Clutch Cable snapped at Clutch fork

[Warren]

I was driving and the clutch pedal went to the floor. I looked under the hood and the cable snapped where it connected to the clutch fork.

So my question is, I have it parked in a parking lot. Is it possible to drive it home? I live 10 miles away from the parking lot and there are no lights or stops.
I dont think my car is safe where it is.

 

[jlunde15]

if you idle, possibly.

Your best bet on driving it home would be to find a buddy, push it onto a hauler if you can get it out of gear, and tow it.

good luck

 

[jayro]

If you can take it out of gear to start it. Then get it rolling and slide it into 1st....you will have to match the rpms to the trans speed to do it. Then cruise home in first, or bring it up to speed and shift into second the same way.

It is possible, but not the easiest thing to do. Best thing would be to get a buddy to pull you home.

Or buy a clutch cable and put it in. It's not extremely difficult.

 

[frosho]

if you idle, possibly.

No need to "idle" it home. Why do you say that?


OP, If I was in your situation, I would definitely drive it home with no clutch instead of trying to fix it in the parking lot, and I've done it before. It all depends on how comfortable you are with shifting without a clutch. The fact that there are no stops on the route makes it a lot easier, as starting from a stop is the biggest hassle. When my cable snapped last year, I knew exactly what had happened, so I didn't bother pulling off the road. I just drove straight home. I did run a red light on a off-ramp to avoid stopping, but I was prepared to stop if I had to (slowed WAY down, enough to look both ways to make sure the road was clear). Be careful and pay attention to what you're doing, and you'll be fine.

As mentioned, the best way to get started is to get it rolling (via gravity, a helper pushing the car, whatever) and then slide it into gear. If necessary, you can always start the car in first. Just be aware that the car is going to lurch forward, so make sure there's nothing in your way.

 

[Warren]

Thanks for the info. I ordered the clutch cable from rock auto I think the atp one. But it won't be hre til Thursday and I just don't want the car towed or broken into. I will try at night to drive hme when there are almost no other cars on the road. Agin thanks for th tips

 

[YZF-Ford]

I've had my clutch cables break in my SVO and Cobra II. Put it in 1st with the car off and use the starter to get going. You can upshift and downshift without the clutch, it may grind if you don't time it right.

 

[jelloslug]

I have driven a short distance with no clutch before. If you can plan it out do it when there is minimal traffic and plan a route with as few stops as possible.

 

[SHOspazz92]

I've driven a SHO with no clutch pedal before, It was easy!

(ATX FTW)

 

[jimtash]

In a time when transmission parts are not being manufactured and hard to come by, are you sure it's wise to chance tearing up something for a $30 cable? Pay the tow bill if you have to or leave it where it's at because the hassle of finding parts for the MTX is definitely worth avoiding.

I'm lucky in one regard. The transmission in my '89 gave out and was rebuilt at the dealership with brand new Ford parts in 1998. That isn't a luxury most people here have these days.

 

[jlunde15]

No need to "idle" it home. Why do you say that?

Because I was at work and had a brain fart, sorry OP, didn't mean to give you bad info. My fault.:booboo:

 

[frosho]

In a time when transmission parts are not being manufactured and hard to come by, are you sure it's wise to chance tearing up something for a $30 cable?

What's going to get torn up? Yes, the synchros might see a little extra wear, but that's why I said it depends on how comfortable the driver is with clutch-less shifting. Time the shifts correctly, and they won't see much abuse. It's a 10 mile trek with no stops... shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[Racer X]

In a time when transmission parts are not being manufactured and hard to come by, are you sure it's wise to chance tearing up something for a $30 cable? Pay the tow bill if you have to or leave it where it's at because the hassle of finding parts for the MTX is definitely worth avoiding.

I'm lucky in one regard. The transmission in my '89 gave out and was rebuilt at the dealership with brand new Ford parts in 1998. That isn't a luxury most people here have these days.

When the alternative is not coming back to a car, a little extra synchro wear suddenly becomes less of a concern.

 

[jimtash]

Tow it if need be. You know these things have a tendency to go bad over time especially if they have the original synchros in them.

At the time I didn't realize it because of the repair bill, but thankfully the synchros in my car did let go when they did because parts were readily available. These days it's getting hard to find a knock sensor much less transmission parts. I respect that fact.

Your cars fellas and do as you wish.

 

[Phoenix]

Tows over here are like 30-40$ , dont risk an accident for that amount of money.

 

[kevinspann]

Heh. They won't hook up to the car for that much around here, let alone actually tow it...

 

[Racer X]

Heh. They won't hook up to the car for that much around here, let alone actually tow it...

Seriously. I had to get towed from Union Square to Queens once.

It might have been 12 or 13 miles.

$240.

 

[Phoenix]

Seriously. I had to get towed from Union Square to Queens once.

It might have been 12 or 13 miles.

$240.

Holy crap , here you get the heavy duty tow truck (the ones that tows Semi tractors) for that kind of money. Its 150$ for the call plus millage.

 

[Slo-Sho]

If you know what your rpms's would be at a certain mph for the gear you wanna be in, the shifter will slide right in no problem. It's much easier to do on diesel trucks b/c the rpms come down a lot slower, with a gasser you have to modulate the throttle more to avoid grinding the gears.

 

[Warren]

Thanks for the input. I decided not to do it since I would have to probably blow through 2 lights if they were red and even though late at night there's prob no cars on the road I didn't want to chance it. Towing woul cost an easy $150 minimum that I don't have so I. Went back and check on it and it seems ok for now. Cutch cable should behere soon sincei says on truck fo delivery.

wht tools should I bring with me? Would will be needed to disconnect the cable from the pedal / tensioner? From what I read ill need a thin wire or rope to pull the new cabl back in after pulling the old one out and a spair set of hands or wrench to prop up the clutc pedal.

 

[Warren]

Installed the clutch cable and it took me an hour. The 2 worst parts were re routing it 3 different times so it wasnt hug up on the brake lines that are routed right there and I still cant get that damned rubber gromet back in the fire wall hole. I was standing on my head for 20 mins trying to force it back in with no luck. Ill try again tomorrow but my car is back on the road again thankfully.

Any tips on how to pop that gromet back into the firewall?

Oh and Im glad I got the part and did it today. Some toothless crackhead saw me working on my car and told me how he saw the car parked there for a few days and thought someone abandoned it and tried to get money from me to fix it for me.