Hey guys, thought you might be able to help me out a bit.

First off, when I start the car in the morning (very cold), the transmission is very, very stiff. Aside from shifting into first when I've come to a stop, all other shifts are very clunky and hard to do. Similarly, when I first go from first to second, my car makes a horrendous grinding noise. Unavoidable unless I shift straight to 3rd and make a very slow start.

Also, just 10 minutes ago, I came around a round-a-bout in 2nd, fairly quickly, and pressed the accelerator coming out, and the engine acted like it was in neutral. Rev's went up, but no power to the wheels, yet I was clearly in 2nd gear. Furthermore, I shifted to 3rd quickly after before I lost to much speed and had to stop, and it continued to do it. Shifted back to 2nd as my speed dropped, and the engine kicked back in with its usual mighty sound.

I then stopped at some lights maybe, a minute or two later, and it smelt like something was burning quite badly.

Checked the engine bay etc and could definitely smell something burning, but no idea what.

Anyway, I think it may have been the clutch, but I need to know how I can fix this problem, what causes the problem, and how I can prevent it from happening again. Same with the cold tranny question.

Thanks in advance for your help guys.

yeah, ok thats just like what iv heard before, my brother had exactly the same thing, like you described it perfectly, umm his clutch was f*cked, he bought a new one for about $800, yeah that hurts, much better,

unless someone else no's some other way of fixing the problem yeah thats what worked for him.

from what you have described it sound very much like your clutch is slipping, and unfortunately it will only get worse.. time for a new clutch

Spot on guys, the the clutch in my TE was screwed when i 1st bought it, thank god for used car warranty is all i can say!! As for 'clunkyness' ive found that most manual g/box's in magnas tend to be a little clunky, even in the TS. Just how they are i guess.

Spot on guys, the the clutch in my TE was screwed when i 1st bought it, thank god for used car warranty is all i can say!! As for 'clunkyness' ive found that most manual g/box's in magnas tend to be a little clunky, even in the TS. Just how they are i guess.
I own a manual V6 TS, and I can vouch for that. Mine is rather clunky whilst cold when going 1st to 2nd, and there is a definate clunk when warm. My gearbox also tends to be stiff whilst cold

same, mines clunky, but i think i damaged some of the syncros when the clutch was going (wasnt disengaging properly) so it would crunch up gears, and it was real hard to go back down, or was it the other way around.

But i dont think it was clunky before that

the no power around the round about would suggest a slipping clutch, but the dog teeth grinding? either the synchros are gone, or the clutch isn't disengaging properly... i don't have a magna, is the clutch hydraulic? could be something with that. but you'll have to get it checked out either way.

My gearbox was clunky untill I had an oil change in it, shifts perfectly now. So much smoother, quicker and much more percise. I felt like a new gearbox afterwards.

yep as the others have said, time for a new clutch and a fluid change on yur gear box

for now wen putting it into 2nd gear, try pushing as far across as u can wen putting it in, and just just gently push it in so that it slips in itself

also, put it in 5th gear going like 70 or 80, then plant your foot, if the revs increase at a much greater rate than they normally would. then you can say your clutch is slipping, hence it can't handle the load that u demand (flat foot in 5th gear going 80 for example).

also, i wouldn't drive your car, as it will only lead to more damage,


good luck with the repairs


later :cool:

also, put it in 5th gear going like 70 or 80, then plant your foot, if the revs increase at a much greater rate than they normally would. then you can say your clutch is slipping, hence it can't handle the load that u demand (flat foot in 5th gear going 80 for example).

also, i wouldn't drive your car, as it will only lead to more damage,


good luck with the repairs


later :cool:

further from that, if you floor it going up steep hills and the engine accelerates faster then the car, also a good indiation of a slipping clutch

if you DO have to drive it, drive it really slowly and be especially nice to it untill its fixed

yeah i agree with everyone time for a new clutch and try running a straight 80w gearoil in the box should help with cold shifts

The 2nd gear grind on cold mornings is normal. Just take it easy for the first 5 mins to get it warmed up.

As for the revving out, yeah as been said already, your clutch is on the way out, like mine. Mine has been doing it for 6 months, I'm still saving up for a new clutch.