*Grump grump grump!*

[Kitty]

*wave* Hi guys,

I've been away for a while and well, after Marvin died on me this morning on the way to work, I thought I would come here to grump about it.

I'm not looking for repair help this time. I know what the problem is and what has to be done to fix it. I love my Marvin but he couldn't throw his clutch just as I was arriving at home. Oh no! He had to throw it when I was still two blocks from work! Fortunately some of the guys from work saw me pushing him to the lot and came to help but dangit! Now I have to find some way to either drag him home (which is 50 miles away) or drag him to a shop (because I certainly don't have the tools necessary to replace the stinking clutch!) and knowing my luck, the shop will want to charge an arm and a leg and probably a major organ to replace it!

I'm mighty grumpy today.

[Gforcefd]

We missed you!

[stefan]

you could do a clutch with less than $50 in cheep tools

[SimonTuffGuy]

I think my dad h paid $350~ to have the shop put in his clutch in his old 89 a number of years ago.

They might be able to provide the tow in part of that price as well...

Not really sure about your employer... But I know that mine would have a fit if I attempted changing my clutch in our parking lot. :-P

And yes... Welcome back. You should visit more often.

[Kitty]

I've been bad about keeping in touch. Between my regular job and a small home business on the side I've been horribly busy and stressed. And the more stressed I get the more anti-social I get.

But I needed someplace to grump that would understand what I'm talking about.

Hubby thinks he might have a line on someone with the tools needed but his brother-in-law is going to talk to a friend and see if he can't get us a decent price to pay someone with skill to do it for me. I could fumble my way through it using the Haynes, I'm sure, I'm just not so sure I want to swear that much in a weekend.

My boss got our on-site mechanic to take a look at it. Just basically confirmed what I already knew. Unfortunately it is too complex to get the shop guy to work on for me.

*sigh* I need ice cream.

[ejp2fast]

We feel your frustrations!! Cars love to go out at the most unconvienient times and places. This transmission is actually pretty easy as mentioned above to take out to get to the clutch... 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm sockets, screw drivers, pliers..and a couple of other things..
is it an automatic or manual?

[anomoly40]

I'm sure it's standard if the clutch went out. And I remember her sweet shifter knob she wouldn't trade me...

[Kitty]

Yeah, it's standard. And I never did get around to changing that shifter knob. I just put a glove over it to prevent burns.

Hubby just called and said the friend of the brother in law would do the replacement for $250 if we supply parts. We're going to sit down this evening and evaluate that in comparison to my skills and how soon I need it done.

But I'm still grumpy.

[nonamekid]

Do it yourself. Here is a writeup on how to remove the transmission. The rest is easy.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11144

[freshtiva]

Dont give up on the car, you'll quickly recoup the $250 after a few fill ups, esp if its 50 miles to work.

[bravekozak]

me too.

I was almost at work, when the distributor coil burned out on my blue 89. I pushed the car off of airport road into a bank parking lot and phoned every junkyard from coast to coast for a replacement. Fun.

I also remember the time I ran out of gas in my Jeep, right in front of the rendering plant. I went inside to make a phone call (before cells) and came out stinking like a skunk.

Or, the time when my Nova just conked out, right up on top of the elevated expressway (with no shoulders) because I had water in the distributor cap.

Whats really fun, is when the brake pedal goes all the way to the floor and traffic is stopped up ahead and your going at highway speed. Pumping, standing on the parking brake and praying.

[solatare]

clutch is really easy, the tranny is maybe 30 pounds, prolly less, id say set a saturday aside
and go for it, start with degreasing everything tho, far less stressful and easier to do the work if youre not digging thru road grime.

[freshtiva]

A festiva tranny weighs 50 LBS

[bravekozak]

reco

Or, you could just install a nice, clean reco.

http://bwbronze.com/festiva/reco.jpg

Too bad it's so far away.

Ebay item #200254038332

[FB71]

A festiva tranny weighs 50 LBS

68lbs by a UPS scale (but that was in a heavy box)