I would really really appreciate it if someone could give me some feedback on a clutch issue I'm wrestling with.

Could you please have a look at the thread Here at my local Fiero club's forum.

With the pictures and all it's just so much easier to post a link rather than start from scratch here and re-post everything. Thanks.

Looks like either the clutch fork got itself in front of the T/O bearing, or someone forced the arm on the shaft in the wrong position.

Is the clutch engaged as is (car will lunge foreward if you try to crank the starter in gear), or is it disengaged (can start motor and let it run in gear) ?

Mike, the clutch is engaged.

Awww, I was hoping you would say it wasnt, then maybe it was just stuck foreward. Can the arm be pulled back at all ? Only thing I can think of to try before dropping the trans is to try removing the arm and see if it will go on in a nother position, although I kind of doubt it. The fork shaft should be notched where the bolt goes through the arm not allowing it to be on wrong.

Mike, the clutch arm (lever) can be pulled towards the driver side of the car maybe half an inch. So it's not stuck solid, but it obviously appears to be positioned incorrectly.

I don't think the arm is on the shaft incorrectly. With the bolt going through that notch, I don't think it's even possible for it to go on wrong.

Looks more and more like the cradle needs to be dropped.

Ya, I have the feeling they put the T/O bearing behind the fork. Either wat I would want to take it all apert and check stuff out to feel comfortable. Kinda shows they werent sure what they were doing, check and make sure things are torqued correctly.

Yes, the more I dig into this car (which has been sitting for five years!), the more wrong I find with it from the previous owner. I don't think he was much of a mechanic. I reported the starter problems Here.

Thanks for your feedback, Mike.

No prob, good luck with it !!

There's also something rubbing on the inside of the timing cover which I haven't posted about yet!

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 09-26-2009).]

ewww, thats not good ! only supposed to be the two gears in there, the cover isnt dented is it ?

Maybe with your clutch problem he forgot the t/o bearing, it sounds dumb but my one friend did that on his Audi last winter and he's not a half bad mechanic, its just something you forget about some times.

quote Originally posted by Mike Gonzalez: ewww, thats not good ! only supposed to be the two gears in there, the cover isnt dented is it ?

Nothing obvious, but I suppose dented or not, it's gotta come off.

I had no idea where the heck the "screaming" was coming from when I first started the engine. (It had been sitting for five years!) I dug out the mechanic's stethoscope that I had bought ages ago and had never used. Worked pretty good!

I discussed this timing cover issue in more detail in my Broken starter bolt thread at the club's forum.

quote Originally posted by Mike Gonzalez: ewww, thats not good ! only supposed to be the two gears in there, the cover isnt dented is it ?

I had a closer look today, and again used my mechanic's stethoscope. I pinpointed where the rubbing sound was coming from (right at the top of the timing cover) and noticed there was a buildup of silicone there, probably extra that had sort of oozed over from where the gasket is. I peeled it away with my finger. Low and behold, what did I find!



Yep, a dent right at the top center of the timing cover!



I've got to drop the cradle anyway to fix the clutch issue. So now I can fix this at the same time, as well as replace the water pump I notice is dripping out of the weep hole.

Never a dull moment working on these cars.