I just had some top-end work done on my 1978 930 engine. After I got the car back from the mechanic, the transmission was noisy when engaged and started to 'complain' as I shifted. After 300 miles, the transmission **** to bed in the middle of a 40-mile drive (the longest I'd taken since getting the car from the mechanic). First, I couldn't get it into gears, then it locked and the only way to move the car was to keep the clutch depressed. Was hoping it might be the shift linkage, but the damage is inside the case, apparently. The transmission had been rebuilt by a trustworthy mechanic about 3,000 previous to this. My question: Could a lack of transmission fluid have caused this?

 

Only you can answer that question... You'll have to pull the drain plug to see if there's any fluid in it. If there's not, that's your answer.

 

water under the bridge but i assume you spent a fair chunk of change on the top end....and when you heard this "noisy trans" why didnt you take it immediately back and have them check into it?

sorry to ask....but if someone does work and then there is something unusual happening - seems like the firth thing to do...NOT take a road trip (albeit only 40 miles)

hoping for a simple outcome - my guess is the coupler wasnt set right or loose and it will be an easy fix (HOPING!)

 

Prior to the engine drop oil is drained from two places. It is supposed to be drained from the oil tank and the engine case. My guess is that in your case it was drained from the oil tank and the tranny. Easy rookie mistake. .....A very expensive, rookie mistake.

 

That's plausible, never would have thought of that.

 

If its out of oil I would not touch it, have them "discover" the mistake if there was one, but you should be there when they do it

 

Ouch

 

I'm starting to doubt my thoughts on what happened. Wouldn't there be oil in the "S" tube if there was still oil in the crank case? Perhaps they pulled all three drain plugs.

 

That could be the deal. Or, they drained for PM, and forgot to refill.

 

300 miles is awfully far to get on no transaxle fluid, so I think you can rule out that it is dry. However, it could be low...

 

Still could be clutch adjust or coupler issue

 

The noise thing is what would scare me...

 

agreed - I see cars all the time though where a clutch gets really out of adjustment and is un-drivable, towed in....and fixed in minutes - although noise is another issue like you say...just trying to give the OP (who is at large) some hope that it is possible that something simple is wrong.....

we may never know or hear back from him