clutch or something else....

99 Altima SE w/ 108,000 miles (clutch never replaced)

Symptoms- 1st gear is fine but when shifting to 2nd-5th the car takes time to accelerate like I'm pressing the gas but it takes a few seconds before the rpms go up and the car actually picks up speed. I called my mechanic and he says its the clutch. I got a quote from him $800 for a new clutch and 7hrs labor.

Has anyone experienced this or know about this?

Does that quote sound too high (Northern VA)?

Thanks for any help here...

Yeah, it's is a clutch problem as you arent getting enough pressure. I just kinda had the same problem. And that sounds high in cost, is it 800 including labor? Or 800 for the clutch plus labor? Because you can get new OEM clutches of ebay for 80 some dollars(prolly 45 bux to ship), or just get a perdormance one of ebay for like 165(shipping included). You might want to order your new clutch online, and if you're not capable of changing it urself, just pay for the labor not the clutch. I recomend an Exedy clutch of ebay, I got the DuPont Extreme and that looks fine too. But I changed my own clutch and it took me about 3 weeks(my first time). So if you have another car to share w/someone to get to work/school I reccommend changing it yourself. It does involve alot f work though, like taking of the exhaust, heat shields, shift linkage, driveaxles and and transaxle obviously.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7971564939&category=33730&sspagename=WDVW
thats the exedy stock style clutch
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7971161843&category=33730&sspagename=WDVW
thats the one I got, notice more springs for performance

and if you have the money:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7971501586&category=33730&sspagename=WDVW

$800 is a standard quote for parts and labor. You get a new disc, presure plate, release bearing, and flywheel resurfaced. Any other parts will be more. CV boot(s) are often damaged with your mileage. No reason to replace the pilot bearing since it is only used for alignment during assembly.

Yeah, and I replaced a CV boot and some other things i found wrong that had nothing to do with the transaxle. Even though my kit came with a pilot bearing, I need a slide hammer(which I didnt have) to get it out, so I didnt replace that. But the throw-out bearing is a must in replacement.

Is the throw out bearing you're referring to the also known as the throttle bearing? I called around and some mechs said they would probably replace that also, another $300 b/c if they're changing the clutch they don't want to use the old one.

Is the throw out bearing you're referring to the also known as the throttle bearing? I called around and some mechs said they would probably replace that also, another $300 b/c if they're changing the clutch they don't want to use the old one.
No! A throw out bearing is another name for a clutch release bearing. Other names are T.O. bearing and T.O.B. The new bearing is included with every new clutch kit. Don't use individual rebuilt parts. No clutch should be replaced without replacing the throw out bearing. Throttle bearings are on the same list as muffler bearings. Both parts are imaginary as in no such thing. A new top qulity throw out bearing for your car purchased individually might cost as much as $50 at the very highest price. Call a Nissan dealer parts department if you want to find the highest price. There is no additional labor charge involved to replace a throw out bearing while replacing a clutch disc. You are either having a serious communication problem with this shop or they are extremly dishonest and just plain rude! If you see coins on the ground around this place, you better not bend over to pick them up. Replacing the clutch disc, presure plate, release bearing, and resurfacing the flywheel should cost about $800 total. The shop will pay less than $200 for the parts leaving them a $600+ profit for three hours of work. That is the way it is. The shop has to pay their bills and cover any warranty expense if something isn't right. If the shop won't inspect your rubber CV joint boots, and motor mounts for free before they give you a price quote on the clutch, go somewhere else.

Yeah, justsaygo is right, they are not the same thing. Most new clutch kits come with a throw out bearing, you could get a stage III peformance clutch(the best that can handle over 400hp) kit w/ a throw out bearing and pilot bearing and alignment tool for around 300 dollars, there is no way in hell a reguar throwout bearing cost 300. I'd say buy the whole kit off the internet and have a professional install it.

i gotta have my say in this, dude would u pay 400 dollars for a beer, no, u wouldn't. Pepboys did my clutch for 375. stock clutch and labor. u dont need a performance clutch u dont have a turbo or nos, so whats the point oh u might be able to scert third,ohhh wow,and another thing altima's transmissions suck bad, ive been through 5, plus u can pick them up with two fingers, i swear there made out of plastic,lol, one of the two problems u will incure are first, sync gears, u will notice it does not want to shift out of second or perhaps another gear , and boooooom second problem youl take off from a stop light and then hear clunk clunk clunk, providing how fast the car will go , is how fast the noise will be, conclusion:another transmission , NOW im not hatin on altimas i just dont like thier tranny's , the engine is quick and tough i dont know another that can go 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd 4 times and last, and also beat si's and gsr's, AT the moment a bit of an ectasy feeling came over me at those moments (raver talk comin out) , i was like damn, its an altima, u will be surprised by the potential but when that potential hits, a tranny will drop so drive carefully and dont snatch gears alot. AND THIS HAS BEEN MY TIME TO SHYNE>SO LATER PEEPS