My niece just bought a car (an early 1990 Dodge something or other). Anyways, it's a slightly old econo-car, and she was learning how to drive stick on it. Before she was given the car, a brand new clutch was put in along with some repairs to the existing parts (not sure on the details), which was prolly a bad idea since she is learning on a new clutch.

Anyways, she was driving it around the block with me in it while I coached her through it, and she was letting it rev too high before actually getting it in gear (she would give it gas and start sliding it in gear, but by the time she released the clutch into gear, it was proly hiting 4kish rpms (no tach). Anyways, once around the block, and the hood starts puffing smoke out of it. We pull over, let it sit, and then I try taking it back. The car starts up/idles fine, but it wont move. I dont even need to depress the clutch to put it in gear. First, second, third, fourth, fifth.. nothing made the car even stall.

What do you think could possibly be the problem? A friend suggested maybe the springs on the clutch were bad and were therefor not causing the clutch to engage, but I really have no idea...

Thanks all

 

just a thought, but maybe you should try a dodge forum. there maybe a common problem with that model that no one here knows about.