foot on the brake slowly let the clutch out. If the clutch is "serviceable" then the engine will stall. This is from the Haynes manual....

 

Alittle extra safety tip if performing the above test. Put the e-brake on and do this with no obstructions in front of the vehicle.

 

I don't know if anybody mentioned it yet, but I think there's a problem with your clutch.

 

Thank you all for all your help. Car does stall in top (5th) gear, so i am thinking it's the clutch! Victoria British lists the 3 in 1 repair kit for about $150, I don/t have the tools or the time to do it myself, any idea what i can expect to pay at a repair shop?

 

Post in your regional forum, you might find a local rotorhead to help you and save some coin. The BD clutch kit is oem, which you can buy at your local parts store too.

 

300 - 400 bucks? That's from my experience of toasting 3 clutches in one year

 

Sounds like you need to start replacing them yourself. 1200-1600 bucks will buy me a bunch of tools.

 

And how did you get 1200-1600 bux by multiplying 300 to 400 by 3?

 

New math and still being awake since I got up yesterday. lol

 

The last time i had a clutch go out it cost me 285 dollars. That was with mazda clutc oem parts too. So look for it to be at least in that general area. If you wanna spare yourself alot of clutch probs in the future, especially this beinfg your daily driver, you should upgrade to a heavier duty cutch asembly altogether.

1st gen oem clutches are trash!