Unusual 911 issue Any ideas?

Upier · Upier's Garage

I have a truly strange problem. The car is a 1986 911 Targa with LSD.

I was driving home from work. Cold day about 28 degrees. I drove about a mile. I shifted but it seemed like I missed the gear because it reved to 3000 rpm but wasnt driving the wheels. Clutch pedal felt normal. I stopped. I could shift into any gear without using the clutch but no drive. No noises. I got flatbeded to my garage. Lifted car. With rear wheels in the air I can turn one and the other one turns. I checked the CV joints and they are okay. I had a torn boot on one but no damage. Now the really weird part. I stared the car and but it in gear. Wheels turned. I lowered the car and was able to (before replacing boot) drive the car out of the garage and turn it around and then back in. So it worked in 1st gear and reverse.

So what could be wrong with it?

fanaudical · fanaudical's Garage

Sorry - I'm confused. You can shift into 1st and reverse and move the car. How about the other gears?

Upier · Upier's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by fanaudical

Sorry - I'm confused. You can shift into 1st and reverse and move the car. How about the other gears?

I only tried those two gears because I didn't want to get stranded. Before I couldn't get it to move in any gear.

Arne2 · Arne2's Garage

Shift coupler and linkage bushings are an obvious possibility.

ant7 · ant7's Garage

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by arne2

shift coupler and linkage bushings are an obvious possibility.

Upier · Upier's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arne2

Shift coupler and linkage bushings are an obvious possibility.

How could this fix itself?

fiminod · 02-01-2016, 07:52 AM

It doesn't. Some call it "mystery shift" where you think it goes into the gear you select but because of the worn coupler and bushings it is hit or miss.

patz · 02-01-2016, 08:07 AM

CVs, if no move at all.

Bulldog9 · 02-01-2016, 08:17 AM

Are you saying that you can shift into any gear with the car running and not use the clutch? If that's the case, you likely aren't putting the car in gear, just moving the shifter. Is likely the coupler. Pull the cover off and I bet you'll find the coupler is disconnected from the trans gear shaft.

Upier · Upier's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Pratel

Are you saying that you can shift into any gear with the car running and not use the clutch? If that's the case, you likely aren't putting the car in gear, just moving the shifter. Is likely the coupler. Pull the cover off and I bet you'll find the coupler is disconnected from the trans gear shaft.

That was the problem but later was able to get into gear and move the car.

wwest · wwest's Garage

Clutch remained disengaged..... COLD?

Upier · Upier's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwest

Clutch remained disengaged..... COLD?

Yes it was cold. About 25 degrees. Only drove one mile before the issue.

afterburn 549 · 02-01-2016, 08:53 PM

Your pedal cluster sucks .
Rebuild with bronze bushings, install a couple grease zerts

Bulldog9 · 09:11 PM

You need to give more details. Does it change gears normally now?

BLUFF, clutches dont stick open(disengaged), they stick closed (engaged). You have shift linkage problems, an easy fix if it is the coupler or shifter itself, BAD if it is internal to the trans (unlikely) . Take off the access panel and check the bushing and connection between coupler and trans.