My944Turbo

I did a quick forum search but came up empty.

Got in my car this morning and with the clutch pedal in and the car on it will not go into any gear. However if I shut the car off I can put it into 1st gear, push the clutch in and start the car and drive off. Once I do this I can shift into the other gears. But if I have to come to a stop I am unable to put it back into 1st gear I have to shut the car off. Any chance this could happen because of an air bubble in the lines? I'm at work right now but the car is my daily driver. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

Patrick

toddk911

Something with the syncors?

My944Turbo

Thanks for the guess.

Oh and forgot a little bit of info. This happend last night too coming home from work. No reverse or 1st with car on. Manged to get the car to checker, put in some brake fluid...it did look a little low. After that drove home fine. Everything shifted like butter. But then this morning same thing happend again.

Jfrahm

Probably a leaking slave cylinder or leaking hose from the res. to the clutch. What's happening is that you are not getting enough clutch travel release the clutch and therefore cannot get into gear. It could also be air in the clutch hydraulics caused by low fluid but this is less likely.

-Joel.

My944Turbo

Thanks Joel. I'll look for leaks when I get home tonight. I've replace the master and slave on my 83 a few years ago...but it didn't have all of the AC lines in the way as this does. Either way sounds like I'm on the right track...this is a lot cheaper than the alternative of a bad clutch or pilot bearing. Thanks again.

toddk911

"Oh and forgot a little bit of info." important info

yea, look under the car for leaks or under the driver's side dash for fluid.

ozzie951

Sorry Mate... its time to get your clutch done. Exact same thing happened to mine. Once it was apart, we noted that one of the 4 springs on the clutch plate had basically come out.

TRACKIN951

Those little springs can be killer, but first I would definetley check out you slave and master cylinders as that could cause you those problems I would think. In the morning did you recheck your fluid level at all? I dont know but the fact that it wouldnt work, then you topped it off and it worked fine to me does not sound too much like a clutch because wouldnt it always act funny??? Dont wuote me on that one but def. check the others out and do a good bleed job!

ozzie951

When my clutch went, I thought it was some intermittent thing... sometimes the clutch worked and sometimes it didn't. This happened for about a week before it gave up the ghost and wouldn't get into gear at all. Since it was my daily driver and the fact that I had to wait 4 weeks before the mechanic could fit it in, I simply engaged first gear just before stopping the car at lights and kept the clutch in. If I forgot and let the clutch out in neutral and then the traffic lights went green, I'd have to turn off the engine, push in the clutch, put the car in first gear, switch on the engine, stick my middle finger out the window (to stop the twit honkin his horn behind me) and then take off.

Jake951

If you're lucky, it's only a problem with hydraulics. However, it does sound very much like a bad clutch. Those darned springs break and jam the clutch. It's happened to me with exactly the symptoms you describe.

My944Turbo

Well I bled the clutch and the brakes for good measure and everything seemed to be good for about 2 days...still a little difficult to get into gear but I was able to. Then it started acting up again...it now seems pretty random, one shift I can't and the next I can. I suppose rather soon I'll find out if one of those darn springs is rolling around. Thanks for all of the reponses.

35thSLP

My Son's clutch did the samething on his NA. I thought the rubber disc was shot, When I took it apart it was the clutch disc. It had cracked at the rivets and was self destructing. Sounds Like time for a new clutch. You should be able to look into the inspection hole and see if the clutch disc is falling apart.

My944Turbo

Well I took it to the mechanic because I was having severe issues and sure enough it is the clutch. I have an 87 but with the 1 piece cross over. My two options are $3,400 to fix without upgrading the cross over or $5,200 to upgrade to the new one with a new clutch. I'm leaning toward neither. I might just drag it home and store it for the winter and attempt to fix it myself. Never done a clutch before though. Oh the joys of owning a 951. I've owned it for 6 years now, you would think I'd be used to it. Oh well. Thanks again for the responses, it appears that most of you were right.

rhesus

find a different mechanic?

NZ951

I second Bjorn... I did the clutch with Cup disk and KEP pressure plate and hardware for half what your guy is quoting.