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.

Shows about 1/2" play through the peephole on top of the trans.

Slave cylinder nor actuactor appear to leak.

I welcome any input.   Thanks in advance!

 

 

 

[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.  Seems strange it would cause a problem all these years later.

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

There was metal junk in the fluid when I disconnected the slave cylinder and let it run out.

I ran new DOT3 down through the system a while, then reconnected the slave.

Now, I have no pedal no matter how long I pump it.  A couple air bubbles came up.  So, one of us even disconnected the slave at the bottom of each pedal throw, then put the cotter back in.  I let the pedal back up.  Repeated that a few times.  But, the slave barely moves like the accumulator is full of air...?

 

[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.