Lumina Clutch Problem

[Go4DaMo]

I went to drive my Z34 home last night &, seemingly out of the blue, the Getrag 284's shifter wouldn't go into any gear.  Though, the vehicle would creep when I pushed the shifter toward each gear.

Reservoir was full.  Fluid was a little dark.  Clutch & fluid replaced 9 yrs./~15k miles ago.

It goes through all the gears fine when the engine's off.

I cranked the engine with the car in reverse and it roared backward at first, then the clutch slipped enough to maneuver the car around the driveway.

Didnt find a bleeder, so sucked what I could out the top, wiped the inside, and poured in new DOT3.

[Slave cylinder] shows about 1/2" play through the peephole on top of the trans.

Slave cylinder nor actuator [master cylinder] appear to leak.

I welcome any input.   Thanks in advance!

 

 

 

Edited November 30 by Go4DaMo
Misspelling

[Schurkey]

I've seen that happen from overheated/warped clutch discs.

[Bake82]

I had a simlar issue with my 282 trans this spring.

 

Was the Master cylinder.  I noticed a very small leak in the rubber seal that the shaft runs through Replaced the hydraulic system and all was well.    inspect the master cylinder on the inside and see if you spot some fluid

 

[Go4DaMo]

Schurkey, the last clutch had gotten hot before about 15k miles ago.

Bake82, I double checked tonight and saw no evidence of a leak up under the dash.

When disconnected, the slave cylinder had metallic debris in the DOT3 running out of it.

New DOT3 was flushed down through the reservoir before the slave cylinder was re-connected.

Now, there is no pedal no matter how long the clutch is pumped.  A couple air bubbles came up.  One person even disconnected the slave at the bottom of each clutch pedal throw, then re-connected it.  But, the slave barely moves as if the accumulator is full of air.

 

Edited November 30 by Go4DaMo
More concise wording

[Go4DaMo]

How does the fitting on the accumulator come off?  It looks like it should slide away toward the firewall.  But, its not budging.

[Schurkey]

Accumulator???

Do you mean "reservoir"?

[White93z34]

no, he means what he said.

For whatever ends the factory clutch hydraulics on the 284 equipped cars has a odd accumulator between the master and slave cylinder still to this date not sure WHY as they function fine without it. I assume it was so GM could get the clutch feel to their liking. In my experience once air gets into it its damn near impossible to get it out.

And you need a special tool to release that quick connect between the master and slave. I have one, don't ask me what its called or where I even got it cause I don't know.

That said. pull the inspection cover over the transmission where the slave cylinder attaches and observe operation. But It could be a bad master, or slave I suppose. stick your head under the dashboard and observe the boot where the master cyl rod comes in and see if its leaking around the boot.

[Go4DaMo]

12 hours ago, Schurkey said:

Accumulator???

Do you mean "reservoir"?

 

[SuperBuick]

Not sure if it helps but here is what the inside of the accumulator connection looks like:

 

[SuperBuick]

Kent moore made a tool for bleeding this clutch (j-36234) https://www.ebay.com/itm/355704640811?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=4ZMhdKYFRP2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=c36yZGIlTsG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY 

 

i bought one but I cant figure out how it is supposed to help… it seems to be a reservoir cap with a fitting. Not sure how that is any different than just having an open reservoir 

[Schurkey]

Guessing the cap is supposed to be connected to either pressure or vacuum.  Not merely open to atmosphere.

[SuperBuick]

On 11/28/2024 at 12:13 AM, Schurkey said:

Guessing the cap is supposed to be connected to either pressure or vacuum.  Not merely open to atmosphere.

Right but if pressure or vacuum… where does the air or fluid go “on the other end” with no bleeder?  You cant suck air or fluid in without displacing the opposite. 

[Schurkey]

IF you "suck" the air out, then fill the vacuum with fluid, there's no air in there.

Vacuum filling a cooling system or a PS system is becoming common.  Haven't heard about vacuum-filling a hydraulic clutch system, though.

Edited November 30 by Schurkey

[Go4DaMo]

On 11/27/2024 at 7:59 AM, White93z34 said:

(...)"...not sure WHY as they function fine without it. (...)?

(...)%And you need a special tool..."

(...)"...pull the inspection cover over the transmission where the slave cylinder attaches and observe operation."(...)

(...) "observe the boot where the master cyl rod comes in and see if its leaking around the boot."

Do I need a press to make a line to bypass it?

Found the tool...

Can I see enough by observing the ~1/2" of movement through the peephole on top?

I triple checked, even taking a red hot nail and puncturing the boot at its lowest point.  Its dry.

[Go4DaMo]

45 minutes ago, Schurkey said:

IF you "suck" the air out, then fill the vacuum with fluid, there's no air in there.

Vacuum filling a cooling system or a PS system is becoming common.  Haven't heard about vacuum-filling a hydraulic clutch system, though.

Whats the threaded hole for?

[Schurkey]

Screwing in the hose that connects to the vacuum pump, and the valve that switches to the tool's fluid reservoir?

[SuperBuick]

8 hours ago, Go4DaMo said:

Do I need a press to make a line to bypass it?

Found the tool...

Can I see enough by observing the ~1/2" of movement through the peephole on top?

I triple checked, even taking a red hot nail and puncturing the boot at its lowest point.  Its dry.

Link for the tool? I need one.