I recently bought an 86 GT with 3800 SC from my brother in law. It has the 5 speed in it. I had set for a few years with a bad fuel pump, but I got it up and running. So I took it for a test drive and made it about a mile and it ran fine, but when I stopped to turn around it wouldn't go into gear. I check the clutch fluid and its full. Its pretty nasty looking though. And ideas what could have happened that it went from driving fine to not disengaging the clutch? I can still shift through the gears when the car isn't running but if i put in in gear and try to start it lurches forward.
This is something that has been discussed in these forums about a billion times.
Air can be drawn into the clutch hydraulic system very quickly when there's a problem. It usually occurs at the slave. If this is what's happened with your Fiero, I'd suggest getting the double seal slave cylinder form Rodney Dickman.
Air has gotten into your clutch hydraulics. It's probably the seal on the slave cylinder. It could be corrosion, or a bad line, or a loose fitting....but because the car has been sitting for a while, the seal is the prime suspect. Bleeding the clutch can be an adventure...there are many threads and opinions on how to do it in the archives.....but probably not a billion.
Im looking at Rodney's site now. I may just order the slave rebuild kit.
You need to be certain then that the bore in the slave cylinder is absolutely perfect. Otherwise, you'll be cursing the fact you didn't buy the whole thing.
For those of us who've experienced the frustrations of air in the Fiero's clutch hydraulic system (and that includes me years ago), buying Rodney's replacement slave cylinder is the way to go. It's worth every cent.
You need to be certain then that the bore in the slave cylinder is absolutely perfect. Otherwise, you'll be cursing the fact you didn't buy the whole thing.
For those of us who've experienced the frustrations of air in the Fiero's clutch hydraulic system (and that includes me years ago), buying Rodney's replacement slave cylinder is the way to go. It's worth every cent.
OK, I will take the slave cylinder off tomorrow and take it apart to inspect it. If it looks questionable I will just order the whole thing. I thank you guys very much. I'm new to the Fiero game, but it was this forum that made me get into it!!! Im sure I will have more questions down the road.
Rodney's slave is better than the stock unit so you can't go wrong with your choice. Completely bleed out your system to remove all that old contaminated fluid.
Generally the cause of hydraulic failure when a car has been sitting or a long time is that condensation will pit the bore and varnish will build up in the bore of the MC or slave. It only takes a few operations of the clutch to wear a spot in the seals and they start to leak fluid or pull air. Your problem could be either the MC or slave. The black fluid you encountered is deterioration of the rubber parts in the system. When flushing and refilling, do not use the newer DOT 5 fluids. DOT 3 preferred and DOT 4 max.
