The only way to know without tearing apart the tranny is if it's just not gripping anymore. If you're new to manuals, get someone who's good with them to drive you car and see if it slips. It's just something you "feel", and if you don't know what to feel for, you probably won't know.

Nate

 

Probly just your A/C pressure equalizing if you had your A/C or defroster on.

As for the lack of power, have you checked your MAF? Sometimes they get small amounts of build-up on them, or even some fibers from the air filter. And yes this will affect the air flow readings causing the ECM to add less fuel. And I have cleaned off a few that had similar problems and that fixed it. Use brake cleaner to clean off the wires.

To check your clutch: watch your rpm's when you shift, if the rpm's hold steady or decrease as speed increases with the cluctch fully engaged then it is likely slipping. Basically when your clutch pedal is up, your rpm's should change with speed, not hold steady, decrease of run up too fast.

 

Slipping clutch? Drive about 30 - 35 MPH and then shift into 6th. Let off the clutch and drive for a second, then nail the gas.


If the motor bogs, your clutch is OK. If the RPMs go up and the motor doesn't bog, then your clutch is slipping pretty bad.

 

you dont see the RPM's rising and then going down? That is what my car did when my clutch burned.

 

Went to get it fixed today. The mechanic drove it and said it was fine. He didnt even look at the vehicle. But he has a 1- sec thunderbird so he doesn't have to? I dont know they said it was fine but i noticed the loss in power. He also mentioned that the aftermarket air filter changed my air to fuel ratio? Can that be true? He went on to ask me if i was getting " bigmouth " exhaust and that my car should run mid to low 14's at 98 mph, this is the guy at the gm service place. Do i believe him or what ? What should i do?

 

how miles you got on your car? 1st thing i would do is change the fuel filter..then work from there.. fuel filters dont cost that much i belive below 15.00... its located in front of the left rear tire more towards thearea of sfc's end...pretty easy to change.. it also looks like a canister about 3-4inchs long and 1and half wide..