1. How do you tell when your clutch is going bad? This is only my second car with a manual tranny, and the first one had a brand new clutch in it, so I really have no idea how to tell.

2. At idle, my car has sort of a knocking sound coming from under the car right around where the front seats are. Anyone know what this is? Could it be an exhaust leak?

 

1. it will slip.. it wont grab. your car will rev up a bit, grab, then the go normally

2. good possibility

 

1. It slips alot, when it gets really bad your tires won't spin off the line when you floor it. Also if you crusing in 4th or 5th and floor it, the engine will rev because the clutch is slipping.

2. The best thing to do is look. It is probly somthing loose. I have had alot of problems with the heat shield on my cat (which is right under the floor)

 

The best way to test the clutch is to throw it in 6th gear, find a hill, and give it some throttle. If the clutch is going it will slip. Also, problems going into gear may indicate a clutch problem.

Exhaust leaks tick, they don't knock. Does the car have an aftermarket Y-pipe or headers on it? If so, the Y-pipe might be contacting the heat shield or floorpan. If it's happening at idle it's not too difficult to climb under there and find the source

Sheesh, bring it down to Cathedral Square when I'm working and I'll look under there

 

Does the knocking sound go away when you push in the clutch? If so then its the throwout bearing which I believe is normal unfortunately. Myles

 

The TO bearing is more of a rattle than a knock IMO. I know sounds are subjective but when I hear the word knock, I think of someone hitting the underside with a mallet.

 

Maybe its more of a clunk? Or a rat a tat tat? who knows Everyone has there own words for sounds

 

The sound coming from the car at idle sounds something like when you knock on wood. It is probably nothing, I am just paranoid as hell about my car.

As for the clutch, today I was having a hell of a time getting it in 2nd gear for a while. But I played around with the shifter for a while and it went away. Again, probably just me being paranoid.


Buttercup - I don't know about crawling around under my car, but sometime I might have to get a hold of you to help me out with !CAGS....it is evil and it needs to die!!!

Travis

 

Travis, email me. I have all sorts of really good solutions... some that can be done in the parking lot at work, in Dubuque.

I can get rid of CAGS the "right" way

 

snycros?

 

It's been cold up here, it's not unusual for the T56 to get a little notchy in this weather. Sometimes a good fluid change helps. Doesn't sound like he's driven a stick a whole lot either which might have something to do with it, just needs a bit more experience maybe.

I think he's just paranoid

The knocking sound needs to be resolved however. It may also be causing false knock problems but I could scan the car to make sure.