Transmission Question

[MootsMan]

Have an '86 with 6spd......in the process of purchasing from the original owner....she is selling because the transmission quit working. She was out on the freeway, hit a bump or pothole ( according to her account ), and from that point on the car wouldn't move. Symptoms now are that when you put it in gear, and let out on the clutch, it makes a kind of grinding noise. Here's my mechanical ignorance coming through again, but could this be a clutch problem ?? or is the transmission toast ?? It made the same noise in all foward gears as well as reverse.

If it is the clutch, how big a problem is that to fix ??

Thanks !
Mike

[Lateer]

Not good.
You could be lucky and spend a small amount and get it all back, but the grinding noise sounds like the gearbox has had it.

If you've got a spare handy, go for it.
Else I wouldn't.

[Gasoline Fumes]

I'd check the front CV joints, a broken one could have those symptoms. It should still move in 4WD if it's a CV joint. Don't let the owner see that, price might go up! If it's not a CV joint, I'd assume it's the transmission itself.

[AbusedJalopy]

I don't know how much she'll let you mess with it, but if you can, drain the oil from the front of the trans. If you find metal chunks or shavings, forget it. If you don't, see if the front CV popped out of the front diff. I remember when we didn't fully push one of the CVs in, we got that grind you were describing and since it's an open diff, all the power goes to the side of least resistance, so the car won't move. I'm sure a big enough pothole or hitting anything for that matter might be enough to yank it out, so try hitting it back in. 4wd uses the back wheels, though, so the car should move. The last thing I can think of, if the car moves in 2wd while grinding, then it might be the pressure plate. When we grenaded our pressure plate, it made a horrible grind and high pitch scrape sound, but the car would still move.

[MootsMan]

Thanks, guys, I appreciate the ideas. Like I said , I'm not really much of a mechanic, but learning ! I'll go by and try it in 4WD. I hope it's only the CV joint !

MJ

[MootsMan]

Well, the CV issue wasnt' the problem.....at least when trying it in 4WD, nothing happened....still have the grinding noise, and no forward movement. Guess now is the time to start research on replacing the tranny !!

[Teddy1]

MootsMan:

Ask her (the owner) this ONE question: "was everything NORMAL with the transmission UNTIL the big bump/pothole?"

If the answer is "yes", then, I would bet it ain't the transmission.

The springs might have all fallen out of the clutch disc, or the throwout bearing (or it's carrier) are off-azimuth, or something... or the pressure plate broke, and parts of the springs are flying around... SOMETHING in the bellhousing.

Drain the tranny! Do you see metal flake? Is there the normal/expected amount of fluid in it?

The REASON I am "suspicious" that the transmission "broke" due to the pothole... because I have jumped these poor little wagons hard enough to blow shocks out through the top of the strut bearings, and I have ACTUALLY knocked a fender loose (these are bolt on fenders, guys!) and, guess what?

I have never had a transmission just "break" on me.

I have: blown up shocks, ripped sheet metal, broken a wheel off (hub and all) and I have high-sided/lodged myself IN rocks before.

No dead trannies.

Do some more investigative work for us, MootsMan!

[3A-C Power]

Did all that abuse do any damage to the frame?

[Teddy1]

3A-C Power:

You know, good question. I have never NOTICED (visually) "frame damage", but I have never taken the poor cars that I have thrashed to a body shop and had the car put up on the rack with the lasers and measuring needles, either.

On/during the instances of abuse where I have knocked glass out of the frames, I would HAVE to assume I bent frames.