Hi,
I have a 1986 Caravan 2.2 liter FWD. 5 speed manual tranny.
On a 2 hour trip the other day (I'm in Alaska everything is 2 hours or more away!) It started kicking itself out of 5th gear.
I made it the next rest station about 15 miles.
I ended up sitting there an hour, and then started it again to try and make it home.
Well it’s now making a horrible screeching noise when you let the clutch out, even in neutral.
So we got towed home.
Can a clutch just go like this? Or could it be something else?
Any insight is appreciated.
Thanks

 

Could be the "throw out bearing" screaching, but usually when they pop out of gear like that the gear Synchro is out. My buddy who had an 85 2.2l with a 5 speed with well over 250,000 miles used to tow his loaded hay wagon with it (lol). He replaced the clutch once that I know of, but towards the end was using a bungee cord in 5th gear to keep the shifter in place. Lets hope it just a clutch/ and throw-out bearing and an adjustment. Good Luck and let us know what you find....

 

We're in the process of replacing the clutch, pressure plate and throwout bearing. They were defiantly bad. The plate is all gouged and the throwout bearing was just spinning and rattling. Now trying to get the tranny back in! I just rented a tranny jack so I really hope it'll go back together today.
They didn't make these very user friendly to work on. My husband has been cursing dodge engineers for two days now.
Thanks for the reply and I'll post the final results. I hope this is it, it is a good running little van.

 

LOL.... yep the engineers that design 'em never have to skin their knuckles do they...? Be glad you have an older 4 cylinder... working on a 6 cylinder with the cab forward design is a real joy( [:@] ) too. Glad you're able to get back on the road with you're clutch/ throw out replacement.