Crazy tranny/clutch symptoms - can you diagnose? help me troubleshoot?

[JohnInCincy]

Hi Guys,


This seems like a great forum, just found it, hope you guys can help me figure this out.


I’ve got a ’98 1500 Ram 5.2L, 4WD manual tranny that I’ve had for about 3 years. I wrench on it and my other cars for most minor to medium stuff and I’ve owned a dozen cars over the years and never seen anything like this before.


Few weeks ago I was headed to the parts store and was a few miles from home. Everything was completely normal driving and shifting up to this point when things had warmed up (this will come up again). I’m pulling away from a stop sign in 1st gear and as soon as I get the clutch all the way out, the truck starts bucking like it does when you’re teaching someone to drive a stick and they don’t give it enough gas and they’re almost stalling the engine.


I pushed the clutch back in and the truck is idling fine, try it again and the same thing happens - note that this isn’t me messing up the start. The clutch is all the way out, the engine is pulling and not stalling, but the truck is bucking/surging and kept at it until i pushed in the clutch again. Pulled over, hood up, under truck - engine idling strong, no weird sounds, no signs, no odors.


I try one more time and this time I slip the clutch out more slowly and give it more gas and I feel something catch or slip - or I don’t know what and it goes into gear.


I turn around and head toward home and it gets worse the longer I drive it. It starts doing the bucking thing while at speed after shifting into higher gears unless I slip the clutch slowly and rev it (which is weird to do between 3rd and 4th) and then I feel that slip or catch or whatever it is right before it smooths out. And when I get it home and push the clutch in to the floor, but the engine is slowing like the clutch is half way out and then it releases and idles fine.


Next day (when everything was cool) took it out for a drive but stayed close to home. Everything seemed totally normal for the first few miles then it started happening again and I brought it home.


Haven’t gotten very far in troubleshooting because I’ve never done clutch or tranny work. I know this thing has a hydraulic actuator and the problem does seem to be with engaging or disengaging or both, but I don’t have the cash to just change that out and hope that’s the problem.


The nearest shop is out of driving range so I’d have to have it towed, can anyone help me troubleshoot this. Any ideas. Anything you would suggest I try or test or check?


Thanks ahead of time.


John

 

[Fast69Mopar]

Is the check engine light on? Did the check engine light ever start flashing? Also, if the check engine light never illuminated doesn't mean it didn't store a 1-trip failure so a scan tool would help in furthering the diagnosis.

Has the transmission ever been out of the truck? Are there any tool marks on the heads of the bolts like someone has worked on it before?

When is the last time the truck had any tune-up work performed like plugs, wires, cap and rotor?

The first thing I would check is the wiring to the crank sensor. Next, I would check the wiring to the distributor pick-up coil. The pick-up coil is the black plate that sits between the distributor housing and the distributor cap. It has a 3-wire harness attached to it.

 

[goldeneyee]

My best guess is that its time to replace the clutch and reface the flywheel. While you at it replace the throw out bearing. I really don't believe its an engine problem

 

[turkeybird56]

My best guess is that its time to replace the clutch and reface the flywheel. While you at it replace the throw out bearing. I really don't believe its an engine problem

YUP ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ My very first thought was CLUTCH.............might as well put in a new through out bearing. maybe new tension spring. Resurface flywheel, well that OK, but watch when U pull that monster, some are real heavy and dem teeth bite, (LOL been bit before long time ago pulling trans on 67 Chevy SS) Make sure U got a Clutch alignment tool when U put back together,., we used to cheat and use dowel, but I bet things are a lot tighter than they were in '69


added: check for any type fluid leak onto flywheel/clutch also...