Hello everyone, I need some help.

CAr is a 1996 camaro 3.8l 5 speed. and I have never had any problems with it until the other day.

I was driving home and when I came to a stop I pressed the clutch and tok the car out of gear. The clutch "POPPED" and then I couldnt getthe car back into gear. If I turned the car off I could put it in gear and start the car and it would take off like the clutch wasnt disengaging. So I did that and limped it home. I expected the release cyclinder went bad but it wasnt leaking. I climbed under the car and watched while my wife pressed the pedal. The bearing was moving about an inch so I was confused. I took the trans out and found that my clutch had come apart on the flywheel side. I suspected that when I pressed the clutch, a chunk of clutch jammed itself in btween the clutch and pressure plate effectively locking it and not allowin gthe pedal to do anything. I replaced the clutch, pressureplate and bearing (I have done this before but not on this car) I bled the hydraulics (fluid came out black) and filled the trans with Dexcron. Now if the car isnt running I have no problems, but as soon as I start the car It is VERY hard to get into gear and forget about reverse unless you turn the car back off. I had to drive it like this to work today because the car is my only transportation but I need to get this fixed. Could the clutch master cylinder be bad and not disengaging the clutch enough? I bled it a hundred times and still no luck. I am pretty sure the pedal feels the same as it used to but then again it seems a little spongy. Does anyone have any ideas? I NEED HELP ASAP!

 

did you get rid of the air bubbles in teh system correctly?

 

I think so. I bled it like I do brakes. I had my wife pump the pedal slowly a few times and then hold it. While it was held I loosened the bleeder screw until fluid stopped coming out and then retightened it. Then repeated the procedure a few times. When that didnt work I did it again but had my wife only press the pedal down once and hold it while I bled it. Did I forget something?
-JOE-

 

they say to hold the slave cylinder where the line woudl go straight up and manually actuate it for a while u will see the air come up at the top where you fill it.

 

Yes for a 3.4l but I have the 3.8l which is unfortunately different. From what I understand it is the same as the 98 and up V8. There isnt a slave cylinder on the outside of the trans instead there is a hydraulic "release cylinder" inside the bellhousing that has the bearing mounted to it. The only way to actuate it would be to remove the trans again. I am hopefully going to check the travel where the Master cylinder joins the pedal but I am pretty sure that is okay. I am hoping it is the master cylinder because that doesnt require removing the trans again.
Thanks-JOE-

 

I have a 2001 five speed. Similar but different experience - maybe it is helpful. One day I went and started the car as usual - put the clutch in and turned the key. Well, when I pushed the clutch in it made a loud sound too - like you described - a loud pop. Different - I was able to shift and drive the car. What had occured - there is some sort of a coil shape spring that sheared into two - it actually fell onto the floor right under the clutch pedal. The Chevy mechanic and manager said they had never seen that occur before - they ordered the part and put in the new one when it came. That was a yr. ago - so far so good. Hope this helps. LeftyLarry