Clutch/trasmission problems?

[Stoic]

Hey everyone -

So, I tried to find this on the interwebs, and I've searched around the forums but I haven't found anything that really sounds exactly like the problem I'm having.

So, I have a 1992 Ford Probe LX. About two years ago I had the engine and MTX from an '89 SHO 3.0 V6 rebuilt and thrown in. Helluva job, the thing looks disgustingly cramped under the hood. But dear lord does she move...

Anyway, I finally got to drive her a few months ago (long story involving deployments and other nightmares), and all seemed reasonably well. There are some quirks there, as would be expected, but overall it runs very well.

I just had it shipped across country from Idaho to Florida. I picked it up here and drove it... and there's some new problem that did not previously exist.

It's difficult to describe, but I'll give all the details I can. The car is hard to get into either reverse or first when at a standstill. This problem was there before I had it shipped, and I figured it was an idiosyncrasy involved with putting the Taurus shifter into the Probe body. That problem still exists, but I figure it might be tied with the new problem - whenever I go to second gear or above and apply any throttle, there's a sort of shudder or fast-paced sort of jolt that reverberates through the car. If I'm not giving it any gas, the shudder pretty much goes away. Same if it's not in gear or if I push in the clutch, be it at idle or speed. I tried to replicate the feeling in first, but it's really not noticeable, if it's there.

Any idea what might cause this? At first I was thinking the clutch was slipping or bad, but it's a pretty serious jolting feeling, so now I'm wondering if maybe a poorly adjusted shifter isn't fully engaging the gears and the gears sort of ... grinding against one another is perhaps what I'm feeling. I'm no mechanic, so I'm not sure. Interestingly, it's no more noticeable through the shift **** than anywhere else.

Anyway, any thoughts? I realize this is a strange question given the circumstances, but I'd appreciate any feedback.

Thanks.

 

[frosho]

Does it only happen when you're letting the clutch out? What brand is it? Did you put in a new throwout bearing?

This sounds like a problem with clutch engagement, not the trans. You could pull the starter and use a mirror to check the pressure plate fingers for wear. That's a relatively common cause of SHO clutch failures.

Almost forgot,



Let's see this Probe!

 

[tompumped]

I'm guessing you installed a new clutch if the engine was rebuilt, or at least inspected the old clutch and flywheel. It would have been hard to miss if the pressure plate fingers were worn. Maybe it has to do with the clutch inside the car itself? Meaning it wont fully disengage from the engine because not enough throw in the pedal.
I want to see how tight the fit is also. That thing must be fun to drive.

 

[Stoic]

Thanks for the replies!

Yes, it's only when I let the clutch out and under power, enough to accelerate.

Unfortunately ... I'm not 100% sure on the clutch. Given that the transmission was rebuilt, I'd have to assume that it's up to spec, but assumption, well, you know.

I'll have to find out more in that regard. The other thing is, as far as I have heard, there's no sound associated with this or anything - it just shakes. As soon as I can I'm gonna take your suggestion and check those things out, and look around to see if maybe it has a broken motor/trans mount.... I really don't know.

It's dark outside right now, so I can't do pictures yet, but I'll post a few tomorrow.

Thanks again!

 

[Stoic]

Here's a few pictures. I apologize if they're huge or whatever... I'm not good with posting pictures and whatnot. But yeah, there it is.

Anyway... I have to get a jack and some stands so I can get under it and have a look.

I talked to a guy at work today who used to work as a mechanic. He suggested that I have a look at the fueling system and make sure the fuel filter isn't plugging and whatnot before I get into the clutch. Any thoughts? I'm not sure if that would cause the exact problem that I'm having, but I guess it's a worth a shot. A fuel filter is cheap, after all...

 

[St Louis SHO]

Do want.

 

[frosho]

That is awesome.

A clogged fuel filter doesn't explain why the problem only occurs while you're letting out the clutch, though. I'd start by looking at the clutch assembly.

 

[tompumped]

I wouldn't mind having that car.
I wish I had the skills to do a swap like that.

 

[sperold]

These clutches do not have a history of slipping (unless they are oil soaked) as the fingers give up first. The first and reverse thing sounds like the bite point is very low, which means your pressure plate fingers are failing. As your throw out bearing nibbles off the pressure plate fingers, usually one by one in a circle, you will get some weird vibrations, as one side of the clutch has a different pressure exerted on it than the other.
Oh yea, and move that battery to the trunk on your Probe.

 

[Stoic]

Well... so I took the SHObe out for a ride today. The shuddering has vanished without explanation, like so much smoke in the wind. That being said, I'm still going to check it out asap, and that shouldn't be long.

But speaking of smoke, there's another problem that I wanted to bring up.

When I decelerate with the car in gear, I get quite a bit of smoke from the tailpipe below about 2,500 RPM. I usually bypass this problem by just hitting the clutch as I decelerate, but it's something I'd like to resolve.

That being said, I read something on here about the ECU "learning" the idle point. As I came back from the last ride before dark (headlights aren't working right now), I rolled into a parking spot and ... the engine suddenly wanted to idle no lower than 1700-1800 RPM. Weirdness. I checked under the hood to see if the throttle was sticking; no dice.

So I'm wondering - is the smoke possibly a result of the ECU not being properly tuned or something? Is the sudden change in idle speed perhaps also related to the ECU learning the idle?

Thanks again for everyone's help. And that battery most likely will find its way to the trunk, probably about the same time I replace two of the tail lights.

 

[ckinney89sho]

i would think more towards th IAC not the ECU. the only time it should have to be programmed would be if you do upgrades.

 

[SuperHO]

oil smoke on decel is something i've dealt with on every MTX SHO i've ever owned, regardless of the miles on the engine. i just shrug it off as adding to the sleeper status. as for your clutch, it's possible that after sitting for so long, some surface rust appeared on the flywheel that just needed to be scraped away.