** HELP ME GUYS car just broke**

[Eric Mckenna]

It's a 78 SC and I was trying to start it after having it sit for few weeks and it started fine.. little smoke no BIGGIE! but then I don't know how it happend as I only have ONE FRIGGIN key but the door locked and I was outside the cart and it was still running! for about 45 minutesalmost an hour.. and reached about 200 on the temp gauge.
While I cursed and tried like hell to get in with everything in whithin a mile of me!!!. with NO LUCK! so I got pissed and broke the rear Qtr window out to turn the car off.
YIPPEE for me! wrong..
As I got in to try to back it out.. I couldn't get it into gear.. just wodn't go the clutch felt hard.. then al of a suddden it goes right to the floor... and the car for sure WILL NOT go into gear now.
So I need to try to fix it ASAP as I have to take it to the shiop in the morning.. to have some tests and crap done on it..
ANY IDEAS AS TO WHAT THE HELL just happend??
please give me leads to start looking at..

Thanks guys!!
in adavance that is..

to top it off it's COLD Outside!!! hahahaha! well at least I still have my humor!!..
i think!!
hahah
Eric

[Eric Mckenna]

thanks again guys..

[motion]

Clutch cable broke?

[Scooter]

Sounds like your clutch cable snapped. Someone told me along time ago to keep a spare clutch cable and spare belt in the car at all times. Sounds like it was good advice. Think maybe I should start listening?

[Eric Mckenna]

Rich... where is the best place to get a view point on it to see this?

[mtelliott]

Wish I could help you out. I know what it's like to need quick advice and be caught trying to figure it out.

My guess is that the two are not related. Don't see how they could be. Sounds like just bad timing on the clutch cable breakinig. You should be able to look at the tranny from underneath and see if anything is hanging. If you can't see anything hanging, then you'll need to jack up the back and see if it's still connected at the tranny.

If it's still connected, then the experts will have to comment. But I'm guessing you've already done what I suggested.

My guess is that fixing the clutch cable (if that's the culprit) will be cheaper than fixing the window you broke.

[Wayne 962]

I 2nd the clutch cable - hopefully not a pressure plate problem. I had a BMW do the same thing - never did figure out what went wrong with it - when I took the clutch apart, it all looked normal. We tested and compared the pressure plate to the new one - just couldn't figure it out.

Check the cable first. When it rains, it pours!

This is the 2nd post of someone getting locked out of the car. There are a few potential solutions to shut the car off while it's running that I can think of off the top of my head. The first one, is that if you have access, you can quickly jack up the front of the car, remove the belly pan, and then pull the plug on the fuel pump. A 2nd approach that may or may not work too well would be to stuff a rag (or if you're in the movies, a banana) in the tailpipe. You cut off that tailpipe, and the car should stall. I can't think of a downside to doing that, perhaps someone else can?

-Wayne

[MotoSook]

You hurt your car, your car retaliates...nuf said E-man!

(JK)

If you can pull the cable end out from the clutch fork under the car, you need a new cable. If you lift the carpet over the center tunnel, and you can reach in and move the cable, you have a busted cable.

Sorry for your troubles bro. WUF! WUF!

[RickM]

I've heard of using a potatoe (or is it Po-Ta-To?) in the tail pipe.

[GB83SC]

First look at the trany on the driver side follow the cable out of the tunnel, if it looks OK look at the clutch pedal here the cable goes in.
If that looks ok. Look at the large spring at the back.

If you need a quarter window I have a right one spare 83SC -- Free

I hope it gets better.

[Eric Mckenna]

Thanks Guys.. I was dressing in some warmer clothing and getting some flash lights as it's dark here already..
I'll check all the listed things..
yES from now on.. I will never shut the door while it's running.
and i'll have a second key made.
Thanks A MILLION! guys..
I hope it's just the cable!!!
Thanks guys this board has alway helped me out.
I hope to be able to repay you guys sometime.
.... Off to the cold to work on my PRIDE & JOY!!

I'll let ya know what I find!


Eric

[RickM]

BTW, I tried twice to "Slim Jim" my way into my 911 and I never could do it. It's a toughie.

[motion]

I think this is the first mechanical-type contribution I have ever made to this board in over 1000 postings! And I beat Scott by one minute. Anyone up for an oil change party? I'll supply the brew!

I really have a warm fuzzy feeling going right now

[masraum]

If it's just the clutch cable then you should be able to get it into gear when the engine is not running. If that's the case then you should be able to get it to the shop. Hopefully you don't have too many stop signs/lights on the way. when you stop, turn the car off, then put it in 1st, when you can go again start the car with it in gear, then shift not using the clutch using our rev-matching techniques. I've had to do that a few times, after a few shifts you won't even grind the gears.

[svandamme]

stuffing the tailpipe should do the trick, and lots easier than then trying to disconnect the fuel pump, the engine simply chokes on exhaust
takes less 5 seconds and it'll be done with

used to drive a Renault R5 which never would shut down , even when the key was out of the ignition... it just rambled on ...
i was lazy ... the stuffing worked... why troubleshoot?

[Jocke]

My alarm locked my key into the car once when i dissconnected the battery with the key in ignition, but my rear Qtr window was able to open with a little wrench...

Sad to here Eric, hope you fix it, i'm pretty sure you always got the answer on your prob's of the other guys.

/Jocke

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by RickM
BTW, I tried twice to "Slim Jim" my way into my 911 and I never could do it. It's a toughie.

I think I'm gonna hook up a secret lid opener X 2.


I think the clutch system sucks.. but I always have a spare cable in the trunk.

[}{arlequin]

You'll be greasy yet frozen, but eventually that cable will be replaced. It was the first thing that broke on mine. Simple fix, except for the fact that I physically cannot really reach my pedals. Hard to lean over over the side impact door bars from the cage. Get it fed exed overnight if you must, keep a few Guinness handy and good luck.

[concentric]

Anyone hide a spare key with some sort of system that keeps it out of sight? I'm not sure the magnet box thing would work, it might come off with spirited driving, but it might be an idea to consider. That, or buy a convertible.

JCM

[svandamme]

lot's of people hide a spare key in one of the light housings, one of the indicators or a brake light..just need a simple screwdriver which usually isn't to hard to find if you ask around