So Is My Transmission Dying?

Yesterday morning the Escort mule (94 5 speed) started acting odd. Started it cold to move it around the driveway, reversed, then in 1st gear with the clutch pedal all the way in the car stalled, acting like it was still partially in gear. Then it wouldn't go into gear. Ok, same thing in reverse. Then it got stuck in reverse. Turned the car off and it had trouble getting started again.

When it did fire up it was no longer stuck in gear. Drove it around the neighborhood and it went through the gears fine except in first gear the clutch engagement point is... changing. Some times it's normal sometimes it's really close to the floor.

I figured it was just acting funny because of the cold but then the whole scenario repeated itself later at a stoplight after driving for a while and again before I got it home.

Drove it a little today and everything seems normal.

Is this a sign of impending major failure and I need to find a new beater so I can get to work? Or is there something I should check before I panic.

Ugh, I'm ranting more than anything. I was really hoping I wouldn't have to spend money keeping a car running this winter.

Check fluid first but could be clutch master cylinder or slave cylinder.

Make sure BRAKE master is full.

There's a slave bleeder by transmission too.

Sounds like a clutch issue. If it's hydraulic check for leaks but it may be wearing out.

Clutch master cylinder, maybe? Try bleeding it first.

That's funny, three of us answered at the same time with essentially the same answer.

That was my first thought too, but the master cylinder and clutch slave were replaced less than a year ago and the fluid is right where it should be.

That might mean it's not a fluid issue but a cylinder issue.

And new does not mean it's good. Btdt

Another vote for the slave cylinder.

Thanks guys.

The thing that gives me pause. The clutch action is normal and seems to work fine going into gears 2-5. At least the hydraulic cylinders are probably cheap enough to justify "replace and see if it worked" trouble shooting.

I just don't want to put time into trying to troubleshoot/diagnose/replace things if there is a bigger issue that might not be worth fixing.

Since it's not completed disengaging, I doubt is a worn clutch. You may be able to get out of this without dropping the trans which would be nice.

I vote for clutch master cylinder. I just read about a very similar issue and it wasn't the slave but the master. (Wow, that just sounded racist)

Gears 2-5 are always easier to get into.

...I'm still secretly hoping the trans is about to explode so I have an excuse to go pick up something fun to beat on all winter

In reply to BlueInGreen44:

2wd 5spd Ford Ranger was my all-time best fun per dollar winter beater. So good in fact that I beat on it during the other three seasons too.

Check the linkage. Had the exact same symptoms when I borrowed my father's car to go a field party, back when it was newish(also a 94 escort). Somehow got some field debris stuck in the linkage.

i actually bought an 86 toyota pick up because the owner though it needed a clutch and or trans while having the same issue. turned out to be a pinhole in the slave boot allowing moisture in and causing it to freeze.

Not that you need a 9th opinion, but yes... master/slave issue. Ever have a brake master cylinder go out? Sometimes it works and other times you foot goes to the floor? Same thing happens with masters/slaves. You had a situation where one or both weren't sealing, so you weren't pushing enough fluid to disengage the clutch. After a few pumps it lubed up and started sealing again. New ones are cheap.

Master/slave problem, what brand parts did you use?

I used the clutch slave that the PO had on hand, now that I think of it that may not have been a high quality part. Our local shop did all that work when I first got the car so I'll probably take it up there and see what they think

So... It needs a clutch. Shop says 700+ to do it. $ are tight and I'd rather not spend that right now but I know they will do a good job, machine the flywheel and everything.

Weighing options now.

How difficult is a clutch replacement on a 2nd gen Escort? I've never done a clutch before but I'm willing to try.

so, if you put it in 4th gear and go up a hill, do the revs climb and the speed does not?

I would think you would notice a slipping clutch.

This sounds to me like the clutch is staying engaged.

Why do they think the clutch is bad?

Rob R.

In reply to wvumtnbkr:

Those are my thoughts too but this is a good shop that I (and the rest of my family) have been taking beatermobiles to for years so if he says it ends a clutch then I believe him. I'm sure I'll get more details when I actually talk to the shop owner. I only talked to the desk lady on the phone.

My Celica does the same thing. My engagement point starts low but becomes steadily higher when the engine warms up.

My guess is bad master. My clutch needs help also, but I'm dragging my ass on that.

Replace the slave cylinder. It's cheap at rockauto.com. And is very easy to replace (relative to the clutch.)

If that's replaced, and it doesn't fix it, replace clutch. Again rockauto.com. Cheap as hell. Get flywheel cut at Napa. Also cheap. Pulling the tranny isn't bad. Buy a manual.

In reply to BlueInGreen44: R&R of the transmission is the most difficult part.

Seen either cause these issues, without slipping I generally lean towards hydraulic issues.

Like someone said early, low speed, high gear and floor it, puts a lot of load on the clutch and see if it slips.

Make sure the drain hole in the bottom of the fluid reservoir isn't clogged. This would cause kind of the symptoms you're having, as there might be some air in the master that can't get out. Engine warms up a little, and convective heating causes the clutch fluid to expand, reducing the effect of the air bubble or maybe pushing the air out. It can be intermittent, too, and the hole is usually so small that it's easy to clog. I had 3 masters do this to me in about as many months on the wagon before I got fed up and drilled the stupid hole out. No problems since, and it's been a few years now.