Why is it suddenly shifting hard?

1999 SATURN SC1
150,000 MILES
Avatar
PASTORDEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
5-speed manual. It suddenly shifts hard. The shifter is stiff, sometimes it won't go in certain gears. For example it might not go into reverse but the other gears are fine. Next time reverse is fine and it doesn't like 1st etc... The clutch pedal seems fine. I replaced the engine about 1000 miles ago. When I examined the clutch and pressure plate it appeared to be in good condition and I replaced them about two years ago, so I did not replace it this time. The car does not lurch but sometimes grinds not wanting to go into a gear.

When I replaced the engine I replaced the fluid in the transmission too. After the engine change everything was great.
Dec 29, 2011 at 7:21 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
SATURNTECH9
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 30,869 POSTS
So is the clutch pedal hard going all the way down?Or does it drop some then get hard?Also the floor mat isnt under the clutch where it meets the carpet is it?
Dec 29, 2011 at 7:32 PM
Avatar
PASTORDEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The clutch seems to work fine.
Dec 30, 2011 at 12:59 AM
Advertisement
Avatar
SATURNTECH9
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 30,869 POSTS
If it grinds or is hard to get into all the gears its the clutch hydralics or the clutch itself.If you say the hydralics are which iam not there to see if they are then you have a pressure plate clutch disc issue.If it were only in like 1st gear then you would have a syncronizer issue inside the transmission.
Dec 30, 2011 at 2:42 AM