Need help - Transmission will not engage

[eman]

Car will start in neutral but will not go into gear. When the car is off all gears can be engaged. If we start in neutral and force into 1st gear, the engine dies. Cannot start in 1st gear either. Ideas?

[slider2828]

Sounds like a clutch issue or synchros.... Check when you press in the clutch pendal that the fork is moving? Check if the slave cynlinder is leaking..... Check if your clutch master cylinder is leaking as well.... Go from there....

[eman]

Fork is moving. Just checked.

[jworks]

I was in the same situation you were in. Gears in when cars off, won't go in when the cars on. Like Slider said it could be your slave cylinder but in my case unfortunately it was my clutch. When the transmissions shop took it apart, one of the springs on the clutch was broken.

[racepar1]

Sounds like a clutch issue or synchros.... Check when you press in the clutch pendal that the fork is moving? Check if the slave cynlinder is leaking..... Check if your clutch master cylinder is leaking as well.... Go from there....

SYNCHROS??? Ummmm, ok....... Anyways it is either a problem with the clutch master, clutch slave, clutch lines/hose, or the clutch itself. Look at the firewall under the master cyl under the dash. If you see fluid running down from the master then it is bad. Next get under the car and look at the slave cylinder. Pull back the rubber boot on the slave, if there is fluid in there than the slave is bad. Next visually inspect the clutch line, clutch hose, and the fittings for leaks. If all of that is good then it is a problem with the clutch itself. If you find a leak don't assume that that is the only problem. Inspect the entire system for leaks as it is totally possible that more than one component has gone bad. If you have to replace any part of the hydraulic system do yourself a favor and remove the dampener valve that mounts to the frame. It is a pain in the ass to bleed the system with that part installed. All you have to do is bend the clutch line, CAREFULLY don't kink it, so that it screws directly into the clutch hose.

[eman]

checked all. looked at the slave and had my brother-in-law push in the clutch. the slave is properly engaging the fork
didn't know if someone else had this problem (without it being the master/slave cylinder)

guess i'll have to seperate the tranny again. what gets me is it worked perfectly fine before going into the paint shop. (they only rolled it in and out of the shop during paint since we removed the fmic)

[racepar1]

Maybe a frozen pilot bushing. That would keep the input shaft turning, but it would have to be pretty damn frozen to stall the car.

[projectRDM]

Broken clutch fork pivot.

[eman]

We checked. Fork pivot is intact.

[racepar1]

Bottom line here man is pull the trans and pull the clutch. Inspect everything for damage. Now what you are telling us in that the car stalls as soon as you force the trans into gear right? Not that it stalls as soon as you let off the clutch and try to take off. There are two completely different sets of problems involved there.

[eman]

You are correct. When we FORCE the trans into gear the car dies. Keep in mind we have to force it as it will not engage normally.

We are planning to pull the motor here soon, just wondering if anyone had similar experiences. Thanks for the input.

[racepar1]

The clutch is not releasing for some reason 100% for sure. That's the only way that will happen. Hopefully you see an obvious problem when you get it apart, if not you will have to replace everything or chase your tail for a while. Good luck man!

[gripstr]

I have the same issues with my tranny right now.

I hope bleeding the slave cylinder fixes the issue.

[eman]

I have the same issues with my tranny right now.

I hope bleeding the slave cylinder fixes the issue.

Let me know what happens with yours.

[Edcel]

I have the same problem right now. I have a stage 2 act with the heavy duty pressure plate. Replaced the fork, pivot ball, master cylinder, slave cylinder and bled numerous times properly, at the master and slave. I also adjusted my pedal to the very end of adjustment. Next I'm going to try to mickeymouse a longer push rod for the slave. If that doesnt do it I'm pulling the tranny again...f*uckin $h!t!!!!!!>:O
oh and might I add it drove perfectly fine and changed in an instant. Also it works sometimes as in goes into gear and sometimes it does not. Someone please aid my pain.

[g6civcx]

checked all. looked at the slave and had my brother-in-law push in the clutch. the slave is properly engaging the fork
didn't know if someone else had this problem (without it being the master/slave cylinder)

Just because you visually see the fork move, doesn't mean that the fork moves ENOUGH to disengage the clutch fully.

Back off the clutch pedal stopper bolt all the way out (remove it) and extend the master cylinder rod all the way out. This will give you full clutch pedal and master cylinder travel.

If that doesn't work, try bleeding the slave. If you have the clutch damper, remove the damper box and run the line straight from the master to slave.


95% of the time this will fix most clutch issue on 240s.