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Stuck in 3rd gear

alwigley

New member
Took her on a long run down to Thanet this evening and pulling away from roundabout could not get out of 3rd gear...... nursed her on to my destination but need to fix her to get back home for work on Monday !

Never touched the gearbox or selector side of things before, so any suggestions - lever has always been a little sloppy, and still moves around but locked into 3rd gear.

Cheers

Alan
 
Sounds like the selector has jammed or burst at the back. Not a pleasant job unfortunately as you need to get right under to remove the knackered one. HAs the lever been getting stiff (side to side rather than front to back)?
Alasdair
 
Side to side has always been pretty sloppy - on my list of things to do has been figure out why the linkage was so loose..... 3rd has always been the gear to give the odd bit of trouble when shifting down, sometimes baulking when trying to put in gear, but has been fine recently.

Will get underneath tomorrow and see.

Thanks chaps !
 
They have a habit of engaging two gears at once, with third being the only usable gear. Has the car had a front end accident, as this is what usually causes it?

The solution involves removing a small cover and prising the right thing, but a proper repair will need a new part. It happened to one of mine maby, many years ago (1994), which is why Im a little vague about exactly what was what.
 
Mine stuck in 3rd - gear linkage on the top of the box
IMAG0386.jpg
 
Ok - external selector mechanism both front and rear appears to be in all one piece and operating OK....... there is a small triangularish access panel just underneath where the selector mechanism goes into the transaxle r/h side top which I am guessing allows access to the selector mechanism internally which may be what 944man is referring to ?

Anyone got any bright ideas where to go from here, otherwise she is returning home on a breakdown truck [:(]
 
Al - I have taken the cover off my spare 'box.Both the plastic bush and the shaft are spring loaded, so you may be able to push them a bit?

Other wise you would have to take the circlip off and see what that will do.

IMGP7175.jpg

 
Thanks for that Mike - really helpful ! I have been examining the workshop manual and my understanding is that the selector shatft is operated from the opposite end of the shaft to your picture and is sprung loaded to allow lateral selection of the driveshaft for 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th & 5th/reverse respectively.

My guess is that the 'key' on the selector shaft which selects which driveshaft it operates is somehow out of line and trying to operate the wrong driveshaft. If you push on the open end of your selector shaft, does it move in against the spring, as I'm wondering if a tap on the end of the shaft may do the trick ?

I have put the spanners down for today, but am trying to work out a gameplan !

Cheers, Alan
 
Yes the shaft is spring loaded (guessing mines in neutral) and moves quite easily (good prod with a socket extension!)

My guess isthat yours maybe jammed so tapping the end may free it, possibly whist wiggling the lever end of the shaft.

Raining here, but done my lawn and my folk's and been to the Caribbean Carnival before it started so a good day.

Hope you get it sorted tomorrow, you can give me a call - No below - if theres anything I can help with.
 
Ok, managed to get out there again whilst it was still light...... removed that cover, and I certainly have in and out movement with the shaft - gave it a few taps with any appropriate sized hammer, whilst moving it around in every direction possible, but nothing doing.

I suspect I'm either going to have to find someone with experience of Porsche transaxles, or take the plunge and source another box..... never changed a box before, and I confess I'm dubious of getting another one thats just as bad and spending days changing them over. Took me over a year to rebuild the top end after the tensioner went last year !

Thanks for your help Mike - may give you a call to discuss during the week when I get a chance.

Cheers

Alan
 
Changing the box is easy - 6 x12 pointed star head screws in the c/v joints, 2 x nuts in the mount, 2 x bolt + 2 x screw bellhousing, 2 bolts on the drive shaft connector and one on the change rod.
2 strong straps and a pair of ramps, trolley jack is useful too.
 

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