I have an 88 Formula with the 5 speed manual. I had the clutch replaced a year ago and since then it would occasionally become difficult to get into first gear. I knew I should have bled the clutch, but for whatever reason I didn't, I guess since it was never bad enough to garner my attention. Anyway, recently It got worse and now wont go into first or second at all ever. So I bled it finally and it was perfect again for about 5 miles, but after about 10 it was just as bad as before. So I checked for leakage and do not see any signs of leaking or even a difference in the reservoir level. So I bled it again, ran about 3/4 a bottle of fluid through. And it was perfect again for those 5 miles again, but after about 10 was again just as bad as before. So now I am quite baffled! Any Ideas?
Nine times out of ten with this problem, air is getting into the slave cylinder. If that's the situation with your Fiero, get Rodney's dual-seal slave.
Nine times out of ten with this problem, air is getting into the slave cylinder. If that's the situation with your Fiero, get Rodney's dual-seal slave.
I second that advice. Consider that your slave cylinder is a hydraulic unit with one seal on the piston. It moves twice with each gear shift (out and in). How many times has it shifted in the past 26 years? I installed one of Rodney's slave cylinders and it made a huge difference. Never shifted that well during my ownership. I spent a ton of time and money attempting to bleed the system with different methods ... as found in this forum. Should have just put on Rodney's part. It had dual seals instead of one. You can't go wrong. Even if it needs bleeding it will work better with his slave cylinder than an original equipment unit.
So I replaced my slave with Rodney's, which is totally awesome btw, but the problem persists. All gears including reverse are great now except 1 and 2. After further examination, though it seems that the problem may be related to the shifting linkage or something like that. I cannot even get it into 1 or 2 when the car is off. It feels like location of each is moved to the left. So 3 and 4 are almost to where 1 and 2 should be and 1 and 2 are too far left for the shifter to reach. I don't know if that is even possible to happen or why, but that's what it seems like when I'm trying to shift. Any ideas?
All the connections are sound. What is supposed to supporting the shifter back into neutral? Because it is not doing that anymore. It will sort of storing back from the right side, but from the left not at all.
Whatever you find to be the cause and cure, I suggest you take a piece of the split plastic wire loom cover and slide it over the fluid line at the slave cylinder. Push it down until it stops, then clip it off just below the slave so it covers part of the hard metal nipple going into the slave. It will insulate it from the heat of the cooling and exhaust components in that area and prevent boiling the fluid and creating more bubbles.
