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97 s-10 manual temporary loss and gain in 5th


BRHappyCamper
12-21-2008, 10:57 AM
Alright. First time posting. While driving at high speeds (60-70 m.p.h.) in fifth gear, my truck will intermittently lose it's umph. I can't tell if it's a complete loss of go, or something else because it happens so quick. I will be driving along just fine when suddenly the feeling of being propelled forward disappears and comes back with in a matter of maybe 1 second. The regain of forward motion is accompanied with a small jolt, almost as if you were to drop the clutch and have the whole vehicle jerk. Obviously this is very disturbing while on the interstate, not sure if my tranny is just going to plop right onto the road or what.
The vehicle has about 150k miles. Is the 4.3 vortec. Push button 4 wheel. Had the slave cylinder, pilot bearing, front u joint, fuel filter and pump all changed since buying it not too long ago from a slimeball car dealer who might have sold me a lemon....
Shortly before and still after having the slave cylinder and pilot bearing replaced the vehicle will pop out of second gear if it is just sitting in the gear while idling or taking too long to let off on the clutch while shifting, when driving in the gear it never pops out. Also, recently the vehicle has had a slight problem with cold morning starts. 40 F. degree or colder. The hard start is now accompanied by a high pitch whine for a short period of time. And the vehicle will lose a lot of rpms just sitting there warming up then when it gets real slow right when you think it's just going to die it revs way up then evens off, does it a couple more times and is ok. If I try and drive it right after starting I have to really give it gas and ride the clutch a little in order for it to go and not lug.
That's my story for now and I'm sticking to it. Thanks in advance.

MT-2500
12-21-2008, 11:55 AM
Your clutch is slipping?

BRHappyCamper
12-30-2008, 05:58 PM
I don't think it is slipping. How would I know, other than taking it to a mechanic of course? Here's another thing to add to the list too. Use 4wd High just the other day in some bad snow. I never went faster than 30 mph due to the extremely dangerous roads, but between about 3mph and 27mph or so, no matter if it was 1st, 2nd, or 3rd gear, it would constantly do the "humping" motion I had previously described. At 30mph it would smooth out. Anyway, thanks in advance again.

MT-2500
12-30-2008, 06:19 PM
I don't think it is slipping. How would I know, other than taking it to a mechanic of course? Here's another thing to add to the list too. Use 4wd High just the other day in some bad snow. I never went faster than 30 mph due to the extremely dangerous roads, but between about 3mph and 27mph or so, no matter if it was 1st, 2nd, or 3rd gear, it would constantly do the "humping" motion I had previously described. At 30mph it would smooth out. Anyway, thanks in advance again.

Sounds like the old crow hop.
Is your tires a matched set?
Are you using 4W on dry payment?

On clutch splipping watctch the tac and is engine RPM speeds up without a MPH gain you clutch is slipping.

BRHappyCamper
01-11-2009, 10:32 PM
I'm not using 4WD on dry pavement, and all of my tires are the same size. I'm thinking it might be my chain in my differential slipping. I will do a hand test in the next few days. Figured it may be that the chain is loose and slipping sometimes because of the excessive "humping" motion during 4WD. It's maybe also a tooth or two broken off of a gear and getting flung up into the transmission at times, sure hope not though.

BRHappyCamper
01-11-2009, 10:35 PM
Also, I unfortunately don't have a tachometer in my pickup. It's quite basic. I'm surprised it has push button 4WD.

MT-2500
01-12-2009, 10:07 AM
Also, I unfortunately don't have a tachometer in my pickup. It's quite basic. I'm surprised it has push button 4WD.


If the engine is speeding up in high gear on a pull or hill.
Your clutch is slipping.

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