s13 shaking

[vvaffle]

So I've had my s13 for about 3 weeks now. It's been running fine except for one thing. After I shifted fast around 10 or so times the car would start shaking quite a bit anywhere under around 1700 rpm. Idle would also start wavering from about 600 to 800 rpm. This used to happen only when I drove it hard but for the last two days it does it even after I just start up the car after not driving it for over 8 hours. Another thing I noticed was that when I'm not pressing the clutch there is a slight scraping noise. It goes away about half a second after I press the clutch in. I'm not sure if the noise is related to the shaking but I was guessing that my clutch needs to changed. Does anyone know a solution to either of the problems?

[bryanmenard]

Your clutch might be slipping. It will only get worse until the vehicle will no longer move.

Get a new clutch. In the meantime, drive gently.

The vibration could be caused by the clutch being worn to the point where the engine and transmission are contacting intermittently. This also affects the idle, because at idle, the clutch is engaged (pedal released), but the transmission is in neutral. There's still a slight load on the engine and the intermittent contact is causing the engine to idle all over the place.

Also in the meantime, clean your throttle body. Can help the engine deal with the wild loads the bad clutch is putting on it.
Modified by bryanmenard at 8:42 PM 8/7/2005

[naed240sx]

Ok, well just to make sure, your not trying to really accelerate below 1700 rpm(in any gear other than first) are you? Because the ka will bog and start shaking, especially with your foot near the floor at that rpm level. Im sure that you have experience with standards and realize this. So, as far as the fluctuating idle, I have seen alot of s13 that do this, so dont worry too much about it. Unless you have the complete history of your car and know the dates of all tuneups and general maitenence , its time to start thinking about this. I have been slowly tuning up my whole car ever since I got it about 3 months ago, to make sure that it not only handles, but runs reliably. Things to change/replace: Oil, gear fluid,cooling system drain/flush/refill, o2 sensors, spark plugs, fuel filter. My car was having a fluctuating idle especially on colder days with the ac on, from 800 to nearly 0, and producing black smoke. This weekend I finished everything I had planned by putting in the new fuel filter, o2 sensor and seafoaming the car. It runs like a dream now, no more rich smell, and revs smoothly to redline no problem. I would start with these things, and see how many of your problems remain.

[vvaffle]

Just to mention a few things. The car shakes at that RPM regardless of whether the clutch is pressed in or no. I keep my rpms above 2000 except for in first gear. Is there a good write up on how to clean the throtle body? Thanks for the help so far guys, any more opinions?

[bryanmenard]

*Remove intake hose next to battery going into the throttle body as close to the throttle body as possible. You will have to remove some bolts down the line to get it all off.*Look inside and see the butterfly looking valve.*HOSE that thing down in throttle body cleaner.*While hosing, actuate the throttle with your hand and keep hosing several times.*Wait a few minutes (5 should be enough)*Start engine and give it gas...it will want to die. Keep giving it gas until everything burns off.

There was a good write-up on here and I can't find it right now, but that's the summary of it. Throttle body can cause funny idle as well as a sticking accellerator pedal.

[vvaffle]

Any recomended throttle body cleaner and can I just get it at Autozone or something like that?

[bryanmenard]

I use O'Reilly brand, but they all work fairly well.

[vvaffle]

Alright, sorry to be such a pain in the butt, but what clutch would you guys recommend that's close to the price of OEM but holds up a little better under a bit more spirited driving. I don't need anything that will hold much more power, just last a little longer and maybe catch a little better. Thanks for all the helps so far.

[vvaffle]

Alright, this is semi old but I just finished changing my clutch today and while it feels alot better the car still shakes though not as much and not for as wide of an rpm range (shaking stops around 1300-1400 rpm now). Any thoughts?

[bryanmenard]

Did you change it yourself or did you have a professional do it?

[vvaffle]

I changed it myself. Pretty sure I didn't mess anything up. It's irrelevant now since the car stopped shaking after I put about 150 miles on the new clutch. I'll update if it starts shaking again.