theynoko

I'll start off by saying this is my first post. My car knowledge and terminology isn't very great, but I'll try to explain it the best I can. I have an 08 Cobalt SS Turbocharged with 115k miles. I've had so many different problems with it over the years; some of them GM backed and fixed on them, but now I'm stuck. The other day it started getting very difficult to shift into any gear at all. Had to really muscle it in to get it to go (had like 5 cars honking at me in the parking lot because I'm stuck in neutral blocking everybody). So I get it in first and it starts acting like an automatic transmission would. As in: I'm not giving it any gas at all but its moving forward like an automatic would until pressing the break. At this point everything is starting to feel strange. The clutch is very loose, like it just felt really weird when pressing it down all the way. When I go to try in get into second gear its also very difficult and making a resisting/grinding feel to it, but eventually it lets me into second. This goes on for about another hour into my trip. Finally it sort of goes away and it's shifting smoother than I can remember. So I was thinking maybe something got caught underneath the cup holder and everything is okay now. WRONG. Next day I go to take off in the morning and everything seems fine again. About 30 minuets down the line it starts up again at a stop light. Light turns green, I'm stuck in neutral trying all kinds of ways to get my car into first. The entire light cycles and I still can't get it into first. Eventually I do get it to go and whatever problem this is, it comes and goes. There's no code on or anything. I took it to my friends shop and it decided to work perfectly the entire time so I didn't get any help there. I'm not sure what to do from here. Any help or suggestions would greatly appreciated.

ECaulk

iTrader: (6)

Holy text wall.

Does pumping the clutch make it shift into gear better?

Could be a near death clutch, master cylinder, TOB, air leak, etc etc

theynoko

My bad about the text wall, I haven't posted in a forum in like 10+ years. It shifted fine today, but next time it acts up I'll try pumping the clutch.

Also when it's being difficult, I can turn the car off and shift into all gears just fine. Just not when it's turned on.

ECaulk

iTrader: (6)

That's normal, sounds like something is up with your clutch or the clutch system

theynoko

It started messing up again. So I tried pumping the clutch & it did seem to help some. If it wasn't allowing me to shift into a gear, I'd pump the clutch a few times and it would eventually let me shift (still difficult & rough).

Another thing I noticed was: sometimes I felt like I had to hold the stick into gear so it wouldn't pop out. Like it wasn't completely in that gear.

Northindy

sounds exactly what happened to my 2009 SS in December. Check your brake fluid - if it is low, then it is likely the clutch slave cylinder leaking. Which basically means you replace the clutch too due to the labor cost ($1000). Mine was right at 100K miles when it went out.