RT4WD; when warm, hard to get in gears but not grinding

saveacivicsaveacivic New Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
I have an 88 RT4WD. When it's cold it shifts a little better but if it is warm it is really hard to get it into any gear. I have to really press. It doesn't grind at all it just but it feels like I have to pop it into gear. No grinding. WTF? Is there an adjustment on it? I am going to change the fluid on it today (and I haven't even had the car for a month so I never did check it) but I wanted to get everyone's thoughts... Thanks

Comments

  • saveacivicsaveacivic New Wagonist
    oh come on nobody? this is rt4wd headquarters!!!???
  • PeterPansWagovanPeterPansWagovan Wagonist
    Check clutch pedal for any cracking/bending, if thats not it then adjust your clutch cable
  • dukevonDANKdukevonDANK Wagonist
    After you check the cable/pedal, try checking your tranny fluid. Or just change it.
  • saveacivicsaveacivic New Wagonist
    changed the oil today. no better but i did notice that my cable adjustment knob thing slips so i tighten and it's fine then it slips. need a new one i guess. thanks all
  • PeterPansWagovanPeterPansWagovan Wagonist
    Yeah, or ninja rig it and use black electrical tape to make it tight. :wink:
  • jchen360jchen360 Wagonist
    Necro-bump

    This just started for me today. I have an 88 rt too. Are the only solutions changing the tranny fluid and checking the clutch pedal and cable? I'm afraid that my tranny is shot. Also, a week or two ago the spring to my clutch pedal broke off would that have anything to do with it?
  • driftin90driftin90 Senior Wagonist
    Bracket! Bracket! Bracket!
  • jchen360jchen360 Wagonist
    What bracket?
  • driftin90driftin90 Senior Wagonist
    clutch pedal bracket. wait, didnt you fix yours? the spring you broke may be your issue.

    www.civicwagon.com
  • jchen360jchen360 Wagonist
    Yeah I fixed my pedal assembly. I have extra springs I'll see if it works hopefully its just a minor fix. Thanks
  • pelon921pelon921 New Wagonist
    Hey this just happened to me.
    Did u fix it yet?
    if u haven't drive very scared...My transmission and clutch both exploded two days the getting stiff started.
    Mine wouldn't grind either. Check fluid level first. Mine was fine, so was my clutch brakets... so just a heads up...
  • jchen360jchen360 Wagonist
    I replaced the spring and tightened the clutch cable but that didn't work completely. I'm going to try to change the tranny fluid tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up though pelon, I'm worried about my wagon now.
  • jchen360jchen360 Wagonist
    So would changing the clutch help at all? It would have been nice to know how other members fixed this problem but they never updated their threads.
  • mtbikerTimtbikerTi Band Wagon
    Will it go into gear with the engine off? If it won't go in gear with the engine on, but will with the engine off, then you're most likely looking at a clutch issue.
  • jchen360jchen360 Wagonist
    Yeah it's goes into gear when the engine is off or when driving it cold. Hopefully it's just the clutch.
  • driftin90driftin90 Senior Wagonist
    I would get the money for a clutch job and keep or sell it then. You'll be kicking yourself in the ass when you find out $300 could've made you $1500. Cause you could get $2500-3000 easy if it were driving.
  • jchen360jchen360 Wagonist
    Yeah, I hear that. My friend helped my realize that too. Right now though I just want to fix it so I can get back to driving it. Recently, I've been seeing a wagon doppleganer, a gold rt with the same bra around town but dumped on bmw basketweaves and that's given me some extra motivation to fix my shit haha.
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