Losing Gears

[Fireman]

So I just had a long day and I was wondering if someone could help me possibly diagnose this. I shift from 1st, to 2nd, move it on to 3rd. It feels a littlefunny. I shift to 4th. I go back to 3rd to see if I was being weird. The ratio maintains the same in 3rd. I come to a stop. I no longer have any gear except was seems to be 3rd and 4th to me. I get the car 15 miles go closer to home. Suddenly the only gear I had disappears. I pull over and get the car to a hill. After a while I decide to turn of the car, put the car in gear, and release the brake. The car is held by the transmission.

The car is currently sitting at North Penn Mazda for diagnosis but I was wondering if someone could give me their advice. I am so perplexed by the situation. I thought it was an clutch but I'm starting to think not.

[4DR_DB7]

and you go to Drexel for mechanical engineering? lol. j/k son.

The way you are describing it is very confusing. Like at first I thought u were describing a blown clutch, and then i think you are describing the clutch holding, but I'm not sure you tested it right.

With the car stopped, foot on the brake

1. Put car in first gear, keep clutch pedal pushed in
2. take foot off brake
3. SLOWLY let clutch pedal out without giving any throttle

Car should begin to lurch forward if the clutch is holding as its being sandwiched between the pressure plate and the flywheel, transfering torque to the wheels.

Next, while driving at approx 30-40 mph:

1. shift up to 5th gear
2. apply throttle
3. If the car accelerates, albeit slowly the clutch is holding.
4. if the Rpms just go up, but the car doesn't accelerate the clutch is slipping and F'd.

If the clutch is done, it doesn't really matter what gear you're in, you will know it. I don't know what you mean by "ratio stayed the same" when you shifted from 4th to 3rd, sounds strange. And if one of your gears was kaiboshed, you wouldn't be able to shift into that gear at all.

Is it possible you just let the RPMs drop too low in 3rd gear and it bogged down? This would really feel "weird" if you weren't paying attention and didn't realize it. idk.

[Fireman]

Let me try to reexplain. The car will no longer move. I did the first test you described already. It does nothing. The car goes nowhere. I may try again in the morning at North Penn to check it on a level place, i was parked downhill prior. As for your second test, I wish i could get the car moving.

"If the clutch is done, it doesn't really matter what gear you're in, you will know it. I don't know what you mean by "ratio stayed the same" when you shifted from 4th to 3rd, sounds strange. And if one of your gears was kaiboshed, you wouldn't be able to shift into that gear at all."

I think what was happening was that I wasnt shifting gears at all. I think I was stuck in 3 or 4th the whole entire time. The more i think about it the more it perplexes me. It just all doesnt add up.

[DPancoast]

does anything happen when you engage the clutch pedal? if not, maybe its stuck

[Fireman]

dude, idek, the clutch pedal was doing something at first because i got it moving for a few miles, then it gave out and seems to not engage much

[Eclipse GSX 61]

Castelli how many times have I told you Protege's were not in The Fast and The Furious.... therefor take it easy they aren't true race cars. lol

[jb1830]

Clutch master/slave cylinder could be dead.

[Fireman]

I found out its most likely the clutch. So far as for replacement I like the ACT Street Disc, any one have any other recommended Discs or Shop where i can pick one up.

[4DR_DB7]

Originally Posted by Fireman

I found out its most likely the clutch. So far as for replacement I like the ACT Street Disc, any one have any other recommended Discs or Shop where i can pick one up.

you will also need a pressure plate and throw out bearing, and possibly a new flywheel, or at the very least, have it resurfaced.

[REP FDF]

sounds like ur shift forks in the trans are sticking and shes staying in more than one gear at a time

[Fireman]

Originally Posted by REP FDF

sounds like ur shift forks in the trans are sticking and shes staying in more than one gear at a time

I was originally looking at that cause thats how it felt, we will see what happens during the tear down...

[Evo_X_87]

haha dude... u drive it like a nut haha... i have the act heavy duty and i like it... RT tuning did mine and im happy..

[Fireman]

im hoping this clutch will compliment my driving habits a little more... ACT street clutch has been ordered and will be installed this weekend. Although because im at school my mom will prolly end up braking it in

[Fireman]

Update - God hates my car, and the tech working on my car is retarded. It wasn't my clutch, but something internal in my transmission. more update to follow.

[Fireman]

Update - In the end after cracking open the clutch it turned out 2nd gear, and somehow reverse was blow too? Shift Fork will also be replaced and hopefully the protege will roll once again.

[R_Rambo]

ha you guys all called me crazy when I said that tech. told me that reverse is usually the first gear to go in a tranny. (hopefully someone with knowledge will chime in on that) it seems weird it happened to mine and yours, not saying reverse went first on yours but it did on mine

[Fireman]

I dont remember calling you crazy on that. I dont know if its true or not but it seems to make sense that it would with how the idler gear and how reverse works by meshing a gear between the mainshaft and the reverse gear. Are you sure I was the one calling you crazy?

[R_Rambo]

maybe that rob and guppie, I said that while we were in his truck and senior week, I forget why that came up though

[Fireman]

Its all back together now and on the road. I gotta still replace the 5th gear synchro cause it cracked during the process. Will install that next weekend. But for now on the road as a 4spd!!