Tranny issue still... need some input/advice

[Mrizzle05]

Well most of you normal users know that my tranny is all funky... it still runs fine in gear, but still have problems that need some TLC.I have a stg. 2 clutch and re-surfaced flywheel, but still have the same problem w/ tranny as before the swap, and OEM clutch stil had life.Problem:-When i start my car, i let it warm up for about 2-3 min. now. i put it in first gear and give it some gas and let go of the clutch. Well MOST cases, if its not almost perfect, it starts to shudder, but like the tranny or so it seems. ones it grabs and goes its pretty much ok.when i had the stock clutch in and i didnt give it enough it would just chug and bog down till the RPMs cought up.-when i down shift i try and let the clutch in slow so it catches to the right rpms before i fully let go... do that in most cases. ive been rev matching more so since the new clutch. but it still shudders a lil when i down shift into second.-In reverse my car almost dies when i try to back up really slow, i almost have to go like 5-7 MPH to stay in gear or ill stall and it shudders. I also burn the clutch sometimes cuz it doesnt get enough gas then its too much... EERRGH!What ive done:I went to dealers after install of AM clutch and they charged me to say it was now flywheel but wanted to charge 600 to look at it. i was like no way... give you more money to LOOK at it after i spent close to 800 in time and parts and labor to fix what you siad it was.so then i took it to a AAMCO and they said they didnt know what it was either... (removed)? no one knows? not even an idea? so they wanted like 550 to check it aswell.So what should i do... i dont wanna keep drivng like this. so i wanna see what options would be best.A: buy a used tranny (somewhere) and have a shop or 9thgen guys install it.B: pay GM/AAMCO 600 just to look at it? C: get OEM clutch and flywheel (already have one sitting) and just replace back to stock... dont know why, but just an idea.D: keep driving it and save up to trade it in or till it breaks and i really find out whats broke? sorry for the long write up, but thanks for input or reading...

[damronjr]

Take it somewhere else to have them look at it for 1/3 of the price.

[GrayFox]

what's AAMCO?will a tranny shop not look at it for a lot less like Jason said?

[Mrizzle05]

AAMCO is like the name brand tranny shop.. and i went to a cousins shop where theyve been there for over 20 years.I got a deal, but its still not fixed so thought id try some UPPER scale place to see whats up... but nothing just same old well check it for 600.

[joatmon]

once the clutch grabs and the engine is providing enough power, "its pretty much ok" would make me think that the problem is not necesarily the tranny but either something sucking all the low end torque out of the engine, or perhaps some extra drag, like binding brakes that put an extra load on, making it harder on the engine during take offs.and the oblgatory question, please don't take offense, somebody has to ask, so it might as well be me, are you sure you know how to drive a manual tranny properly?Anybody else around you have a stock manual tranny Vibe you can drive to make sure yours is not working normally for a Vibe?Can't check the clutch/flywheel/pressure plate without pulling the tranny. Pulling the tranny can be done, but it is a non-trivial amount of work, and shop rates are gonna add up. are the springs in the aftermarket clutch significantly tighter than the springs in the OEM clutch?Only other thing I can think of is since it's a hydraulic clutch, maybe a small air bubble in the line, making the clutch action be not as smooth as it should be.

[Mrizzle05]

i understand you asking bout driving a clutch.when i first got the car, i was a rookie and i drove a honda clutch which was a lot better then vibe clutch... so when i first had the vibe i grinding frist a bit and sometimes second... i eventually got used to the clutch.I DO know how to drive a clutch, but theres sooo many ways people drive a clutch or say wats wat. i used to hold the clutch in A LOT while at lights and on a hill, didnt know it was bad, but here it is.I DO drive hard sometimes... it just happens, and before i did it more. now its just to get on the freeway or pass some jerk.Ive had the clutch/ flywheel checked after it was installed again and they said it was on fine and all, they just did know why it had problems after... so i was like uh ok.So im just at a loss as to what it aCTUALLY is and what i need to do to fix it... i again am to the point of saving for a DP and just trading it in... as much as i dont want to i may again decide to do that.

[kevera]

Sounds like your flywheel to me.Who resurfaced the flywheel?.And you said it was doing it before the clutch change right.

[Mrizzle05]

a machine shop that my tranny shop uses... they said it wasnt bad at all and they did a light resurface cuz its was still good.Im just confused cuz i dont wanna pay a crap load to get something fixed thats still ok and then it be something else.

[Dezz1]

You do not need it looked at. The rumbling and shuttering will soon disappear. The stage 2 and resurfacing have to get used to one another. In addition, to addjusting to your driving style. I replaced mine 3 weeks ago and now the shuttering is gone, and I don't burn rubber most of the time. Trust me, you just need to drive it more, and let the resurfaced flywheel and stage 2 burn off a little.

[Mrizzle05]

Ive been driving it for bout 2+ months now... i understand where your coming from but its just not gone and i dont beat on it anymore... just push it sometimes to get on the freeway or pass a car (but its fine in any gear driving) it just downshifting in the lower gears and take offs...when im in a drive thru and give it some gas and move like 4 ft. it wants to stall but shudders until i put the clutch all the way back in.Im gonna try tonight to get pics of the engine and tranny, so ill post up what i see and let you see whats goin on under the hood.

[joatmon]

if it was me, I'd check the easy things first. None of these things are likley to be the problem, but they'd be a lot cheaper than pulling the tranny to look inside.check for drag. put it in neutral, engine and parking brake off, jack up one wheel at a time and make sure they all spin freely.check torque by doing something like rolling along slowly at idle in first, hit the gas and see if the engine shudderswatch under the hood, engine off, while a friend slowly presses, then release the clutch all the way, look to see if the slave cylinder action is smooth. Maybe pressa fingertip on the end of the clutch fork when it is being presses released to feel for anything other than smooth motion. Even if that looked ok, I might still bleed the line.

[Dezz1]

Whoa, I don't know what to say now. So its been two months? I agree with the other cat, start with the small items first. Maybe the clutch cable needs adjusting. I am not sure. I could call the same place I got my clutch done and see what they come up with.

[tcam]

sounds like it might just be a busted motor mount. have u checked those out yet?

[Mrizzle05]

i looked.. dont know how to tell how if their bad.... i took pics of waht i could... ill post them up tomorrow or so.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by Mrizzle05 »i looked.. dont know how to tell how if their bad.... i took pics of waht i could... ill post them up tomorrow or so.Not good enough, get it fixed NOW!