Attention Motorheads 2004 GT 6 Speed Clutch issue very weird

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countryfarmboy
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:59 am

Attention Motorheads 2004 GT 6 Speed Clutch issue very weird

Post by countryfarmboy »

Hello All,
I just picked up a 2004 GT 6 Speed with 199,900 miles. The owner was very forth coming and I knew there was a clutch disengagement issue. So here's the problem. The owner puts in a new clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing and drives the car for 6 months without any issues. He's getting off the freeway and the car will not go into any gear without grinding once he stops. He has to turn off the car to put it into gear. Once in gear, he can drive as long as he doesn't stop the car as it will not go into gear when stopped. He replaced the clutch slave cylinder and it did not fix the issue. What's weird is the car drives fine for maybe 5 minutes and then this problem happens, not going into any gear when stopped. He sold the car to me as I like a challenge. I saw on this group where a guy took a video of the amount of travel the clutch fork is moving when the clutch pedal is pushed. It was like 5/8 of an inch. I checked mine and it's doing the same travel. I've had a clutch fail in a 1987 Dodge 2.2 and it locked the car in gear. The a rivet holding the spring pack failed and the clutch expanded and kept the car in gear. So, I'm trying to trouble shoot this logically being that it can be driven normally for the first 5 minutes and also shifts fine once in motion. Just when it stops does it have the issue without going into gear. I've replaced maybe 10 clutches so this has me stumped. I'd hate to pull it apart to find out everything is fine inside and I just missed something. I can let the car idle for 15 - 20 minutes and it will go into gear fine. It's only after its been driven for 5 minutes. I'm going to check the transmission oil level tomorrow. I figured I'd through this out here with the vast knowledge and experience with these cars. My car experience is with water cooled VW's, Chevy V-8s, V-6's and a few FWD Dodges. Some say it may be air in the lines but if the slave cylinder is moving the fork 5/8", it would seem it's OK. So the issue is the clutch is not totally disengaging after 5 minutes of driving but drives fine when driving but once you stop, there's no way to get it into 1st. I can get it into 2nd with a little grinding. I basically drove this home and it's sitting until I can figure it out. Thanks for all your knowledge!
andrewclaus
Posts: 482
Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2017 6:38 pm
Location: Golden, CO

Re: Attention Motorheads 2004 GT 6 Speed Clutch issue very weird

Post by andrewclaus »

Something similar happened in my '98 Subaru. The problem there was a section of hose line between the master and clutch. It would get soft when the engine was hot. It worked fine when it was cold.
countryfarmboy
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:59 am

Re: Attention Motorheads 2004 GT 6 Speed Clutch issue very weird

Post by countryfarmboy »

Wow, no that makes sense. I will go see if there is a hydraulic hose. It would make sense there is one as the engine is flexing back and forth and a hard piped line would break! Thanks!
zbyers
Posts: 1767
Joined: Thu Apr 03, 2014 6:12 pm
Location: Sheffield, Pennsylvania

Re: Attention Motorheads 2004 GT 6 Speed Clutch issue very weird

Post by zbyers »

Sounds like the clutch may not have been installed properly.
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countryfarmboy
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:59 am

Re: Attention Motorheads 2004 GT 6 Speed Clutch issue very weird

Post by countryfarmboy »

I would have thought that but the guy had been driving it for 6 months before it started doing this. I'm going to test the hose idea the guy above had. Keeping my fingers crossed that that is it. 8-)
jolt
Posts: 945
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 2:07 am
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota

Re: Attention Motorheads 2004 GT 6 Speed Clutch issue very weird

Post by jolt »

I will guess that it is heat related. Exhaust heat shield missing? If the line is getting hot and the fluid is boiling. Bad or poor fluid in the system? Exhaust or clutch modified? Improper installation of the clutch? You can get ideas but you are never going to know until you take it apart.
countryfarmboy
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:59 am

Re: Attention Motorheads 2004 GT 6 Speed Clutch issue very weird

Post by countryfarmboy »

Thanks for the input. I will check for missing exhaust shielding. I see the hydraulic hose is contained in a protective sheath but haven't removed it. I'm hoping it is that. Haven't had a chance to really dig into it as this is more of a toy car and not a daily driver and I promised my wife I would fix things around the house for her before I spend a lot of time on the car. 8-)
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