Elmiko

My '87 S4 5-speed has been stored in a friend's garage for the past several months, since the 996 I bought last winter bumped it out of my garage. I last drove the 928 about month ago, washed it, changed the oil, and all was fine. This morning I went to take it for a ride and can't get it into gear! Here are the symptoms:

With engine OFF and clutch in, I can freely move the shifter and feel it slip into each notch. But when I turn the engine ON, with the shifter in any gear and the clutch still in, the car lurches as if I didn't have the clutch in. If I put the trans in neutral with the engine off, then start the engine, there's no lurch, but I can't put the car in any gear even with the clutch in.

Not sure if it's a clutch or linkage problem. I never had any problems before with the transmission. I know I'm being punished for neglecting the 928 in favor of the 996! My wife thinks I should sell it, but she doesn't understand that it's still really a hotter car than the 996.

Lizard928

You washed the car and got water in the clutch most likely.

If you push down on the clutch put car into 1st, then start the car with 1 foot on the gas the other on the brake, what happens?

The problem is clutch, or clutch hydraulics.

davek9

Sounds like the Clutch is NOT disengaging, a Hydraulic Failure, when was the last time the Brakes and Clutch were bled (fluid changed)?

Any fluid leaks on garage floor (or under pan if installed) indicates clutch slave failure, also is the cars carpet show any signs of fluid (indicate a clutch master failure)?

If not Bleed Brakes and Clutch and see what happens then.

WallyP

If the clutch pedal feels completely normal, Lizard nailed the problem - clutch disk rusted to the flywheel or pressure plate.

Several ways to free it. My suggestion is to jack the rear wheels in the air, put the transmission in fourth gear and start the engine. Push the clutch pedal to the floor and stab the brakes. If no joy, try at a little higher RPM.

dzaprev

Hydraulic failure most likely . Check the fluid level and go from there . Pump the crap out of clutch pedal see if it changes anything .

davek9

Not saying it can't happen, just thinking that he did move the car back into the garage/storage and that should have generated significant "heat" to dry the clutch plate(s), Yes?

Edit: OP, how does the Clutch peddle feel/ does it operate normal ? if so Wally's suggestion couldn't hurt anything.

Dave

RFJ

I really think Wally nailed it, just try what he suggested.

Lizard928

free spinning of most tires is not recommended above around 30 mph...... Try my suggestion first.

If a tire is off the ground the forces will cause it to expand out. This can cause the tire to separate rather quickly. The ground limits the tires radial expansion.

Elmiko

Yep, the clutch pedal feels fine. I didn't look under the car for leaks. I'll try the suggestions and let you guys know.

Elmiko

No signs of fluid leaks underneath or anything obviously wrong under the hood. The brake fluid reservoir is full. Basically, when the engine is off, I can move the shifter to all positions, but it doesn't matter if the clutch is in or out. If I try to start the engine, the car lurches forward or backward, depending upon the shift position, again with or without the clutch in. When the engine is running, which I can only do when I've put the trans in neutral first, I can't get the trans into any gear, whether or not the clutch is in. So, the clutch doeskin seem to do anything, engine on or off, but the shift mechanism only functions when the engine is running. I'm confused-If the clutch was really stuck in the engaged position, I shouldn't be able to change gears with the engine running or not.

Petza914

I'm with Wally on this one too. Clutch disc is bonded to the flywheel with rust. Hopefully when they come apart the pressure plate keeps most of its material. I've seen one come apart under these circumstances.

Elmiko

I know that the brute force methods usually work, but I'm in a small garage with a short driveway. Is there anything I can do by lifting the car and maybe taking the bell housing cover off?

Hilton

Its a clutch - it regularly takes the weight of the car being turned at different speeds to the engine, so brute force is just fine.

When I stuck my clutch (parked it wet after washing), I just drove it. If your driveway or the road is relatively flat, you can just start it in first to get the car rolling with the starter. The engine takes over very quickly. Once its spinning under load, the clutch free's pretty easily with the pedal (and a big bang )

You might be able to pull the bell housing off and use a pry bar, but I'd be wary of leaving chunks of clutch on the flywheel or damaging the cluch disk.

Fogey1

I'm with Wally - I've have had it happen on a 356B and a 911.

For the first one, almost 40 years ago, a knowledgeable shop nosed it into a chain link fence and started it with the clutch pedal in. That worked - and the 911, 20 years ago, freed up while driving circles in a big parking lot.

Both clutches worked fine for many years thereafter.

JET951

The clutch centre splines are rusted/seized onto the clutch input shaft , this is normal on stored manual trans cars that have been left unused for some time , doesn't matter what make or model & yes the more damp the stored environment is, the more common it becomes