So i was driving home on I-75 ( michigan ) last night, and the worst thing happened. Clutch has been giving me some problems past couple days so i was going to take it in for an inspection...but now the car won't move. I think its the clutch / slave cylinder but the guy at the shop over the phone said that if it went out in gear that it may be the teansmittion... but all in all this just realyl sucks.

-Matt

 

Do you have a place to work on it al all???????????? Clutch jobs are not that hard

 

You might want to give us a bit more information. Is it stuck in gear? Has the clutch been slipping and now no longer engages at all? Does it not disengage?

-=Russ=-

 

When you press the clutch pedal does it :
A: stick to the floor
B: not move the slave cylinder while looking at it
C: none of the above

 

ok, more info. Its not stuck in gear.
It dosn't engage the gear, just engine revs no go.
Clutch peddle goes to floor and comes back up but is really really soft.
Do'nt know where to look for the slave cylinder
and I have no place to work on it.

 

Look down between the throttle body and firewall from the drivers side. The slave cylinder sits on top of the transmission right by where the tranny connects to the engine.

 

ide say your clutch is gone did the same thing in my hyundai.

 

sounds like the clutch is done, if it were the slave cylinder then it would be stuck with the clutch engaged and would stall when you put it in gear

 

I agree with rotorman, I work at a transmission shop and we get this a good bit. We had a honda in a few months back that did exactly what you just explained. To me, that sounds like a clutch problem. If you take it to a trans shop, ask them to let you see the clutch disk before they throw it away, it should be worn down to the metal (little rivet looking things on the surface, but no organic material) and make sure they buff out your flywheel, this only takes a few minutes but can add thousands of miles to your clutch's life). But is the pedal softer than usual? if so you might have a very small cut in the hydraulic line from your master to your slave cylindar...we get that a lot too...check your master cylindar resovoir to see if you are a little low on brake fluid. If you have a garage and some jackstands and perhaps a competent knowledge of tools (air tools dont hurt) then you can replace the whole thing yourself (pull trans, replace clutch and buff out the flywheel) or, you can take it to a trans shop and have them do it...

One last thing: if you are able and decide to replace it yourself, never under any circumstances get under that trans without a hydraulic jack under it(you wont be able to get under it if you do, so that makes it that much safer). Also, make sure you disconnect your slave cylindar and any electronics before you drop your trans.
Hope to be of help
-Rob

 

OMG! The damn shop wants 1,018$ to fix the clutch! Does anyone think they is a little outrageous? Any second oppinions? just need some info....

 

Um... yea, that's well into obscene for a clutch job. Maybe if they were putting in a gold plated clutch or something, but for a regular clutch I'd be inclined to find somewhere else.

-=Russ=-

 

Yeah, that sounds a little outrageous. Im not sure what clutch kits run these days(I assume youre using the OEM setup and not getting a flywheel with it) but it shouldnt cost anymore than roughly $400-450 (the clutch in my civic was around $290) and Im not sure what the book we use to calculate hours for labor, but I dont think it should be 10 hrs (most shops charge around $50/hour for labor, yours might charge more) But if you can find someone near you with a shop that simpathizes with you, I can walk you through the removal and reinstallation of your transmission and the replacement of your clutch assembly. Send me a PM or an email if you want more info, but keep in mind Ive never pulled a '7 trans, Id just be telling you how nearly every rwd transmission is set up (most things, from corvettes to BMW's to chevy 1500's are set up in a similar fashion).
Hope Im helping,
-Rob

 

I guess the job includes flywheel, clutch, bearings, and all the other fun stuff. I talked to my father about getting a second opinion but he said to just go with these guys. I rather do it myself with some help but I don't have the time, the place, nor the experince. So I assume Clutch = 250$ Flywheel = 200$ other crap = 150$ rest labor. >.< oh well, least i'll have my car back tomarrow.

 

man id want a signed and notarized list of what the **** they were planning on doing to my car for ten bills.

 

These are all factory parts for an S5 at a dealer:
The pressure plate is $110, the clutch disk is $75, the throwout bearing is $30, and the pilot bearing is $10. Your guy is charging $225 in parts and $793 in labor. Any idea how long it takes to do a clutch if you have a rack? Do you think your transmission guy's labor is work $200 an hour? You could take it to the dealer for less than your guy wants.

For $1K, you could buy a transmission jack, drop the trans yourself, install all the clutch parts listed, plus an RB lightweight flywheel, and have Anaheim Gear rebuild the transmission with new bearings, synchros, gaskets, and seals.

 

Marcus is right, you could get the necessary tools and equipment to do it yourself within that budget, I dont know about having the gearbox rebuilt, but other than that, hes right. But thenagain, you said you dont have the time, and from the way you said your last sentence it sounds like you already dropped it off and are planning on paying that grand, but yeah....at least youll have your car back quick...
-Rob

 

I wouldn't leave my car there!!!

Pay the $80 bucks and have it towed to a reputable shop and save $500!!!

A clutch is too easy to be paying money like that. I mean I know it is cold and wet in your area and that is why you don't want to get under there but man! $1000????