whenever i'm in 3rd-5th gear and i accellerate more than 1/2 throttle my rpms start rising faster than they used to but Mr. speedo isnt climbing very fast. it almost seems like the power isnt getting to the wheels. would it be my clutch or my tranny in general? any tests or anything i can do to find out short of taking it to a mechanic?

 

It would be the clutch... sounds like it... it tends to slip more in the higher gears (or at least more noticably) when it's going out.

It would not be the tranny, the best way to tell is see what speed you're hitting X rpms at and calculate what your real speedometer should say at that rpm.

--Gary

 

thanks for the advice. this is my first manual transmission car so i wasnt sure. plus there's around 64000 on the odometer so i figured that it was about time for a new clutch.

 

here is a test..get her in 3rd at 4k rpm...CAREFULLY apply the brake(dont lock them-just enough to slow you down) with your left foot and step on the gas at the same time...rpms go up but you are slowing down then your clutch is shot....
but there si really no need to test it-it is your clutch

 

your clutch is slipping