Shifting failure left me stranded.

[Mockmaw]

Well, it's certainly been a long day.

On the way to the local Porsche parts store to pickup some gaskets.. coming up to a stop sign, downshift to 2nd as I approach.. then when I'm completely stopped, I shift into first (I know that my 1st gear synchro is (going) bad.) Put into first and started to accelerate, it popped out of gear.. tried again, popped out.. tried again, same. Put it in second, started to accelerate.. then popped out. Tried to put it into first.. terrible grinding (not crunching) sound.. tried second.. same for a second, then it stopped. After that, no matter what gear I try to shift into, I get absolutely no resistance; the shifter is limp. Well shoot. So I amazingly stopped in front of an empty spot on the street in Berkeley (rarity), parked it.. jumped onto my skateboard and road for several miles to the Porsche place.

Picked up my gaskets, but asked them about it. They think that it's either the shift linkage, or the transmission.

I can check the linkage by trying to manually move the linkage bar into gear, then try starting it. If it's manually placed into gear and still isn't 'engaged', then I know it's the tranny.

Can anyone else give me some advice about this? My friend's about to pick me up (in about a half hour) to take me down to the car and see what we can try to diagnose. Any suggestions? Things not to do?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

[David McLaughlin]

BTDT.

That exact same thing happened to me last spring. I unbolted my shift lever and found a weld had broken on the shift bar. It is a pretty easy fix if you know how to weld, or do as I did and send it out to someone that does.


Good luck,

[Mockmaw]

Well, tested the linkage.. the shifter moves everything properly all the way into the transmission (of course, I can't see beyond that.) I suppose somthing must've just failed inside.. time for a tranny replacement/rebuild..

Can anyone recommend places in the Bay Area (particularly the East Bay) that:

1. Rebuild/Repair my current transmission?
2. Sell used or rebuilt transmission that I'll install?
3. Will install a used/rebuilt transmission that I provide?

I know they're all completely different questions, but I want to look at all of my options here (adding up both time and cost.)

[red-beard]

Sideshift or tailshift?

James

[mike95125]

Yo man, for used parts in your area try easy auto. They are on harlan street tucked away in the wharehouses near 49th and San Pablo (lovely area this time of year...not).
try www.eastpor.com
They sold me a great used tranny about four years ago for way too mauch because I didnt know what it was worth. If ya got some dough in the $750 range redbeard can sell you a great rebuilt one. Also you can buy realy cheap/questionable trannies from $150-250 here and else where. If you are technically inclined you can repair your tranny your self and save. There is lots of resourses on this sit to do so. Just ask around.
Good luck,
Mike

[red-beard]

Thanks for the kudo's Mike!

Sideshift: Pull the plastic cover off and check the set screw. If all right, disconnect the shift linakge and use a vise grip to try to shift it through all gears. If ok, it's forward in the shifter or linkage. Could be as simple as the screw is loose under the shifter.

If you can't move it through all gears, there is a pin in the shift console. The sideshift console is very resilent and rarely fails. This pin might break.

Tail shift: Pull the cover off. Punch out the roll pin and disconnect the shift linkage. Again, use a vise grip and try to move the tranny through all gear. If it's OK, There a re lots of places all through the linkage that can go bad.

If you can't shift the tailshifter through all gears, I expect it is the roll pin just inside the little cover plate in the tail cover. Cheap fix! About 10 cents! See the Thread I started on the cheapest part to leave you stranded (Sometime in June!).

James

[derek_sf]

if you want a working cheap used one I am in SF and deliver it to your door or car.

[Mockmaw]

Ahh, thank you.. let me expand a little.

I'm at an interesting decision here.. I live, work, and go to school here in Berkeley. I have the tools to perform some of the simpler jobs on my car, but just don't have the capacity to do larger things (ie, drop the transmission to my best knowledge.) At home in San Diego (my parent's house), I have the capability to do anything.. I mean anything. Rebuilding a tranny and doing the swap down there would be cake.

I knew the tranny was failing on my car, and was planning a rebuild (or purchasing a rebuild) and converting to side shifter during my vacation in the winter.. unfortunately, the tranny didn't last long enough.

So I've got many options..

1. I can simply pay someone to fix my transmission, it's not cheap, but it saves myself the trouble.

2. I can buy a used transmission and try to install it here in Berkeley or pay someone to install it for me. Over the next few weeks I can begin rebuilding my old one and insert it into the car later.

3. I can buy a rebuilt transmission now (not cheap, and I don't have much money right now, but definitely a possibility) and either try to put it in myself or pay someone to put it in for me.

4. I can bring the Bronco up from home with a tow-dolly, drag the thing home, and bring up the Honda to last me until my vacation.. ie, postpone the decision (albeit at a cost to simply get the car home.)

5. I can let the car sit at my personal parking spot in Berkeley, try to drop the transmission, rebuild it over the next few weeks (going without a car.. ugh.) and try to put it back in myself.

So there are many choices.. the problem for me is figuring out what I have the capability of doing. At the moment, I don't have the capability to swap the transmission.. I don't have a decent jack, don't have jackstands or car ramps, etc. Secondly is the cost involved.. how much price offset is there between simply paying for someone to fix it over my trying to fix it.

Money is a bit tight right now due to circumstances out of my control.. therefore, the all encompassing solution (buy a rebuild and pay someone to put it in) may not really be viable.

Red-beard, I'll take a look at some of the things that you suggested (maybe I'll take the day off tomorrow to try them out.)

I know about Easy, I buy many of my parts from them.. in fact, that was the place I was on my way to when the car failed. Still a nice downhill ride from the location where the tranny went.

Thanks everyone!!

[Speedo959]

I say you take a look at the transmission Derek has. If it is a side shift maybe Derek will sell you all the linkage too. Just get the conversion bushing at the firewall and your set. It's not too hard to swap. You could have it done in a few hours at your parking spot if your manager doesn't mind.
Then if you so decide you can take your old tranny and rebuild it at your own pace and just switch tail housing later at your parents house. Anyways something to think about. I would almost bet though it is just a roll pin.

[mike95125]

Dont forget to buy the engine cross bar with the side shift. Kragen has a set of jack stands, creeper, and a floor jack for sale in a kit for arround $35 so that shouldnt be an issue. Go to home depot, get some scap wood to use between a cinder block and the engine when you jack up the back (this will hold the engine up while the jack stands are being used to hold the car up). Then I would recommend having a friend help you get the tranny off. You can jack up another piece of scrap under the tranny and have your partner steady the tranny as you separate it and lower it. You can swap a tranny in the area of a parking space practically. I got big feet and am pretty strong so when I do this I use my feet as a cradle and lower the tranny with them (not recomended for non sasquatch types!). Ill be in that area around Xmas if you need someone to transport a tranny from San Diego.
Good luck,
Mike

[Brad Roberts]

Um.. there is a HUGE all Porsche swap meet in Redwood city at the Carlsen Porsche dealership on Sunday.

If you can look past my EGO, I'll GIVE you 2-3 tailshifters.

I'll install it for you for 200$. If you want to pull any of them apart to inspect them before deciding on which one... you can do that standing in our shop with your 13mm socket and ratchet for free after the swap meet on Sunday.

NO bullsh_it. Show up and pick a tranny. I use them as paperweights.

If you want to assemble a decent sideshift and convert the car..I have everything in stock to do it. The parts list is not short to convert one of these cars.

B

[Mockmaw]

Well, thank you for all the advice everyone; I managed to fix the problem!

Turns out the rollpin was broken.. ***** of a job for a novice like me (the harder part was getting around town using the bus, bart, and my skateboard.)

Final cost of the fix: about $60.. well spent though.

The rollpins (purchased multiple, just in case) were about $2.00
A set of vicegrips from the corner store: $12.00 (didn't have any up here, good investment of course.)
17mm Hex Key - $10.00
3 Qts. Tranny Oil - $12.00
Plastic Oil Drain Thingy (once again, something I didn't have up here) - $5
Maglight (didn't have a good working flashlight up here) - $10.00
Multiple instances of Public Transit - $10.00
Putty Knife - $3
Gasket Material - $? (cheap)
Exacto Knife - $2

Most of those are items that I reallly needed to get at some point anyway. Very excited that I was able to fix the problem and drive the car home.

I still need to rebuild (or purchase a rebuilt tranny) sometime soon (ie, next 6 months or so.) but at least I've got some more time to look around, research it, and do it right.

Special thanks to red-beard for his unbelievable patience in helping me alleviate this problem!

-Tyler

[red-beard]

Just glad to help. Gotta keep them rolling!

James

Remember, an expert is someone who doesn't make the same mistake three times!

[Bruce Allert]

GOOD JOB RED BEARD. GREAT OFFER BRAD. WAY TO GO YOU TWO.
RIGHT ON!

[mike95125]

Thats good to hear, and can you believe Brads generosity. I knew James would be able to help. I am so glad to have a resourse like you folks around.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Yup, that's why 914 folks are good to hang around!!

B's a self-confessed ***hole, and he's got a huge ego, but he's still a good guy anyway. No matter how hard he tries to hide it!


Red-beard:
Remember, an expert is someone who doesn't make the same mistake three times!

Nope! An "expert" is someone who has already made the mistake three times (or four, or ten, or...). That's how he can tell you not to do the job!

--DD

[Brad Roberts]

I was a young guy in school not too long ago with low funds and nobody to help out.

I gave away a decent tailshifter yesterday to another young guy who broke his.

B