Acceleration problems

JORDANNGIAU

MEMBER
1989 NISSAN 300ZX
3.0L
6 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
109,000 MILES

Every time when I start to accelerate from a complete stop in first gear, I have to keep the RPMs at a certain range (lower RPMs) for the clutch to fully grab and then I can continue accelerating. If I have the RPMs too high and I dropped the clutch, the car would just move slowly until some point then it would accelerate normally. Can I have some suggestions on what is wrong with it? I am guessing its a rear main seal leakage which makes the clutch slip.

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

If you have a rear main seal leaking then you could be correct. However, either way, I suspect this is a clutch issue.

If the seal is leaking causing the clutch to slip you would smell oil burning and see the oil level dropping. Plus you would see a leak on the driver way or have oil all over the bell housing of the transmission.

So unless you have all or some of this, I suspect you just have a clutch issue. Either way you need to remove the transmission to do both so I would just plan on replacing the clutch and inspect for a leak while you are there.

Here are some guides that will help with diagnosing this and performing the repair:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/clutch-doesnt-work-sometimes-or-not-at-all

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/clutch-symptoms

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/pilot-bearing-replacement

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/clutch-symptoms

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throw-out-bearing-replacement

Please run through this material and let us know if you have questions. Thanks