i know this is pretty general but its my friends car and he just got it today and he was on his way home when he said he came to a stop and when he went to put it into 1st gear and go it just rev'd and now he said it just revs and won't move even though it seems like its in gear...

again i know its general but its the best i can do to try to help

btw...85 944 (n/a)

 

Does the clutch feel normal? Are there any noises?

 

he said no noises and the clutch feels pretty much the same

 

Jack it up and put it in gear. Then try to rotate a rear wheel. If it turns the problem could be the transmission. If it doesn't the problem could be the clutch/driveshaft.

 

also, the shift linkage at the transmission may have come loose, does the shifter feel solid?

 

thanks guys i'll have him try that...i told him to check the linkage but he just got it and i tried explaining but he couldn't find the linkage...i'll make sure he checks both though...thanks again

 

ok...so he just tried that and the wheels didn't move at all...but the clutch grabbed pretty good priar to that...so i'm guessin driveshaft?...i can't be sure cuz i haven't seen it but i'm gonna try to check it out tonite...he said they shifted in/out of gears and watched the shift linkage move so thats not the problem

 

if the linkage is good, then its probably the r&p or the clutch

 

hey this is the owner of the car i tried puting it in gear and i could turn the wheels as though it was in nuetral......?????? i have no idea what it is..... i even started the car and when i put it into 4th and 5th gear it feels like the clutch maybe just grabbing the littlest bit but its just no enough to even move the tire when it is jacked up..i though it my be the shift linkage that continues inside the tranny...but the only way i could check that is if i dropped the tanny and took it apart???? if anyone has anymore idea plz post them

 

ohh yah and the shifter feel solid as it was last nite...it doesnt feel like it is freed up at all?

 

Sounds like a clutch failure.
It seems to me, R&P failures usually make a terrible racket.
If it's a rubber-centered clutch, you can pull the starter and look for lots of little rubber bits.

 

When gearboxes go they tend to be pretty loud, I would have a long look at the linkage and the clutch.

~Eric

 

alright guys well i have a few things to look at now when i go to check it out...thanks again...

i keep thinkin linkage for some reason but i'm definitely gonna check behind the starter to check the clutch

 

It's most likely the clutch. I just had the same problem with my '87 944S. The factory clutch has a rubber piece that connects the disc to the center piece. It does have a backup catch for a "limp home run", but this doesn't last long. In my case, the center splined piece had just seperated from the rubber, so it was just spinning freely. There were no rubber pieces.

 

To rule out the trans, you could jack the car up and drain the transaxle fluid. Look for metal shards/chunks. If it is the trans, usually it makes a fairly horrific noise when it goes and sounds bad (grinds and clunks) when you try to drive the car.

The fact that you could turn the wheels easily while it is in gear makes me wonder...........