[DeTomaso] Clutch problems when engine is hot

[Charles McCall]

Hi all, 

 

Lovely day today, so I took the Pantera to work. 

 

I came home and left the car idling in the street for probably 10 minutes
while I tried to figure out why the gate to our house wouldn't open. Engine
coolant temp was just fine, oil temp was just fine, but the engine bay gets
good and hot under those conditions.

 

When I got the gate and garage door open, the car ground while going into
gear despite having the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. As I
maneovered into the garage, I could feel the clutch engagement point moving
- instead of engaging an inch from the top of the travel, it was now
engaging an inch from the bottom. and then I couldn't press the clutch
enough to get it to disengage and the car kept rolling with my foot on the
floor.. I had to shut the engine off to get the car to stop.

 

I let everything cool off for 30 minutes and the car functioned perfectly -
I could select every gear including reverse without the slightest grinding,
the clutch engagement point was right where it should be. Coolant and Oil
temp is still obviously pretty high after only sitting for a half hour, but
the engine bay temp comes way down and that appears to be sufficient.

 

This is not an isolated event - this summer I also noticed that when the
engine bay was good and hot I had problems selecting gears, especially
reverse, and it was as though I had the pedal partially released despite
having it on the floor. 

 

This ONLY happens when engine bay temps are high. Any suggestions or
theories as to what is happening?

 

Thanks!

 

Charles McCall

1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375

"Raising Pantera Awareness Across Europe"

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