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| Tips to make your Eclipse perform properly and last longer. |
October 26, 2007 |
- Rough shifting is the most common and uncomfortable problem with 2000+ Eclipse GT. There are different opinions on why Eclipse shifts roughly cold and sometimes fully warmed up, I heard some owners attribute it to bad throw out bearing, some say it is transmission flaw, but I think it is bad clutch quality / design. I drove one 2000 Eclipse which had smooth shifting into second gear, so I assume that most of GT clutches are simply faulty, but there are few owners that got lucky. To my opinion GT clutches must be recalled, but this is very unlikely that MMSA is going to spend an extra buck to satisfy people that already gave them the money. To be honest owning Eclipse does feel like someone grabbed my wallet in the dark alley and ran, but let's get back to the topic.
To improve shifting and stop slow destruction of your synchronizers every time transmission "barks" and "jerks" when shifted out of the first gear into second you can increase clutch pedal travel. If connecting rod between the clutch pedal and clutch master cylinder adjusted to be longer your clutch will disengage better and therefore shifting is bound to be smoother (almost like on a normal new cars). Please see the following image, this is exactly what your clutch pedal is like from the underneath.
Don't get scared, this procedure is fairly simple and if you can change your own oil you can do it.
Tools needed:
1. 14MM side wrench
2. 12MM side wrench
3. Fingers
Step 1. Bend away starter switch bracket to gain easier access to the connecting rod (like it is shown on the picture).
Step 2. Just like it is shown on the image below using 14mm and 12mm wrenches unlock counter locked nuts enough to make sure that 12 mm nut can be spun with your fingers.
Step 3. Shake clutch pedal up and down with your left hand while turning connecting rod couple of times CCW (counter clock wise) to expand its length. When there is very little free play left in the clutch pedal you can spin 12mm nut back against the 14mm and lock them against each other.
Step 4. Bend starter safety switch bracket back making sure that depressed clutch pedal pushes the button.
Note: The friction point in your clutch is going to move up, so it will take you few minutes to get used to your "new clutch", but after few days of driving you will no longer feel the difference.
EVEN THOUGH THIS IS VERY SIMPLE PROCEDURE AND WHEN PERFORMED CORRECTLY IT CAN'T CAUSE ANY HARM TO YOUR CAR, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE PERFORMING IT AT YOUR OWN RISK.
- Rust proofing is another less critical, but very beneficial suggestion. If I knew that my car was going to start rusting like a cheap trailer hitch almost immediately after its first snow exposure I would have rust proofed it. Unfortunately I hoped that such trivial things like rust protection are taken care of in modern cars since the days of early Nissan Z and Fiat, but obviously Eclipse is another exception. Eclipse owners from Arizona and other sunny states that never see snow can do without rust proofing as well as short term Eclipse leasers, but if you plan to own this car for a while rust protection is a must.
On the picture below you can see holes (arrows) in the wheel well that lead into the engine bay. Water, salt and particles are getting inside the spot welds, which for some reason are not sealed at all during the body assembly. You can also see that the top of the wheel well is not covered by any rust proofing, only the paint and now plastic shielding.
On the next picture you can see the other side of the above leakage and early rust formations. This rust is coming from the inside and can not be fixed, it can only be slowed down and cosmetically hidden.
In order to apply rust proofing best to use is the Rubberized Undercoat spray by 3M (picture below), or you can always have it done professionally by places like Ziebart and such. Make sure that wheel wells are clean and dry the rest of instructions see on the 3M can.
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