[spazegun2213]

SMO, odds are they are right. Its probably the linkage on the tranny. I dont remember if its possible to get to it without a jack, but if you have one it should be a 10 or 12mm and it will take you 3 minutes to tighten it back up.

Happened a lot on my race car before i decided to safety wire it on!

[Fairfax 944]

Here are 2 pics of my transmission linkage ('86 951). I've been told that this shows a short-shifter kit. The horizontal rod running the length of the car is the shifter linkage. The rod on the [left] (OOPS, edit, I meant right) side of the pics is an anchor or reference and remains fixed in position. For your reference, the aluminum at the top of the pic is the fuel cell, and the picture was taken from the left side of the car (you can't see anything from the right side).

My car had a problem of popping out of 4th gear. I think I fixed the problem by tightening the the lower bolt that is safety-wired. Even though the bolt is saftey-wired, the shaft or bolt must have worn so that there was a fair amount of play in the stystem. Tightening up this bolt and then re-safety-wiring it hopefully has cured the problem. Haven't tested it yet.

[smo]

Thanks for the pics Jim. I can wedge myself under the car enough to almost see that area but I don't have a flashlight....or any way to remove the rear tire to get a better view.

[Fairfax 944]

Originally Posted by smo

Thanks for the pics Jim. I can wedge myself under the car enough to almost see that area but I don't have a flashlight....or any way to remove the rear tire to get a better view.

I'm not so sure about removing the left tire. Maybe shine a light through the spokes of the left wheel and see if you could see the linkage/top of the tranny. Hopefully, the linkage just became loose/disconnected back at the transmission, and it will be simple fix.

[smo]

Decide to leave the car till tomorrow. I will lug down a proper jack and tools to make this a bit easier.

I am pretty sure it's the linkage. I hope the bolt is still there so I can fix it.

[smo]

FML. Jacked up the rear end, removed the tire, had a buddy move the gear selector. Forward and back, side to side, its all connected. You can spin big circles on the selector and not catch a single "gate" (not sure about the correct terminology).

Looks like she's getting towed to either my house for a big push into the garage, or to a mechanic.

Time to start searching for some recommendations on transmission repair / replacement shops.

[Dr K]

Sorry to hear your tsuris (bad news, Yiddish), Steve.

I've seen lots of 944 transmissions available on this board and others, cheap (even with LSD they are reasonably priced). Just get one with the correct gearing for your car. Might be cheaper, and certainly quicker, than breaking down your own.

Peter

[smo]

Trying to decide where to have it towed. I've only had work done at IMA. Looking at the instructions to yank the trans myself on clarks-garage. It doesn't look impossible. I don't have the money either way so I'm leaning toward a tow home and then just try to get the trans done over a weekend in the driveway w/ minimal tools / help.

At this point I just need to move it. I had some bitchy woman come out and ask what was going on, and they called the police on me for leaving my car there (private lot at a business that wasn't labeled / I didn't look for a sign when I was trying to get to a parking spot). I guess there was a break-in at the building last night too. Like I came back for my busted ass get away car. At any rate, at least an older gentlemen that worked at / owned the place who was driving a Merc understood the predicament.

[John]

You say everything is connected, but when you move the gear selector up front, does the shaft that actually goes into the transmission (safety wired to the big rectangle in pic number 2) actually move? I think there is a dimple in that shaft that the bolt goes into, and that may no longer be seated correctly. And did you take apart the console in the cabin to see what is going on below the shift lever? Of course, if the stuff at the rear is moving at all, that is probably OK.

If it is the trans, replacement isn't a difficult job. R&R can be done by two guys in a day with the proper tools. I've been through it a couple of times and can probably help out if you need it.

[smo]

Mine doesn't have the giant rectangle or the shorter length of tube connecting it to the main shaft that runs the length of the car. The shaft that runs the length of the car and then has a rubber dust boot covering the remainder of it. When you move the shift lever left to right/left the entire shaft rotates all the way back. When you move the lever fwd / back the entire shaft moves accordingly. There was nothing blatantly missing when I looked. Everything was connected and it seemed to direct the movement into the trans case as expected. At this point its like its stuck in either 1 gear or its stuck in one vertical on the gear selector (ie 3rd and 4th). I haven't tried moving the car again since I have no reverse gear and can't go forward w/out going through some bushes and down a hill.