What's up? I've got a 5-speed tranny in an '89 Camaro RS. When I first bought the car, I could park on a steep hill and leave it in first or reverse and it would hold the car fine. My e-brake does not work, and now the transmission won't hold the car on hills any more. I was just wondering if there is anything I can do about this. I hope someone understands my problem. Thanks.

 

When you park it that way, the "transmission" doesn't hold the car still; the engine does.

Does the engine turn when you park it like that?

If so, you need some internal work to it bad, because it has no compression whatsoever.

If not, you need a clutch; it's slipping.

 

OTher options are:

• Park on a level surface;
• Block of wood to chock the wheels:
• REPAIR the BRAKE!

 

Yes, the engine does turn, like it's trying to roll-off. What kind of internal problems am I looking at? Also, how can you tell if it is the clutch? I'm sorry for so many questions, but I am still learning everyday. Thanks.

 

If the engine turns when you are parked on a hill in gear then that means you have VERY low compression. That can be caused by several things.... worn piston rings or valves not sealing or closing properly. Either that or you park on one steep hill! How does the car run? Does it have good power? Smoke excessively?

 

The engine has smoked since day one. It runs pretty good, but it does feel like it has a little more umph to go. I just assumed that since it was the 305 that it was supposed to be like that. It definetly bogs down though. I guess the power isn't really all that great now that I think about it. It still gets me around though. Do you think I should look into getting some new parts?

 

The only way to fix that would be to spend some big money. if the car seems to run o.k., i would just keep driving it. Make sure you keep that block of wood with you though

 

Try putting it in a higher gear, with it in 1st and Rev you are providing max torq through the gear ratios to turn over the eng, in higher gears there is less torq applied and most likely will not turn the eng over. Of course the fixing the e-brake would also work as mentioned.

 

When torque is applied from the engine to the wheels the gear ratio is oppositte of the torque applied from the wheels to the engine. For instance a 1 to 5 ratio in one dirrection would be a 5 to 1 in the oppositte. So with Fevre's thinking of a lower gear ration of 4th or 5th gear helping once the ratio is reversed it is actually making your problem worse. I drove without an e-brake on my first car for a long time until I was shown just how easy it was to fix. I'd fix that and keep a block of wood with you in case you are on a hill until the engine gets rebuilt.