924Board.org

[charly]

Hello all-

I've come into some shifting problems all of a sudden (I think) in my '79 924 NA. As fars as I know, the clutch/trans parts are basically the same on the 931 and '79 924's so I am appealing here.

It began in one day: I tried to shift into 1st in a parking lot and the gears started grinding as I moved the shifter. same into 2nd, 3rd, 4th. pumped the clutch a few times (even tho it's a cable) and found a spot it would let me slide it into 1st. Since then, it's been constant. it likes 3rd OK sometimes. It always will go into 5th. but downshifting is hit or miss. I am trying not to drive it and plan to change transmission fluid soon after all this grinding.

So, my question isn't necessarily what could this be, but I am wondering if anyone has a good diagnostic approach for this system, like a troubleshooting tree.

i am starting with the cable: It seems to click when I push the clutch in, right at the top of travel. The mounts thru firewall are a little wonky and old, but it doesn't seem to be binding anywhere. The clutch catches more 1/4 of way to top of travel, I hear it should be at the top, but it always seemed to work fine. It is loose halfway down, then gives good resistance, nothing seems too odd.

Is it worth re-adjusting the cable, then maybe replacing it, then digging into the clutch, then transmission? I don;t have a ton of money , or time, so I am trying to think of the best method to diagnose.

WHen I bought the car a year ago I replaced the shift linkage with a 911 model, and modified it at the transmission a little. So, the bushings problem shouldn't apply here.

Regards!

Charly

[fiat22turbo]

Actually, if you had posted this in the general section you would have gotten more responses, but this works

The syncro's are known to be weak in those transaxles, mostly because people drive them poorly (they don't shift quickly and bad linkage doesn't help) there may be a design or manufacturing element in there as well.

Changing the fluid should have been done when you did the linkage. Redline MTL or equivalent. Make sure the fill plug comes out first before draining the fluid.

BTW, the cable can stretch and should be adjusted. The plastic ends can fail, but generally work fine until they fatigue and fail.

If after the cable adjustment and fluid change, the shifting doesn't get better, then you get to rebuild the snailshell. Sucks, but while you're in there, check the TT bearings and clutch to ensure you don't have to do anymore work.

Good luck!
_________________
Stefan
1979 924 Carrera GTS (clone-ish)
1988 944 Turbo S (Silver Rose)

[charly]

Got it straightened out: stretched cable! installed spacer, longer life!

thanks, i was nervous.