Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Good Lord.

So I haven't had the car very long, it's a 98 SVT with about 60k on it. I noticed recently that when letting out the clutch and starting to go in 1st or even second gear, it seems to studder, or hop even (not sure how to explain it), as if I don't know how to drive a stick. I have pretty much gotten used to it and can compensate for it, but it doesn't seem right. Also, if I'm sitting at a light, and it's in neutral, at a dead stop, and I throw it into first, it will kind of grind. if I'm at all rolling, I have to just lean on the stick until it falls into first. Any ideas of what's goin on? I'm too nearvous to take it to a tranny shop and have them tell me I owe them like 2 grand..
Thanks people

--Mike

when I first picked my 98.5 up, Igot in, and started to drive away.. well
The SVT does have a nice pick up.. It isn't like I don't know how to drive an MTX, but I difinitely wasn't used to that engine/clutch, etc.. for the first little while I did a sort of "mini-hop" when begining to take off, or going from 1-2... (as if I were pressing the gas pedal hard, and fast, over and over.. (i.e. small froggy-hop) You get used to it...

as for the grind... my only advice.. give it some time, and another ceg'r can tell you more..
BTW: welcome to the group

Okay, I'll be the first to get this over with. You Do know how to drive stick, right?

Alright, that's over with. Having to lean on the shifter does not sound good at all. I know the old trick of when it's difficult to get the shift in you give it a little gas. But you sound like you are a little more involved. My vote is to go to two to three tranny places. Get a free inspection and see what everyone says. And don't feel bad about getting a free inspection and then going "Thanks, bye now. I'll be back."

Do you have any friends who are experienced manual drivers? Let em' take it for a spin and see what they say.

Good luck.

The shuddering/hopping sounds like axle hop -- as you let the clutch out, a little too much power to the front wheels plus the combination of cold tires and road surface, causes them to hop rather than spin. My Altima does that occasionally when it's still cold in the morning as I leave my neighborhood. Just have to slip the clutch more.

As for getting into first during a roll, some cars have lockouts (as in the case of my '86 Golf), some have bad synchros (as in the case of my '81 Chevette). If the other SVT owners here don't experience this, it is probably the latter.

Sounds like clutch judder,oil on the disc or partly burnt........

Hahaha.. I was waiting for the "can you drive a stick" comment. I work for the biggest detail/restyler in the city and I've driven just about every stick out there.. well most.. and this one is just wierd.. I guess I'll have to take a day off and go get some estimates..

I was going to mention that, too.

Would a busted tranny mount have these symptoms?