pre-71 '02 wont go into gear

[edzillion]

Hi

My car only came back from the shop and I think it may well be the same problem, but figgered I might as well check here in case it is something simple. I was coming back from the airport last night and the L light started coming on, but the battery is fine, all of a sudden it was very hard to get into gear, and I got that awful grinding noise when I tried, like as if the clutch wasnt bringing the driveshaft (or whatever its called) away from the gear.

I stopped and left the the car off for a few minutes and then it seemed to get into gear, but with some effort.

Any idea what is going on?

Cheers

Ed

[c.d.iesel]

jack up the left corner, HAVE JACK STAND READY FOR SAFETY,

look up at rear of trans and driveshaft , see if the shifter

platform has dropped down making contact with driveshaft.

See if 'mark' is on driveshaft from touching.

By loosening the angled support arm bolts up

next to the shift lever ball piviot, push the shift platform

up snug against the floor tunnel.

If your missing the special oil-resistant foam pad - the shift platform

will vibrate against the tunnel. At same time - look forword

on that shift platform for loose, broken rubber isolation mounts,

Allen head screws should be there.

no one here can help you UNTILL YOU get under and LOOK,

and report what's loose or missing

[dubois]

if you can't get it in gear is either the clutch, the linkage or the tranny. Unless the L light is indicating loss of hydraulic fluid (with these cars you never know!).

I would start by making sure there is clutch action, need two people for that.

[gwb72tii]

if you can't get it in gear is either the clutch, the linkage or the tranny. Unless the L light is indicating loss of hydraulic fluid (with these cars you never know!).

I would start by making sure there is clutch action, need two people for that.

almost sounds like the hydraulic fluid is leaking somewhere and you need to push the clutch pedal a few times to pump it back in

any chance the floor on the driver's side is wet?

or hydraulic fluid is dripping out of the pedal box under the car?

the clutch master cylinder goes out on these cars and can have symptoms like you describe