Dr. Dynamics

Hi all...

I received a call from the owner of the 87 Carrera I do some work on. Without too much bla bla blaa...here are the symptoms...

- Sometimes, it won't let 1st gear or reverse out once you put the shifter in neutral position. You notice it when you take the clutch out in neutral and the car stall like if it was in gear.
- Sometimes if you have it in first gear and want to take off, the car feels like if the tires are stuck on a bump or something.
- When you do reverse, the car goes in reverse normally and when you press the clutch in order to brake, there a hard grinding noise coming from the transmission.
- started to leak heavilly the transmission fluid.

I was beginning to think of the dual mass clutch, but once I saw it leak, I ruled that out. The car is completely stock and only about 30k miles. I strongly believe some external object might have broken it, but I haven't lifted it to take a look.

Waht I want to know is:
- Is there a typical something that might break in these trannys.
- Might it be a home mechanic job
- If not how much should be expected in the repair

Any tranny experts out there...

Peter Zimmermann

Doc, first things first! Diagnose the trans oil leak - that should provide significant clues for you!
Pete

Wachuko

Any updates?

ron mcatee

You may have a leaking clutch slave cylinder. It is mounted up high on the left side of the tranny.

Dr. Dynamics

Sorry no updates yet...Havent gotten under it.

Dr. Dynamics

Update...

Summary...the symptom was that the car started gringing awfully when you put it in reverse and push the clutch when you want to brake. Sometimes in 1st gear too. Also, when you put it in neutral, and took the clutch out (with new bushings anyways) the car stayed in gear. The tranny also drained all the oil, apparently coming from the nose cone.

It was taken to a mechanic just to bring the tranny down since this is not my daily job. He gave me a call telling me that what he saw was that there was a gear (apparently a free running one) inside the nose cone which was loose due to a bolt getting loose and fell off (I imagine from the outside of the cone). In addition there were some green springs which were broken. He hasn't opened the rest of the tranny yet.

I was trying to look into the PET but my screen isn't big enough...

Thanks for any help in advance...

Dr. Dynamics

Can somebody help give me a hand and verify with the PET, my screen isn't big enough

Wachuko

Is it fixed now?

Dr. Dynamics

Not yet

The order was supposed to be done by now. Apparently the syncro hubs and some other stuff. I'll post the part #s.

Wachuko

So... is he fed up and ready to sell you the car???

Dr. Dynamics

NOT YET....I'm not ready to buy it