[GuardsRedCoupe]

During the course of some spirited driving, I seem to have misplaced the 1st and second gear.



They are there, but I really have to push hard on the shifter to get it in gear. It is hard enough that you wouldn't initially think you could get it in gear at all. It is equally hard to pull it out of gear. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Any thought on what would cause this problem? Time to start looking for an LSD? Anyone know of one for sale? Can mere mortals work on this transmission? <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



All thoughts are appreciated. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/unsure.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[w.a.]

Shifter bushing? Just a guess?

Best,

WA

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[flash]

agreed - i would take a look at the shifter bushing at the bottom of the shifter - if you need help with getting to it, give me a call, i can walk you through it

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[RS Barn]

OOPS!

I hope I'm not right but I have a car on my lift with same dilema. At his first track even he got a bit excited and didn't exactly shift like butter. He limped home without 1st and 2nd gear (He thought). He actually couldn't get in first or second and reverse.

Now the bad news. he blew his clutch disc up. The friction sheared off. This caused drag and won't allow getting lower gears to engage.

You can test this by trying to engage gears without motor running. With clutch in they should go in fairly smooth.

Good luck .

Any questions please call.

Pete

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[Mark]

[quote name='RS Barn' date='Jul 6 2006, 11:10 AM']OOPS!

I hope I'm not right but I have a car on my lift with same dilema. At his first track even he got a bit excited and didn't exactly shift like butter. He  limped home without 1st and 2nd gear (He thought). He actually couldn't get in first or second and reverse.

Now the bad news. he blew his clutch disc up. The friction sheared off. This caused drag and won't allow getting lower gears to engage.

You can test this by trying to engage gears without motor running. With clutch in they should go in fairly smooth.

Good luck .

Any questions please call.

Pete

[right][post="23743"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]





Get off the boards and get back to work !





<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Just kiddding.

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[GuardsRedCoupe]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I took a look at it this evening, and haven't tracked the problem down yet. It doesn't go into gear any easier if the car is not running, so hopefully the clutch isn't shot. I disconnected the linkage at the transaxle and had full movement of the shift lever, leading me to believe that the problem lies within the transaxle. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

ugh - all these clutch problems all at once - makes me think i might get in and change my disk even sooner

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[rustech]

Was any of the linkage at the transaxle bent or making contact with the housing? Does your shifter stand verticle (No puns gents) when in neutral?

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[crazyz007]

This is the same transmission that is in the Audi S4 (without the all wheel drive part). I have rebuilt many of those transmissions for that same problem. What happens is the actual slider assembly for 1st-2nd gear bends when in gear and gets stuck there. It happens when you drop the clutch in either gear. Obviously the S4 has far superior traction usually gets stuck in second on a really hard shift and dumping the clutch. That is the weakness in the drivetrains of those cars. I am not sure if that is your problem, but if it is hard to shift with the engine off and the clutch depressed it is possible. I hope not for your sake it requires a complete rebuild.

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[GuardsRedCoupe]

Well, I've dropped the transaxle and the trouble does seem to be coming from there. I get the same difficulty getting the transaxle into 1st and 2nd when I operate the shifter manually on top of the transaxle. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

I'm wary of going any further on my own and tearing the transaxle apart. I'd be interested in hearing the opinions of those who have had it apart?

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[crazyz007]

I have had these transmissions apart. If you never have taken apart a transmission I would not go much further that pulling the selector shaft cover of. There are 3 bolts on the pass. side of the transmission across from where the shifter shaft slides into the trans. Remove the 2 27mm dentents near that cover then take off the cover and the shifter shaft will then slide out. You will see 4 sets of rails. Each one will match these gearsets 1-2,3-4,5-6,R. The one for 1-2 I believe is the one on the far inside. One of them will only go one way. If the shift rail doesn't move smoothly as the rest then the problem is probably the 1-2 synchronizer assembly. At this point you will need a rebuild. That is the last part to come out of the trans.

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