1995 Jeep Wrangler 4.0 (3 year old clutch)

So I am borrowing my dads jeep and its really been great having it during this horrid winter. However since I took it 3 months ago I've been having a slight problem that has just gotten worse. I'm hoping someone out there can enlighten me so I can address the problem... Here's whats happening:

Ever since I got the Jeep I've had problems shifting into 2nd gear when cold, but once she warms up, smooth as butter. I didn't have to Hercules it into 2nd but I did have to pull harder than usual. Also I have to be at a dead stop to enter 1st gear.

Now 2 nights ago I started the jeep after work, put it in neutral and let it run for about 5 minutes. I see the heat gauge rising so I press the clutch and try for reverse and all I get is "GRIND". So while I wait for another 2 minutes I try to run through the gears to warm the grease up a bit but I can't enter ANY gear, even with great effort, so I try reverse again but to no avail. I take note that the clutch has less resistance than usual so I pump it a few times. As I pump I feel more and more resistance until it feels normal... just for kicks I also let the jeep roll backwards in the stall a few feet and brake, clutch and then successfully pull the shifter into reverse. Although a little tougher than usual.

Then I really had to muscle it into 1st gear, it was tough to enter 2nd gear, by the time I reach 3rd its okay and 4th and 5th are smooth as can be. Stoplight comes (1/2 mile) and repeat same process.

Down shifting is very difficult as well.

So my dad suggested to try oiling the gears, he lives 70 miles away and I live in an apartment, so for me, that means I have to take it in. Which will cost $60 to $80. Should I do this?

Any suggestions? Commentary?

UPDATE:

I just started the jeep and it would not pop out of 1st so I could let it run, I (stupidly) let off the clutch 50% to pump it and the jeep died. At that point I couldn't start it, it just turned over as if the battery was dead, then I finally forced it into neutral and the jeep fired right up.

Sounds like your clutch master cylinder is going south or the slave or both, neither is going to be an easy fix living in an apartment.

I am having the same problems and have heard that switching transmission fluids to something like redline mt-90 works wonders. I am going to do this as soon as I have some extra money.

Yeah yesterday I couldn't get it into gear, I had to take my girlfriends impala to work.

I am not sure what to do. Could you point me in the right direction as far as where to buy and whats the best replacement part?

I had this same problem twice before and both times it was the tranny. I had the tranny rebuilt the first time but it went bad again so i replacing it all together.

ok first try bleading the clutch system. have some one pump up the clutch then hold it down. its kinda like bleading brakes but you only pump it up once. the bleader should be on the driver side by the tcase. be sure to have brake fluid. (dot3)

Another detail I wanted to underline and though was weird.

When the vehicle is off I can shift through the gears and I am convinced that it IS indeed shifting properly, I cannot start the vehicle in 1st gear as it chugs like its starved for battery power, I have to start in neutral and it fires up strong... at that point I cant shift into any gears.

Thanks punkafi888, I will try bleeding the clutch as it seems to lack pressure when I push it in.

My dad is suggesting perhaps the linkage?

If the hydraulic system is not leaking (master and slave cylinder) and there is no air in the system you could be getting ready for a clutch job.

What linkage? If you can find and linkage for the clutch system on your jeep It will be a Issue. It has no linkage.

As suggested check for and seepage around the clutch master cylinder and bleed the clutch.

Lets think about this for a second, what happens when you push in a clutch. You are using the pedal to push a piston in a master cylinder to create pressure to push/pull a slave cylinder. The slave cylinder is attached to a lever that in turn pushes your pressure plate, this is spring loaded to mate a clutch disc between it and the flywheel. When the pedal is in you are disconnecting the engine from the transmission. The resistance you feel are the springs on your pressure plate. The fact that you have to pump up the clutch is leading me to beleive you are losing your master/ slave or both. Do you feel any grinding when getting it in gears. I bet you don't. Your synchros are working overtime to try and slow down the engine because it is still connected. 1st and reverse usally do not have any syncro clutchs because usually you are stopped. Synchro clutches are internal of the trans and quickly slows down the drive and driven gears to quickly mesh. 3, 4 and 5th have closer ratios than 2nd so these will usually always be easier to get into. It's really all about matching road speed to engine speed. You can shift without using a clutch. You've got to just match speeds, for instance if you are in 3rd going 35mph and the engine is at 3k, put it in neautral and acell the engine to 3200 and as it comes down slowly put back into gear with a little pressure it will go. I DO NOT reccommend driving like this all day but it is possible. Trucker do it all the time beacuse their trans do not have any sychros because of the loads and forces in them.
I hope this helps. Just my 2cents.

You definitely have a through knowledge of how it works, and I think your probably right about the cylinders going. However, not as soon as we think.

I bled the clutch and the shifting improved 95% almost perfect shifting, thats not to say that the cylinders aren't going though.

Methanepower, I will forward your post to my dad because theres useful information there.


Thanks Guys,
Dan

its a hydrolic system. if it is not vacuum tight then it will leak and get air in it. by beading the clutch you remove most of the air. if it does get worse check the lines first then resort to the cylinders. its very hard to change them.

I've found a lot of useful information here. I like giving back with what little I know.
I took the wife for her first ride ever in my Jeep today. It is about 10f outside, she was a little cold. When we arrived home I smelt brake lining, driver side rear brakes are stuck. Always something but it gets me in the garage for a few hours(Alone). Peaceful.
Here a pic.