Unusual 915 Transmission Problem - Need Help
 

Was driving home from north side of town today after meeting with a few of the fellow pelicans. The drive home was about 45 miles.

Stopped at the intersection across from my subdivision, traffic was clear, so I proceeded into the subdivision. I was doing about 15 mph in 2nd gear sort of coasting and and stepped on the gas to speed up a little. The car accelerated a little and then started to coast.

I shiifted into 1st gear let out the clutch, no response. Tried the rest of the gears still no response. I managed to coast part of the way up the driveway and set the emergency brake.

With the engine still running, I depressed the clutch, put it in 1st gear, let out the clutch, nothing happened. Did this in all five gears plus reverse. Reverse did grind a little like it always does if I shift into that gear too fast.

I am puzzeled. Checked the shift linkage it is ok. Had my wife shift from gear to gear while I checked the transmission shaft and it moved as it should.

I do remember as I was coming into the subdivision at the time I stepped on the gas to accelerate, I heard a light pop just before all this happened. The shift lever stayed in gear.

Never had any problems with the tranny before. Wasn't dogging it when this happened. Anyone have any suggestions? I havn't had time to get under the car which I wll do tomorrow. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

The P-car is a 1978 SC Targa

Steve

"A Porsche does more then just go fast in a straight lline"

Steve, you might verify visually that the release arm and throwout bearing move as expected when the clutch pedal is depressed. If so, I'm thinking that the center of the clutch disk has broken apart from the outer friction surface. I hope I'm wrong as this means an engine drop.

Would I still be able to shift the tranny if this were the case. What's weird about this is the tranny was in gear when this happened. I had just accelerated from a dead stop in first gear and then shifted to second gear. There was no vibration, no loud noise, just a muffeled "pop".

The shift from 1st to 2nd was fine the car accelerated forward and then I heard the "pop" sound which was just barely audable over the sound of the engine. It was at that point that it was like I placed the tranny in neuteral but it was still in 2nd gear.

Stepped on the gas, no go, checked the shift lever to see if it had popped out of gear - it did not. Appreciate you input, just putting the info out to get inupt on what I should check tomorrow when I get under the car.

Thanks again

Steve

"A Porsche does more then just go fast in a straight line"

If the disk is broken, the clutch would seem the same as always. You just wouldn't go.

Check your axles. Mainly your driver's side axle.

I had a similar experience earlier this year...ended up with all 6 of the bolts that attach the axle to the transmission output shafts had backed out. This seems to be a pretty common occurance.

It's pretty easy to see, no need to even jackk the car. Just look underneath and you'll see the axle hanging there.

Randy

Steve,

You weren't, by chance, meeting with the local Pelican's at Giovanni's, were you? :)

Randy

Hi Randy,

Yes, there were quite a few P-cars there along with a few Italian Stallions.

Steve

"A Porsche does more then just go fast in a straight line"

Also the clutch release arms fatigue and break (inside bellhousing). But I am thinking broken clutch disk/pressure plate because it sounds like the tranny and motor are not connected. Can you shift gears with the motor running, sitting still with out pushing the clutch in?

rcecale's got it. Check both sides to make sure your CV joint bolts didn't back out. My guess is that you'll find one of them hanging down loose. Hopefully you didn't mangle your throttle linkage or anything else coasting up the drive. Good luck,

ianc

I just had this same experience, except mine was preceded by a small "clunk". It was my outboard passenger CV, bolts all backed out. The clunk was the last one breaking.

The SC does not let the axle drop on the outboard end, so it is not easy to tell just by looking, especially if your car is low. Reach in there and grab the axle and give it a tug. If it feels loose, that is your problem. Several recent threads here on this.

Make sure you check ALL of the bolts, several on the other side of the car had also backed out. I had just replaced the boots, and had not done my research here first!

Good thing is that if this is the problem, you were going slow enough that you probably did not do any real damage!

Good luck!

Well, Steve, what's the verdict? Enquiring Pelicans want to know! ;)

And that Giovanni's thing, I really do need to get to one of those. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Randy