How do you adjust the clutch cable on a 1995 Plymouth Neon?

Answer 1

Answer: The clutch cable is self adjusting. So the only way and only time it should need adjusting is if it needs to be replaced for some reason:

1. Because your clutch itself may be worn out and it can longer compensate for the wear. Then you replace the Clutch if it no longer engages the transmission drive line to the engine or is slipping excessively beyond what it can compensate for.

2. The self adjusting mechanism has failed, the cable crimp has slipped or the cable itself has stretched.

If you have determined that the cable needs to be replaced rather than the clutch, you can do that easily. If when you press on the clutch petal and it doesn't disengage the clutch/driveline assembly at all or only disengages close to full pedal, chances are that it's related to clutch cable problems.

You can buy either a new self adjusting clutch cable or replace the existing self adjusting cable with a manual one. This is the only time you would need to either adjust the manual or institute the self adjusting mechanism to do it's thing after it's in stalled. Which takes about 4 to 5 pumps of the pedal, after a new self adjusting cable is installed or if you are just checking if it's even working properly. You can do this by removing the cable from the transaxle housing end of the clutch fork!

This process involves removing air box and Power Distributing box, before getting access to the cover over the cable to fork end of clutch assembly. You should be able to pull the cable off by pushing the whole clutch cable assembly toward the firewall. The spring on the cable self adjuster should give you enough room to pull it lose. When out, make sure the clutch fork hasn't slipped off it's pivot point. It should be loose and able to be pushed out..... so as to pull the clutch release bearing away from the pressure plate.

Now when you reinstall it, and pump the pedal you should hear it click and do it's self adjusting thing. After which you shouldn't have any slack in the cable at all. When you push on the pedal, the throw out bearing should disengage the drive and not do it real close to the bottom or at all. If it doesn't disengage the clutch or click the self adjusting mechanism, you'll need to replace the clutch cable to see if that fixes the problem. That way you eliminate cheapest parts first and fix a problem that doesn't involve removing transaxle or engine!

Now if instead the problem is not the cable problems, but rather grinding of gears while shifting, then you'll need to check for broken or missing spacers on the linkage on both ends. Under the hood, where you've pulled the air box and PDCenter, you'll see where shift linkage cables attach to shift levers in the transaxle housing. Look for broken or missing spacers.

For checking the other end, have to take the center console out to check or adjust linkage and/or replace spacers there. to adjust the clutch cable that is to adjust the shifter linkages the clutch cable adjustments are usually under the hood on the left side above the transmission or sometimes on the left side under the car. The screws are in the cup holder and back by the misc. holder. This is the only place that any linkage cables can be adjusted!