Why is it so difficult to change gears?

ptubb · Post by **ptubb** » 12 Mar 2004, 10:32

I have a 1996 850 with a manual transmission. One day it suddenly became difficult to get from gear to gear, especially reverse. The clutch seems normal, but I don't really know how a failing clutch would act. Any advice? Thanks so much.

Post by **matthew1** » 12 Mar 2004, 12:50

Do you mean it's hard to move the shifter to Reverse? If so, it's probly not the clutch going but rather the linkage or the shift gate.

A clutch going out, in its early stages, will exibit a very high takeup (the clutch pedal will 'catch' the gear when it is at the very top of it's travel), or by the car moving off very slowly when you've released the clutch pedal altogether. This second scenario will be characterized by higher than normal rpms for your given speed/gear, and points to the very end of the clutch's life.