New and first time owner - I just got a 73 E on the road, and have driven a few hundred miles. the car belonged to my Dad. I am noticing that over the last few days, as the car reaches normal temp, I am having trouble getting into first gear from a stop....with the clutch fully depressed, when putting into first gear I hear and feel grinding initially. Its getting worse each day. I topped up the clutch fluid, which was a bit low but not too bad, but this hasn't helped. I also learned tonight that if I put the car in 2nd gear first (without moving), then put into first gear, there is no grinding.

No problem at all when the car is first started and cold, it just happens after driving for a bit. Is this a common problem?

Thanks

Submitted by rich.oprison@g… on Sat, 06/30/2012 - 13:13

Thanks for all the helpful responses here about how to access gearbox fluid.

Peter, you asked about when the clutch starts to bite.......seems pretty normal, about mid way out. Pumping the clutch doesn't help, but putting it into second gear first, then into first eliminates the grinding when starting out from a standstill. Again, only happens after car has heated up. The mechanic who i found that works on these thinks gearbox fluid may be ok, unless there is a leak, and that instead it probably has to do with the clutch hydraulic fluid having air in the system, or leaking seals so that when hot, and the fluid is thin, pushing in the clutch doesn't fully pressurize and therefore makes it difficult to get into first without grinding.

I'll check gearbox fluid and see if there is an issue there, thanks again for all the help. Just found this site and the pittsburgh jag club, which I am joining.

Submitted by NE40-48370 on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 19:15

Yup, either the oil is thinning, allowing crunching to happen/be heard & felt, or the clutch is dragging. Not seen a clutch drag only when hot, but the low fluid sounds ominous. When setting off, at what point in the clutch pedal travel does the clutch start to bite? If it's low then I'd say dragging clutch. If pumping the clutch twice before engaging gear doesn't help, maybe not.

Pete

Submitted by alan.barc@veri… on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 12:24

If you lift up the carpet on the right side of the tranny cover, you should see a 2 inch rubber plug which when removed gives access to the gearbox filler plug below and a little forward of the gear shift lever. A good repair and maintenance manual will show this.

Submitted by rich.oprison@g… on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:47

Thanks William. I see that it takes 90 weight gear oil, but am having trouble figuring out how to access the filler plug to check the level. The manual says to access it from beneath the car, while another source (an old chiltons guide that was in the car) says to access it through the passenger compartment by pulling back the carpet and removing the tunnel cover. In your experience, which approach is best (before I start attempting to do this....)

I am fairly good mechanically, as I have experience with US muscle cars, doing pretty major mods (camshafts, exhaust systems, etc). But these Jag's are a whole different beast as I am finding!