Tranny/Clutch problem

Hey guys, trying to get some advice here... My car (2002 Z28 M6) has been in the shop twice before for tranny problems. First time was for the car sticking in 4th gear ( at 10,000 mi. ), dealership couldn't reproduce the problem so they gave it back. Second time was because it was sticking in third and 4th gear. They replaced the 3rd and 4th gear synchros. Now it's back in the shop again ( 3 weeks after it got out for the last tranny problem). The day I brought it home after getting the synchros replaced I heard what sounded like a loose piece in the tranny banging around when I brake hard or turn sharp, etc. It felt very similar to a coat hanger or something banging on the bottom of the car. I couldn't bring it right back because I had to go to San Francisco. Over the course of the next week things started getting worse. It wouldn't engage the clutch smoothly, I heard the banging noise a couple more times, it was really rough going into gear (moving the shifter into position), it would grind while downshifting. Two days ago was the final straw, it would not go into any gear or if you did actually get it into gear, it wouldn't come out. And if you came to a stop, the car would shudder really badly and if you took your foot off the brake, with the clutch in, the car would move forward. So I brought it to the dealership. They saw the problem on Wednesday, Thursday is when it got in to see the tech. They couldn't reproduce any of the problems. It was driving normally for them. So they are tearing down the tranny again, but they are making threats saying that if it's the clutch then they are going to charge me for everything (the car has 20,000 miles now). Do these problems sound indicative of a clutch problem or a tranny problem? Before it went in there 3 weeks ago to have the synchros replaced it drove fine, no clutch problems at all. It has not been driven hard and it has a lot of highway miles ( put 3000 miles on in the last 3 weeks). It didn't have any clutch problems until the day I got it back. What does it sound like is going on and is there anything I can do to keep the dealer from screwing me? Sorry for the long post and thanks for any replies.

Sounds like you got a crappy T-56. Its funny how some guys beat the snot out of their t-56 and t-5 and have no problem ever, while others treat them with care and have all sorts of problems.

I feel you pain at the dealer though. I have had many problems at the dealer. Stealing eblems, bending my door, leaving parts or tools under the hood, having my car trapped in the garage while the dealer gets a new bay door after 3 hours of telling me their near done with the tire rotation, taking my K&N and telling me they changed it for inspection with a dirty Fram filter. Thats just the begining, loosing my wheel lock key.

When i had the 88 caprice i had a tranny issue like the one above.

These guys lie cheat and steal to the point where you want to destroy some of their cars on the lot.

How many times do you have to take a car in for the same problem before you get to scream "LEMOM LAW? I thought it was three but it might be five. If it is three, I'd start screaming it real loud. I'm sure they'll consider eating the cost of the clutch. BTW-be sure to get the old parts back if they say they replaced them. If they can't show them and prove they were off of your car, they didn't replace them.

Just got a call from the dealership, the car is ready to pick up now. They said that it had a damaged clutch cover that was causing all the problems. So basically, it's like I thought... they f'ed up when they were putting the tranny back in last time. They replaced the entire clutch assembly and all should be good now... But still.... grrrrrr!!!