Shifter sticks / stiff on long journeys

[MrTibbs]

Hi folks,

I have a strange one here. I've recently changed the fluid in the transaxle (put in 2 litres of the correct oil, which is what the manual says to put in). I don't use the car all that much, and haven't had it that long so can't say whether it started when the fluid was changed or not.

If I drive for a long time on the motorway (freeway), when I go to change out of 5th gear it's much stiffer than normal. It's then also more difficult to get into other gears (feels like you're trying to force it into the slot). After a few gear changes it loosens up. It's difficult to know exactly when it starts, but it tends to be when I've not shifted for probably 30 or 40 miles.

I'm at a bit of a loss to explain this as it doesn't do it when cold (has the usual slight notchiness between 1st and 2nd for the first couple of miles), and doesn't stick other than when it's been cruising in 5th for a while.

I wondered about the linkage being short on lubrication, but that would make it touch to shift all the time surely?

I also wondered about the clutch warming up and not disengaging properly (it sometimes seems to loosen up a bit if I pump the clutch up and down a few times). It has a brand new clutch, but haven't changed the fluid in my ownership - it's right hand drive so has a separate reservoir from the brakes. I'll change the fluid soon, but not sure it's related to this issue.

I've adjusted the clutch pushrod as well (the pedal to master cylinder rod) so the bite point is nearer the top than it was, but the issue's still here.

Any ideas? I've seen that some people put more than 2 litres into the trans (I think a quart is about a litre). Should I stick some more in, on the assumption that it's getting warm and expanding a bit when in the same gear for a while?

Open to suggestions.

Mike

[ERAU944]

When I had difficulty shifting it turned out to be the clutch.

The rubber center in the clutch disc had disintegrated, and I had been driving on the limp-home tabs for at least a week.

Take out the clutch inspection cover, and if chunks of rubber come out, you'll know what's going on.

[MrTibbs]

Hi,

It's not the clutch. As I said, it has a brand new clutch; less than 2k miles on it.

Mike

[flash968]

i'm too old now for my shifter to be stiff on long journeys - i'm lucky if i can get in and pop the clutch

[mytrplseven]

What brand and kind of oil did you pour in the transaxle? I've been told that the Amzoil lube for trannys is real slippery and makes for silky shifting. I was wondering if there was an issue with the oil you put in.

[968 GUY]

should be almost 3 liters to refill.
2.75

[MrTibbs]

Out of interest, where does it say the trans takes around 3 liters. In my manual, and in the FSM it says approx 2 litres. Am I missing something?

Mike

[Stephen03]

Was it dripping out of the fill hole?

[MrTibbs]

Nope, wasn't dripping out of the fill hole. I went with the factory manual specs for the amount of oil it takes; which says around 2 litres, and to about 6 to 8 mm lower than the fill hole. I couldn't check accurately how much lower than the fill hole it was as there's no-where flat where I live (car was on a slight slope, facing down, and I could feel oil with my finger a little way into the trans).

Filling it to the top of the fill hole would technically be over-filling it wouldn't it? I wouldn't fill the engine with oil until it dripped out the filler.

I've seen that people say it needs more than 2 litres, but have also seen threads where people have taken a trans off the car that was caked in gunge and reckon it's been over-filled.

I'll probably stick a bit more trans oil in it, but would be helpful if anyone can give me a response from experience about why you should put more than factory specs in it.

Mike

[shavinseconds]

that was one of the symptoms when i needed a new clutch fork. search it up and goodluck. .

[MrTibbs]

On the new clutch fork, did it only do it after a long run in the same gear, or was it stiff all the time? It shifts fine most of the time, just goes a bit stiff when it's been in 5th for a long while.

[mikepellegrini]

My NA started doing that after I changed the trans fluid to Redline MTL (recommended by Clark Fletcher).

If I drive more than 20-30 minutes on the freeway, it's a little hard to shift. No other symptoms. My clutch was redone maybe 20k miles ago.

[89-944NA]

+1 on the Redline MTL.....changed to Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lube LS 75w-90 and it shifts like a dream. Filled it just to the bottom of the filler hole. Mine is overfilled, guess I should have read the manual first....just filled it lke I always did with my 67 Camaro.

[MrTibbs]

Thanks guys. Maybe I'll drain the cheap no-brand stuff I put in there and put in some Mobil 1 or Swepco (if I can find it in the UK).

I'm fairly sure the classic Porsche and Ferrari place who did my clutch would have noticed if the fork was out of whack. They were full of testarossas, 911s, and newer Ferraris so I reckon they know their stuff (and they all used to work at the Porsche dealership before setting up on their own).

Mike

[mytrplseven]

Not to beat the "professionals" on the head but I had my 944 in for Koni shock work and when I got it back the car steered sideways and the steering wheel was cock-eyed. They said they couldn't get it right and it needed new camber plates. When I protested, they went back and there was a bolt in some part of the suspension adjustment that was a little froze and they didn't want to break it. They put a little more mustard on it and it loosened and then they got the suspension right. Bottom line... they weren't that professional. They had a lot of Porsches, Bentleys and Jags there as well.

[968 GUY]

Sorry, when I said capacity should be 2.75L, I was looking at my 968 manual.

[MrTibbs]

No worries, most posts seem to suggest filling to the fill hole, but I'm not sure if topping it up will help or not. No harm trying though I guess. Might change it for higher quality stuff, proving that cheap oil is a false economy.

Will try bleeding the clutch first, then changing the oil. Will post my conclusions here.

Mike

[ernie9944]

Originally Posted by 968 GUY

Sorry, when I said capacity should be 2.75L, I was looking at my 968 manual.

Don't be sorry it's the same for a 944 2.75L

[ernie9944]

There you go!!! 2.75 US quarts or 2.6 L

[89-944NA]

Unless it's a turbo ( I know his isn't, just being a wise a$$) then it's only 2 liters or 0.53 gals, I see everyone who has posted is a 951 or 944 guy, the 924 may be the same as the 951 @ 2 liters. Anyone got a 924 manual to verify?