Tranny Question

[jetboy]

My manual 5-speed tranny in my 91 festiva, without any prior warning, just gave out. Please excuse my ignorance, but I don't know the first thing about transmissions! The clutch pedal still feels normal but simply won't engage in any gear. I always thought if a clutch pad was going out it gave some clue. Any info would be helpful, since I'd like to not appear too ignorant in a repair shop!
BTW: I purchased this wonderful smurf-blue "micro-van" new and have no intentions of ever getting rid of her... this is the very first problem I've ever had with her!

[nonamekid]

First a few questions so we can try to eliminate some answers. When the car is off, can you put it in gear? If yes, when you push in the clutch, will the car start? When you press on the clutch is there resistance like you are pushing against a spring or does it slide smoothly like there is no pressure? What was going on when this happened? Were you driving down the road, or did you just try to try to drive away in the morning and it was like this?

[jetboy]

Yes it will go into gear when off, or at least it "feels" like it's going into gear when the car is off. No, it won't start in gear - just as before the problem started. The clutch pressure feels normal - springy just as it always has. As for when it happened - I had stopped to get a soda, the car was off.

[Festy46]

Try starting your car with the gear shift in neutral. While it's idling, gently try to put the transmission in reverse without pushing the clutch in. If you start to hear the gears grinding when you attempt to put it in reverse, stop doing that and push the clutch in. Now put the transmission in reverse with the clutch in and let the clutch out and see if it will move. If you're sure the transmission went in reverse, but the car won't move, you may have an axle coming out of the transaxle. Get under the car and follow the axles (one side at a time) from the front wheel to the transaxle. Just before the axle gets to the transaxle, there is a big round part with a rubber boot attached to the axle. Look at the space between the transaxle and this round part. There should be very little space between the transaxle housing and this big round part. Compare both sides (both axles) where they go in the transaxle. Both sides with the big round part should be about the same distance from the transaxle. If one side seems to be a lot farther away from the transaxle than the other, you may have an axle coming out. If it has moved out far enough to disengage from the spider gear, the car won't move until you push it back in. If this is your problem, you will have to find out why the axle came out. Probably a broken or weak cir clip. You can try pushing the axle back in and then see if your car will move. If the car will move, you've found your problem, but you will still need to get it fixed correctly.
John

[jetboy]

Thanks John! That was indeed the problem!