The clutch on my donor car was original at 165k and reportedly working fine, so it's not guaranteed to be bad . . .

 

One other weird thing. Only when I first start moving in the morning (first gear engagement). I'll lift the clutch and give it gas, and it'll wait about 1 second before giving the car a good 'bump' when it finally engages and starts rolling. Only happens that one time on first gear engagement every morning. But I noticed if I let the clutch pedal out (while in neutral), then put the pedal back in, it'll engage normally.



Would that be a sticky throwout bearing?

 

Anybody know what would cause that?

 

I don't, but I know what I would probably do: Drive it until it won't reliably go, then drop the transaxle like I knew I had to do, all along.

 

My stock clutch is still fine at 185k miles. On the second engine. TOB is starting to make a fair bit of noise though so I'll replace it when I replace the transmission.



Your clutch might also be improperly adjusted if it is engaging near the bottom of the pedal throw.

 

Alright, I guess I'll just drive it till the clutch goes and leaves me stranded somewhere .



What kind of noise does the TOB make when it's going bad?

 

A kind of rattle-y noise when you're in neutral without pressing in the pedal. The noise generally goes away when you press the pedal.

 

Okay, I definitely don't have any noise. My clutch pedal seems to engage about 1-2" from the very top of the pedal. Seems kind of high to me, but I don't know the specs.

 

The specs are at hyundaitechinfo, along with all the other manuals for your car.



First and reverse are not synchronized. If the gears are not lined up it will be hard to engage first, and that's normal for this transaxle. It is odd that it only happens the first shift. Do you park on a flat without the parking brake engaged? Do you reverse into your spot? Do you leave the gearbox in 1st overnight?

 

I park on flat and level every night and at work every day. I leave it in first every time with the ebrake engaged. Is that not the proper way do it? That's what I've done with every car I've owned. I usually park so that I don't have to use reverse much. But when I do use reverse it seems to act the same...I have to pull the clutch pedal out and push it in again and it works fine.