20 - Friday, June 1, 1990 - North Shore News

AU TOM OTIVES

(QQ. ASK THE 6F;
S EXPERT &

ASK THE Expert is a weekly column in the North Shore
News’ Automotive section. Each week a reader’s question
will be answered by an expert from the British Columbia
Automobile Association (BCAA). This week’s question is:

I have a 1977 Toyota Celica five-speed and

recently I have been having trouble with the

clutch. I can shift gears when the motor is
turned off, but when the car is running it is very difficult to
change gears. (Reverse is impossible — I have to turn the
car off).

This problem has been getting progressively worse and it
is becoming increasingly more dangerous to drive the car. I
have twice been stranded in an intersection and have had to
turn off the car to put it into first. Does this sound like a
clutch plate or the clutch cable to you, and is it expensive to
get fixed?

Robyn Brown, North Vancouver

The reason you have difficulty shifting gears is

A. because the clutch on your Celica is not fully .

disengaging the engine from the transmission when you
press the clutch pedal, a condition better known as clutch
drag.

Generally, clutch drag problems are within clutch
assembly and unfortunately that means removal of the
transmission. Problems with clutch cable would be a possi-
bility on some cars; a 1977 Celica doesn’t have a clutch
cable.

The clutch in your car is inydraulically operated. Have
your mechanic check the linkage and hydraulic system be-
tween the pedal and the clutch. Pedal height and free play
should be adjusted to specifications. Leaking seals or air in
the hydraulic system will also affect clutch action and
should be corrected.

If these checks do not correct the problem you can
prepare for an assault on your pocketbook (about four or
five hours’ labor, plus parts).

Possible causes of clutch drag within the clutch assembly
include:

® Oil or grease on clutch facings.

® Worn or broken clutch facings.

© Warped or bent clutch disc.

® Clutch disc hub binding on shaft.

® Warped or broken pressure plate.

® Sticking release bearing sleeve.

® Binding pilot bushing.

Bob McHugh, BCAA’s Consumer & Technical Advisory
Dept.

If you have an auto-related question, write to: ‘‘Ask the
Expert,’? North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North
Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4.

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