I am having a minor issue with the shifting on my wifes 1988 300zx. When you first start the car in the garage it almost takes two hands to shift the car when it's running. (when the car is sitting idle and NOT RUNNING she shifts nice and smooth of course)

Once you get it into gear and start down the road she seems to be shifting nice and smooth (5 speed manual by the way) but when you come to a stop it's hard to get it into first gear) I have bled the master and slave cylinder and I only have a very short amount of clutch pedal (it is grabbing or engaging about 1 or 2 inches from the firewall)

Hope I explained what is going on so someone can understand. Just need a little help with what to do next. I do have a shop manual and I am looking through it as I type this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

When was the last time the system was flushed? also when was the last time the trans fluid was changed?

 

Just put all new trans gear oil in last week.

 

did you adjust the freeplay of the clutch pedal?

 

The clutch adjustment is as far out as it can go there are no more threads on the plunger.

 

I would flush and bleed the entire system and if that doesn't do it, I would start looking at M/C and S/C replacement.

 

you should read the manual on adjusting the free play.

 

When you first start it up in the a.m., then get it in gear, does it want to move soon as you start releasing the pedal? I mean, when you have the padal pushed against the firewall all the way, and with VERY little movement to release the pedal, the clutch engages?

If so, you have several possible issues. First, how old is the clutch? If known to be still good, you prolly are on the right track already with adjustment.
Check the slave cyl.
Check the master for blackish brake fluid (rubber plunger seals shot).
Try and adjust pedal more to where the clutch master plunger gets pushed in further.

Etc.
Etc.

 

The clutch is not disengaging all the way. If you've already bled the master cylinder, consider replacing it and the slave cylinder.