Greetings Fanatics!! This has been posted in the Model Specific forum but as I learned quickly, this side has a lot more traffic.

I have a 1983 944 that needs the transaxle changed. Well, I have bought two now that have identical issues appon arrival. I am just puzzled if maybe I am doing something wrong.

The first one I recieved the previous owner swore up and down it was shifting fine when he sent it but after I installed it, I cannot get it out of first gear. It was never in neutral, only stuck in 1st since the time I bolted it up. The shifter shaft that sticks out of the side of the transaxle never shifted freely with a pair of vise grips on it like my original that I removed from the car.

The second one does the same thing with the vise grips on the shifter shaft but I have not attempted to install it on the car yet. Previous owner says it worked fine before shipping.

Here is a video of how my OE transaxle shifter shaft operates:
Here is a video of how the first and second replacement transaxles shifter shafts operate:
Am I missing something here? Should I be able to move the shaft forward and back like the original transaxle I removed from my car? Please help me with this issue. I haven't driven the car, execept in first gear, in 14 years. I want it back.

 

Now, I have tried pulling the selector shaft out to see if I could reset the gears into neutral but was not able to get it out. Any ideas? Bordin34 has been assisting with this so far.

I cannot slide the selector shaft out. It is blocked by the "U" shaped rods within. To me I imagine the selector rod "leg" should be between the "U" cutouts. Take a look at these pictures and tell me what you think.

 

Tuesday Morning Bump. Please help, I don't have ANY experience in transmission or engine internals. I sure can take one out and put one in though, LOL.

 

Might want to check w/ John to see what he figured out, seems like the same or similar problem he just had.

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ferrerid=15894

 

Thank you Jim for the link and idea. I just PMed John.

 

That is really strange. Sorry I can't offer any good advise. FWIW I also have a couple of extra trannys (one from a 83 one from a 84) you would be free to try if you were closer. But I just don't think anyone (not even me) would have such bad luck to have three bad trannys in a row. The manual units are really reliable and long lasting if you are not gready with them. I bet it will turn out to be something fixable. Good luck and let us know how the mystery evolves.

michael

 

Thank you Michael for the kind offer. I just wanted to update this. The seller we bought the transaxle pictured in the video and pics above has issued a refund for the purchase cost and freight. My wife and I just purchased another used transaxle from an 86 944 for double the price of the last one but still reasonable. Crossing my fingers this one is good to go. I feel assured considering he has a 99.8% feedback score with 7054 sales on eBay.

Does anyone know of a good book to use when pulling apart these busted transaxles? I have the factory manuals but I would like a bit more in-depth look at them.

 

Here's a link to a good write up by JET951. Maybe it will help.

https://rennlist.com/forums/944-turb...ferrerid=68202

 

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If you google 944 transmission workshop manual I am sure you an find it.

 

There looks to be a ear broken off that rod. Email me and I'll get a PDF copy of the manual to you. jsharrow@hoover.k12.al.us

 

Thats AWESOME!! He makes it look SOOOOOO easy. Gives me some ideas though. Thank you.

 

email sent, thank you.

 

both of those trans are now junk . try taking the diff out and removing the trans . im willing to bet you the ring gear or the pinion are shot and theirs metal in the trans .

 

Update: I have recieved my 1986 944 transaxle and she shifts smoothly on the bench. I will be installing it within the next couple of weeks. I will let everyone know how it goes.