1997 850 transmission feels like it's slipping?

thedancingfiddle · Post by **thedancingfiddle** » 16 Apr 2014, 16:38

Hi there,

On a recent road trip in my 1997 850 wagon with quite a lot of weight in the car, it started occasionally doing something strange when starting from a stoplight.

Firstly, this is a 5 speed stick shift car. After I would let off the clutch pedal, in 1st, it would buck a little bit, and it felt like something was slipping. Or not engaging properly. It's hard to describe. But it was happening after the car was already moving, and my foot was completely off the clutch pedal. Once it started to do this and I pushed the clutch in again, gave it more gas, and let it off and it was fine.

It hasn't been consistent, but all of the times it has done this were when the car was loaded up with people and gear.

Any ideas? I never experienced this kind of issue with my old 850, which was also a stick shift and had twice as many miles on it.

Thanks everyone!

Bluevanacd2005 · Post by **Bluevanacd2005** » 16 Apr 2014, 17:18

When is the last timethe clutch was replaced?

Spenser

thedancingfiddle · Post by **thedancingfiddle** » 16 Apr 2014, 20:13

Never - it's all original, with about 140,000 miles on it. Do you think it is the clutch?

I wasn't thinking clutch because otherwise the clutch seems to engage well, without any chatter. Unlike my old 95 850 (also with the original clutch at 260,000 miles), where it is hard to let the pedal out without chatter. But maybe?

Post by **jblackburn** » 17 Apr 2014, 08:27

The clutch stuttering on take-off does sound like the clutch is starting to go (or has possibly "glazed over" from a lot of easy driving). Start at a low RPM in 3rd (2000) and floor it - do the RPMs rise up without speed before catching up to the road speed?

Post by **mecheng** » 17 Apr 2014, 09:05

I second: do the high gear test for the clutch.

It is unlikely the transmission, I've never heard of a manual transmissions slip, it is direct gear on gear.

thedancingfiddle · Post by **thedancingfiddle** » 17 Apr 2014, 13:51

Thanks guys, I'll look into this. Can you describe this test in slightly more detail? Forgive me for not follow exactly.

Also, do I need a working speedo to be able to tell something from this? (because mine is not working at the moment - I haven't had a chance to get my ABS module off and get it fixed...)

Post by **jblackburn** » 17 Apr 2014, 13:56

This is a dramatic example from a quick Youtube search.

Basically, floor the gas pedal in a high gear at low RPM (3rd-5th will do) and watch for the RPMs increasing WITHOUT engine speed.

If you have a GPS speedo, watch that. Or just watch to see if your RPMs rise dispropotionally to your road speed, but settle down again when you let off the gas (a manual transmission should NEVER do this, as the transmission is directly connected to the wheels).

Post by **abscate** » 17 Apr 2014, 14:28

I wouldn't do this. It's a perfect test but if the clutch is going out you could kill it doing this test, whereas if you baby it up you can likely get months of operation out of it.

Manuals just don't slip. Your symptoms describe a worn out clutch just like a textbook.

If you aren't ready to shell out 1000 bucks for a clutch, drive it with as minimal clutch slippage as you can. Start the car moving in idle, then accelerate. Have your load of Sumo wrestlers take the T for a few weeks

thedancingfiddle · Post by **thedancingfiddle** » 17 Apr 2014, 15:44

Ok I hear you. I've driven it a bunch the last couple days with no problems, so it's definitely related to having it loaded up for the trip last weekend. My band had a weekend tour, and my 850 is by far the nicest tour car among the 3 of us

Post by **abscate** » 18 Apr 2014, 13:28

I once pulled a 3500 pound boat out of the Hudson with my T5 and at the top of the ramp the clutch started slipping. I had to keep going another 10 seconds or else get pulled back into the drink.

Horrible, horrible burnt shoe leather smell.

Still driving on that clutch 100k later. Don't let it slip!