Clutch or CV joints?

I've got 252K on my 1994, 1.9L 5-speed. I'm getting a slight jerking when I'm accelerating, and I mean so slight that I'm probably the only one that notices since I drive the car so much. It's even less than the slight power loss when I have the A/C on. I'm thinking it's either clutch (original) or something to do with the CV joints. It's not engine related, the engine runs fine. I've never really experienced a failing clutch, so I don't have anything to compare it to.

I do all my own work on the car, so I'm pretty tuned into it, so to speak, I've just never messed with the clutch or drivetrain.

If you can find a 'clip on' tachometer somewhere then you could hook it up and take a drive. If the clutch slips you'll see a rise in engine RPM. My car was doing something similar and I found I had a bad spark plug wire that was intermittantly grounding out. Looking under the hood at night I could see the spark. I have a '93 set up like your's and it has 296,000 on it. Still getting over 35 MPG!

I've got a tach on my dash. It's definitely not getting a rise in RPM like you describe. I recently (October) put in new plugs & wires, I'm pretty sure it was happening before that...but now I'm not so sure. I'll take a peek at it in the dark to see if anything comes up.

One thing I forgot to mention is that every now and then (3-4 weeks or so) when I turn sharply to the left at low speed, like when you pull away from a curb, I hear a pop or slight clunk. If I back up and try to make it happen again I can't. Sorry, totally spaced it on my first post. :loser:

How miles are on the axles? If you still have the original ones, you need new axles (actually you probably needed them 100,000 miles ago).
How many miles are on the tie rod ends? At that mileage, I would replaec the inners and outers.
How many miles are on the ball jloints? Again, at 250K, I'd replace those too if they are still original.

Actually, I'd probably replace everything in the front end, meaning ball joints, inner and outer tie rod ends, wheel bearings, and balance and align.

All original. I'll start looking into all that.

Clunking when you turn to the left is the sound a CV joint makes when it's on it's way out. If the clutch is slipping it will make the tranny jerk under moderate acceleration. I would take it to a front end shop and tell them what the problem is and get their opinion about what needs to be fixed and then you could take it from there. I used to work for one of the big chain tire stores. When a car came in to get an alignment we would check the front end for worn parts. You can't align a front end if the parts are worn out. You don't make much money just aligning the front ends. The real money is in the parts replacement. So....take it to someplace like Firestone or Goodyear. They won't charge you for checking the front end and they will give you the information you need about what's worn out to replace the parts yourself. Front end work is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. Sure they will try to sell. It's why they are in business. Just tell them that you don't have the money but will get right back to them after payday.

All original. I'll start looking into all that.

If It's all original, I'd probably overhaul the front end (replace everything I mentioned).

zzyzzx2 is probably right. With that many miles you ought to replace the ball joints and tie rod ends. If the struts have never been replaced you ought to do them. I'd check the wheel bearings for roughness and check the control arms for bushings being worn out.