1997 Chevy Camaro HELP! My gears are all messed up!

QTRAYRAY

MEMBER
1997 CHEVROLET CAMARO

Transmission problem
1997 Chevy Camaro 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Manual 128xxx miles

ok so long story short.I bought my 97 camaro V-6 3800 and come to find out it had a problem with the clutch master cylinder and pushrod so I had somebody replace it. After that it was fine for a about a week or so then I started having problems getting it into first and then before I knew it I couldnt even get it into first. After a while of driving it like that I started having problems with it being VERY hard to shift into gears and now its like it has a mind of its own and works when it wants to.I put it into 2nd and it rev's, I have to put some force to get it into 3rd, and the same with 4th, and it goes in nutrual and also reverse and once in a while I can shift into all gears but only for a little ways before it starts messing up again and when I shift into for instance 3rd and shift down to 2nd it feels like its in 1st. Another thing. After the guy did my clutch slave cylinder and pushrod it started sticking sometimes and then other times I only had half of a clutch pedel and at others a full one. Back to where I left off.I have been told that I need a new clutch and other places have told me that I need a new transmission. What is your honest opinion?

3 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

First thing to do is with the engine off see if will shift to different gears. Then put it in 2nd and hit the starter to see if the car will lurch forward. What problyou may have here is that the release arm has bent and will eventually break. If it hasn't already. But with the miles on it and not knowing how the other person as well as your self has driven the car i'd also say you probably need a clutch.

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Monday, April 19th, 2010 AT 1:49 PM

QTRAYRAY

MEMBER
2 POSTS

It goes into different gears when the car is off just not 1st and the same with 2nd when the car is off. Then like I said when the car has been driven down the street it starts doing the stuff with the gears. It also goes foward in nutrual after a little bit of being driven and the same with reverse it will go in but just go foward almost like its in 2nd or 3rd. Do you think the release arm can make it screw up the gears like that? Or would that be a tranny problem? It would also grind when trying to get it into gears but after a while of it grinding thats when I started having problems with the gears messing up.

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Sunday, April 25th, 2010 AT 11:28 PM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

From what you now describe, I would definitely say you have a tranny problem. Either this has been run very low on fluid or one of the blocker rings/shncros are bad. You could also have a clutch problem as well. If it doesn't shift to a gear with the engine off that is a good indicator that there is a trans problem. You could also have a shofter forks worn as well. Best to get another form a junk yard or at least have someone look at it.

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Monday, April 26th, 2010 AT 12:38 PM