3 replies to this topic

[dk8100]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and hoping you can help me out.

I have a 1997 Esprit V8. when the car is off I can move the shifter throughout the gears fine. As soon as the car is started I cannot move the car out of gear(have tried both 1st and Reverse). The car also moves forvard when idling even if the clutch is disengaged. I am going to bleed the clutch and see what that does for the problem.

It gets more difficult to shift when the car gets hot. I know on older models this was associated with the red clutch hose, however the red hose is only around 2 feet long on my car. Is that hose still a problem on the 1997?

I searched the forum before posting and noticed a lot of people saying ot replace the transaxle fluid. Does anyone know if this would help with my shifter problem?

I hope you guys can help me out becuase right now I have to turn the car off and on a few times just to move it around the driveway.

[Zhastaph]

The problem will definately be with your clutch, though it could be either the clutch plates themselves or the hydraulics.

Bleed the system the clutch system through first and see how it is then. If it's then still bad, assuming the pedal feels normal and you cannot find any obvious signs of damage to the slave cylinder then it's likely to be the clutch plates.

A slightly crazy way to test this for sure without dismantling the clutch is to remove the slave cylinder and it's mounting from the clutch housing. Place a scissor jack between the crossmember and clutch fork and activate it manual using the jack. Start the car and see if your gears work. { Prolly a trick reserved for the slightly insane though }

Chances are though the clutch plate has become twisted or jammed on it's spline.

[dk8100]

The problem will definately be with your clutch, though it could be either the clutch plates themselves or the hydraulics.

Bleed the system the clutch system through first and see how it is then. If it's then still bad, assuming the pedal feels normal and you cannot find any obvious signs of damage to the slave cylinder then it's likely to be the clutch plates.

A slightly crazy way to test this for sure without dismantling the clutch is to remove the slave cylinder and it's mounting from the clutch housing. Place a scissor jack between the crossmember and clutch fork and activate it manual using the jack. Start the car and see if your gears work. { Prolly a trick reserved for the slightly insane though }

Chances are though the clutch plate has become twisted or jammed on it's spline.

Thanks for the advice. I can't work on it again for another week, but ill try all taht stuff, except for the scissor jack thing. That sounds a little crazy for me. I am planning on replacing the slave cylinder to rule that out. Thanks for the help, I will update with any changes.

[atgnat]

Thanks for the advice. I can't work on it again for another week, but ill try all taht stuff, except for the scissor jack thing. That sounds a little crazy for me. I am planning on replacing the slave cylinder to rule that out. Thanks for the help, I will update with any changes.

sounds to me like it's a slave.